Hi!
I have a problem with HWiNFO portable. It just ignores .reg settings file in "Data/settings" folder if it is named as "HWiNFO64-ComputerName.reg" (PC01 is my case). Settings are saved correctly every time "save and close" button is used.
I noticed that when HWiNFO Launcher starts, the .reg file is renamed to HWiNFO64.reg but the settings are ignored even though filename and settings saved are correct. If I manually rename the .reg file before start to HWiNFO64.reg it starts with all saved settings as it should.
Checked on 2 PCs and multiple HWiNFO versions.
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HWiNFO ignores saved settings
October 3, 2025 - 9:27pm
#1
HWiNFO ignores saved settings
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Please supply the requested details: system details (OS version, 32 vs 64-bit), install path, new vs upgrade, etc.
Also, please let me know exactly what setting you've changed and seen not saved.
I tried it on my Windows 10 64-bit machine and it works as it should.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Oh, forgot to add its W11 so 64bit only. Any install path, any install drive. All settings saved in Data/settings/HWiNFO64.reg file (columns, monitored sensors, window position, etc. - everything sensor mode). Every time if I forgot to rename HWiNFO64-PC01.reg to HWiNFO64.reg before launching sensor-only mode starts as default. Then it overwrites my saved settings because its saving as default.
Launcher settings are... (global?) saved in .ini file without any '-ComputerName', so Color Mode, language, etc. settings are ok.
In my testing, it seems the current version of the app itself isn't saving certain settings. When I start HWiNFO64.exe directly, open sensors, turn off temperature display, click save and exit and then fully exit... on next launch, the setting is switched back to the temperature on.
When you say you have to rename the .reg file are you using an existing .reg file from a previous version?
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
I've tried many previous versions but my saved .reg file is from the latest version of the app.
Isn't launching directly HWiNFO64.exe pointless? Cause it skips saved settings and writes its own in Windows registry. HWiNFOPortable.exe should read the .reg and .ini settings from Data folder. I have a feeling that HWiNFOPortable.exe launcher is too slow with renaming the .reg file from HWiNFO64-PC01.reg to just HWiNFO64.reg on its own so next step of launching doesn't "see" the file with proper name and creates new, fresh settings .reg.
I will try to install Windows 10 on old laptop to check previous Windows version.
The launcher loads the .REG file into the registry and then runs HWiNFO64.exe so it uses it. On exit, it saves it back to the .REG file. If HWiNFO64.exe itself isn't saving settings on exit correctly then the portable version won't save settings either. I have confirmed that the current HWiNFO64.exe does not properly save its settings to the registry as mentioned above on both Windows 10 or Windows 11.
Please tell me a specific setting in the current release you are trying to save.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
It does save correctly. I just tried "normal" portable version and all settings saved in registry are correctly opened every launch. But after Windows reinstall all settings but dark theme will be lost so that's why I want to use PAF version.
Any specific settings does not matter. Even one changed setting like disabling average column or any single sensor.
I think you still don't get my explanation. It's not the settings that are not saved correctly (if they are not why just renaming the .reg file is enough to load all the settings? even deleting all sensors works in that case) but the problem is with renaming/launching process/script...? When I rename the reg file manually before launching the HWiNFO64Portable.exe and remove the "-ComputerName" part from it, all settings are loaded correctly. But when the launcher does it on its own, settings are ignored because the HWiNFO64.reg is not found (because it sill appears as HWiNFO64-PC01.reg) and nothing is loaded so it starts with fresh configuration - like one of the processes is too slow or too fast.
I'm trying to recreate your SPECIFIC issue. Thusfar, I am completely unable to. At all. What you described in your original post does not happen for me on Windows 10 or Windows 11. So, again, I need very specific steps to recreate. That's why I keep asking you for a specific setting and steps. If I can't recreate your issue, I can not solve it.
I have confirmed without a doubt that HWiNFO64.exe when run directly does not save some settings. If I run it, bring up Sensors, uncheck Temperature, then save it. When I run it again, Temperature is selected again in sensors. So, it doesn't appear to be saving at all in which case the renaming of the .reg file is completely moot for me in testing.
The HWiNFO64.exe included within HWiNFO Portable is the same HWiNFO64.exe you get when you download the ZIP file from the publisher. You can check the SHA256 to verify. It works the same way.
Please give me the specific steps to recreate your issue.
1. Download a fresh copy of HWiNFOPortable_8.30.5800_English.paf.exe.
2. Install it in a new location like your Desktop directory
3. Start it up and click Start to run it as Full Mode
4. Click the Sensors button
5. Click Configure Sensors and change a specific setting you are expecting to be saved for the next time.
6. Click OK to close Sensor Settings
7. Click the X to Save and Close Sensors
8. Click the X in the upper right of the main HWiNFO window to close the app
9. Open the app again and see if the setting you are expecting is saved
Now, please tell me the exact full path you installed to in step 2 and the exact setting and location of said setting you changed in step 5. Once again, I need to know these specific things to try to recreate your issue.
Also note that the PortableApps.com Format version is packaged and released by the publisher themselves, not by me.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
I know it's not you who make the portable version but at least you respond...
I need to try again on hwinfo forum tho
Please take a look on a video I recorded so you can see exactly what I mean. And please remember it doesn't matter what settings I change or which sensors hide or where I install the app. If the setting is saved in registry it will not be loaded without renaming the .reg backup before launch.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1urBBkjWoMZNIgZ0zwYJqfRb9J33oxN7v/view?u...
1. Downloading and installing in default downloads folder
2. Launching and changing Black mode to Gray and sensor only (these settings aren't registry ones so they are kept saved between restarts)
3. Sensors launch > hide average column and random sensor (it doesn't matter what I change here or what I hide)
4. Save and close settings
5. Launch > .reg is renamed by the Launcher
6. Settings are not loaded
7. Again > hide average column and random sensor
8. Save and close
9. Rename the .reg file manually so Launcher do not have to rename it
10. Launch > settings are ok
11. Restart but now do not rename the .reg
12. Settings are not loaded again.
So again, it looks like the app is loaded too fast before the file is renamed by the Launcher and the settings are not loaded to Windows registry at all. If I rename the file before, settings are correctly imported to the registry.
Thank you for finally giving me an example setting in Sensor Settings that is actually saved to the registry. As I mentioned, the Show Values section is not saved to the registry in the current release. It resets after each run. This affects the local version, ZIP version, and PA.c Format version. So, I had no way at all to tell if Sensors settings were loading in correctly. That's why I kept asking for a specific setting.
I think I have a working fix. I'll need to test it out more. You can give it a try by unzipping this over your current HWiNFOPortable directory. It'll replace the base HWiNFOPortable.exe launcher and the custom.nsh code for it.
https://portableapps.com/downloads/temp/HWiNFOPortable_Reg_Fix_2025-10-0...
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Looks like it is fixed. Launched the app multiple times and settings remain every launch. Thank you!