diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/win_registry.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/win_registry.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7db1f3b1112
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/win_registry.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+bugfixes:
+- win_regedit - Fix issue where creating a new key would set the ``(Default)`` key property to an empty string instead of undefined
+- win_regedit - Support registry paths with special characters - https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/41791
+- win_reg_stat - Support registry paths with special characters - https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/41791
+- win_reg_stat - Fix issue where the key's ``(Default)`` property was not being returned if it was set
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_reg_stat.ps1 b/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_reg_stat.ps1
index 5d517ac37da..aa7e4ba3147 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_reg_stat.ps1
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_reg_stat.ps1
@@ -15,122 +15,112 @@ $result = @{
     changed = $false
 }
 
-Function Get-NetHiveName($hive) {
-    # Will also check that the hive passed in the path is a known hive
-    switch ($hive.ToUpper()) {
-        "HKCR" {"ClassesRoot"}
-        "HKCC" {"CurrentConfig"}
-        "HKCU" {"CurrentUser"}
-        "HKLM" {"LocalMachine"}
-        "HKU" {"Users"}
-        default {"unsupported"}
+Function Get-PropertyValue {
+    param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKey]$Key,
+        [String]$Name
+    )
+
+    $value = $Key.GetValue($Name, $null, [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueOptions]::None)
+    if ($null -eq $value) {
+        # Property does not exist or the key's (Default) is not set
+        return $null
     }
-}
 
-Function Get-PropertyType($hive, $path, $property) {
-    $type = (Get-Item REGISTRY::$hive\$path).GetValueKind($property)
-    switch ($type) {
-        "Binary" {"REG_BINARY"}
-        "String" {"REG_SZ"}
-        "DWord" {"REG_DWORD"}
-        "QWord" {"REG_QWORD"}
-        "MultiString" {"REG_MULTI_SZ"}
-        "ExpandString" {"REG_EXPAND_SZ"}
-        "None" {"REG_NONE"}
-        default {"Unknown"}
+    $raw_value = $Key.GetValue($Name, $null, [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueOptions]::DoNotExpandEnvironmentNames)
+
+    if ($Name -eq "") {
+        # The key's (Default) will fail on GetValueKind
+        $type = [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueKind]::String
+    } else {
+        $type = $Key.GetValueKind($Name)
     }
-}
 
-Function Get-PropertyObject($hive, $net_hive, $path, $property) {
-    $value = (Get-ItemProperty REGISTRY::$hive\$path).$property
-    $type = Get-PropertyType -hive $hive -path $path -property $property
-    If ($type -eq 'REG_EXPAND_SZ') {
-        $raw_value = [Microsoft.Win32.Registry]::$net_hive.OpenSubKey($path).GetValue($property, $false, [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueOptions]::DoNotExpandEnvironmentNames)
-    } ElseIf ($type -eq 'REG_BINARY' -or $type -eq 'REG_NONE') {
-        $raw_value = @()
+    if ($type -in @([Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueKind]::Binary, [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueKind]::None)) {
+        $formatted_raw_value = [System.Collections.Generic.List`1[String]]@()
         foreach ($byte in $value) {
-            $hex_value = ('{0:x}' -f $byte).PadLeft(2, '0')
-            $raw_value += "0x$hex_value"
+            $formatted_raw_value.Add("0x{0:x2}" -f $byte)
         }
-    } Else {
+        $raw_value = $formatted_raw_value
+    } elseif ($type -eq [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueKind]::DWord) {
+        # .NET returns the value as a signed integer, we need to make it unsigned
+        $value = [UInt32]("0x{0:x}" -f $value)
+        $raw_value = $value
+    } elseif ($type -eq [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueKind]::QWord) {
+        $value = [UInt64]("0x{0:x}" -f $value)
         $raw_value = $value
     }
 
-    $object = @{
-        raw_value = $raw_value
-        value = $value
-        type = $type
-    }
-
-    $object
-}
-
-Function Test-RegistryProperty($hive, $path, $property) {
-    Try {
-        $type = (Get-Item REGISTRY::$hive\$path).GetValueKind($property)
-    } Catch {
-        $type = $null
+    $return_type = switch($type.ToString()) {
+        "Binary" { "REG_BINARY" }
+        "String" { "REG_SZ" }
+        "DWord" { "REG_DWORD" }
+        "QWord" { "REG_QWORD" }
+        "MultiString" { "REG_MULTI_SZ" }
+        "ExpandString" { "REG_EXPAND_SZ" }
+        "None" { "REG_NONE" }
+        default { "Unknown - $($type.ToString())" }
     }
 
-    If ($type -eq $null) {
-        $false
-    } Else {
-        $true
+    return @{
+        type = $return_type
+        value = $value
+        raw_value = $raw_value
     }
 }
 
 # Will validate the key parameter to make sure it matches known format
-if ($path -match "^([a-zA-Z_]*):\\(.*)$") {
-    $hive = $matches[1]
-    $reg_path = $matches[2]
-} else {
-    Fail-Json $result "path does not match format 'HIVE:\KEY_PATH'"
+if ($path -notmatch "^HK(CC|CR|CU|LM|U):\\") {
+    Fail-Json -obj $result -message "path: $path is not a valid registry path, see module documentation for examples."
 }
 
-# Used when getting the actual REG_EXPAND_SZ value as well as checking the hive is a known value
-$net_hive = Get-NetHiveName -hive $hive
-if ($net_hive -eq 'unsupported') {
-    Fail-Json $result "the hive in path is '$hive'; must be 'HKCR', 'HKCC', 'HKCU', 'HKLM' or 'HKU'"
+$registry_path = (Split-Path -Path $path -NoQualifier).Substring(1)  # removes the hive: and leading \
+$registry_hive = switch(Split-Path -Path $path -Qualifier) {
+    "HKCR:" { [Microsoft.Win32.Registry]::ClassesRoot }
+    "HKCC:" { [Microsoft.Win32.Registry]::CurrentConfig }
+    "HKCU:" { [Microsoft.Win32.Registry]::CurrentUser }
+    "HKLM:" { [Microsoft.Win32.Registry]::LocalMachine }
+    "HKU" { [Microsoft.Win32.Registry]::Users }
 }
 
-if (Test-Path REGISTRY::$hive\$reg_path) {
-    if ($name -eq $null) {
-        $property_info = @{}
-        $properties = Get-ItemProperty REGISTRY::$hive\$reg_path
-
-        foreach ($property in $properties.PSObject.Properties) {
-            # Powershell adds in some metadata we need to filter out
-            $real_property = Test-RegistryProperty -hive $hive -path $reg_path -property $property.Name
-            if ($real_property -eq $true) {
-                $property_object = Get-PropertyObject -hive $hive -net_hive $net_hive -path $reg_path -property $property.Name 
-                $property_info.Add($property.Name, $property_object)
-            }
-        }
+$key = $null
+try {
+    $key = $registry_hive.OpenSubKey($registry_path, $false)
 
-        $sub_keys = @()
-        $sub_keys_raw = Get-ChildItem REGISTRY::$hive\$reg_path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+    if ($null -ne $key) {
+        if ($null -eq $name) {
+            $property_info = @{}
+            foreach ($property in $key.GetValueNames()) {
+                $property_info.$property = Get-PropertyValue -Key $key -Name $property
+            }
 
-        foreach ($sub_key in $sub_keys_raw) {
-            $sub_keys += $sub_key.PSChildName
-        }
+            # Return the key's (Default) property if it has been defined
+            $default_value = Get-PropertyValue -Key $key -Name ""
+            if ($null -ne $default_value) {
+                $property_info."" = $default_value
+            }
 
-        $result.exists = $true
-        $result.sub_keys = $sub_keys
-        $result.properties = $property_info
-    } else {
-        $exists = Test-RegistryProperty -hive $hive -path $reg_path -property $name
-        if ($exists -eq $true) {
-            $propertyObject = Get-PropertyObject -hive $hive -net_hive $net_hive -path $reg_path -property $name
             $result.exists = $true
-            $result.raw_value = $propertyObject.raw_value
-            $result.value = $propertyObject.value
-            $result.type = $propertyObject.type
+            $result.properties = $property_info
+            $result.sub_keys = $key.GetSubKeyNames()
         } else {
-            $result.exists = $false
+            $property_value = Get-PropertyValue -Key $key -Name $name
+            if ($null -ne $property_value) {
+                $result.exists = $true
+                $result += $property_value
+            } else {
+                $result.exists = $false
+            }
         }
+    } else {
+        $result.exists = $false
     }
-} else {
-    $result.exists = $false
+} finally {
+    if ($key) {
+        $key.Dispose()
+    }
+    $registry_hive.Dispose()
 }
 
-Exit-Json $result
+Exit-Json -obj $result
+
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_reg_stat.py b/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_reg_stat.py
index fb88aca0afe..6b76c971ed8 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_reg_stat.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_reg_stat.py
@@ -29,8 +29,12 @@ options:
   name:
     description:
     - The registry property name to get information for, the return json will not include the sub_keys and properties entries for the I(key) specified.
+    - Set to an empty string to target the registry key's C((Default)) property value.
     type: str
     aliases: [ entry, value, property ]
+notes:
+- The C(properties) return value will contain an empty string key C("") that refers to the key's C(Default) value. If
+  the value has not been set then this key is not returned.
 seealso:
 - module: win_regedit
 - module: win_regmerge
@@ -49,6 +53,12 @@ EXAMPLES = r'''
     path: HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
     name: CommonFilesDir
   register: common_files_dir
+
+- name: Obtain the registry key's (Default) property
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
+    name: ''
+  register: current_version_default
 '''
 
 RETURN = r'''
@@ -67,6 +77,11 @@ properties:
   returned: success, path exists and property not specified
   type: dict
   sample: {
+    "" : {
+      "raw_value": "",
+      "type": "REG_SZ",
+      "value": ""
+    },
     "binary_property" : {
       "raw_value": ["0x01", "0x16"],
       "type": "REG_BINARY",
@@ -77,7 +92,7 @@ properties:
       "type": "REG_MULTI_SZ",
       "value": ["a", "b"]
     }
-    }
+  }
 sub_keys:
   description: A list of all the sub keys of the key specified.
   returned: success, path exists and property not specified
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_regedit.ps1 b/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_regedit.ps1
index 37b7d1e09c6..a1b1928487b 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_regedit.ps1
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_regedit.ps1
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@
 #Requires -Module Ansible.ModuleUtils.Legacy
 #Requires -Module Ansible.ModuleUtils.PrivilegeUtil
 
-$ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
-
 $params = Parse-Args -arguments $args -supports_check_mode $true
 $check_mode = Get-AnsibleParam -obj $params -name "_ansible_check_mode" -type "bool" -default $false
 $diff_mode = Get-AnsibleParam -obj $params -name "_ansible_diff" -type "bool" -default $false
@@ -31,7 +29,8 @@ $result = @{
 
 if ($diff_mode) {
     $result.diff = @{
-        prepared = ""
+        before = ""
+        after = ""
     }
 }
 
@@ -40,12 +39,20 @@ using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
 
-namespace Ansible.RegEdit
+namespace Ansible.WinRegedit
 {
-    public enum HKEY : uint
+    internal class NativeMethods
     {
-        LOCAL_MACHINE = 0x80000002,
-        USERS = 0x80000003
+        [DllImport("advapi32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
+        public static extern int RegLoadKeyW(
+            UInt32 hKey,
+            string lpSubKey,
+            string lpFile);
+
+        [DllImport("advapi32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
+        public static extern int RegUnLoadKeyW(
+            UInt32 hKey,
+            string lpSubKey);
     }
 
     public class Win32Exception : System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception
@@ -60,41 +67,48 @@ namespace Ansible.RegEdit
         public static explicit operator Win32Exception(string message) { return new Win32Exception(message); }
     }
 
-    public class Hive
+    public class Hive : IDisposable
     {
-        [DllImport("advapi32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto, SetLastError = true)]
-        private static extern int RegLoadKey(
-            HKEY hKey,
-            string lpSubKey,
-            string lpFile);
-
-        [DllImport("advapi32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto, SetLastError = true)]
-        private static extern int RegUnLoadKey(
-            HKEY hKey,
-            string lpSubKey);
+        private const UInt32 SCOPE = 0x80000002;  // HKLM
+        private string hiveKey;
+        private bool loaded = false;
 
-        public static void LoadHive(string lpSubKey, string lpFile)
+        public Hive(string hiveKey, string hivePath)
         {
-            int ret;
-            ret = RegLoadKey(HKEY.LOCAL_MACHINE, lpSubKey, lpFile);
+            this.hiveKey = hiveKey;
+            int ret = NativeMethods.RegLoadKeyW(SCOPE, hiveKey, hivePath);
             if (ret != 0)
-                throw new Win32Exception(ret, String.Format("Failed to load registry hive at {0}", lpFile));
+                throw new Win32Exception(ret, String.Format("Failed to load registry hive at {0}", hivePath));
+            loaded = true;
         }
 
-        public static void UnloadHive(string lpSubKey)
+        public static void UnloadHive(string hiveKey)
         {
-            GC.Collect();
-            int ret;
-            ret = RegUnLoadKey(HKEY.LOCAL_MACHINE, lpSubKey);
+            int ret = NativeMethods.RegUnLoadKeyW(SCOPE, hiveKey);
             if (ret != 0)
-                throw new Win32Exception(ret, String.Format("Failed to unload registry hive at {0}", lpSubKey));
+                throw new Win32Exception(ret, String.Format("Failed to unload registry hive at {0}", hiveKey));
+        }
+
+        public void Dispose()
+        {
+            if (loaded)
+            {
+                // Make sure the garbage collector disposes all unused handles and waits until it is complete
+                GC.Collect();
+                GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers();
+
+                UnloadHive(hiveKey);
+                loaded = false;
+            }
+            GC.SuppressFinalize(this);
         }
+        ~Hive() { this.Dispose(); }
     }
 }
 '@
 
 # fire a warning if the property name isn't specified, the (Default) key ($null) can only be a string
-if ($name -eq $null -and $type -ne "string") {
+if ($null -eq $name -and $type -ne "string") {
     Add-Warning -obj $result -message "the data type when name is not specified can only be 'string', the type has automatically been converted"
     $type = "string"
 }
@@ -104,16 +118,13 @@ if ($path -notmatch "^HK(CC|CR|CU|LM|U):\\") {
     Fail-Json $result "path: $path is not a valid powershell path, see module documentation for examples."
 }
 
-# Create the required PSDrives if missing
-$registry_hive = Split-Path -Path $path -Qualifier
-if ($registry_hive -eq "HKCR:" -and (-not (Test-Path HKCR:\))) {
-    New-PSDrive -Name HKCR -PSProvider Registry -Root HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
-}
-if ($registry_hive -eq "HKU:" -and (-not (Test-Path HKU:\))) {
-    New-PSDrive -Name HKU -PSProvider Registry -Root HKEY_USERS
-}
-if ($registry_hive -eq "HKCC:" -and (-not (Test-Path HKCC:\))) {
-    New-PSDrive -Name HKCC -PSProvider Registry -Root HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG
+# Add a warning if the path does not contains a \ and is not the leaf path
+$registry_path = (Split-Path -Path $path -NoQualifier).Substring(1)  # removes the hive: and leading \
+$registry_leaf = Split-Path -Path $path -Leaf
+if ($registry_path -ne $registry_leaf -and -not $registry_path.Contains('\')) {
+    $msg = "path is not using '\' as a separator, support for '/' as a separator will be removed in a future Ansible version"
+    Add-DeprecationWarning -obj $result -message $msg -version 2.12
+    $registry_path = $registry_path.Replace('/', '\')
 }
 
 # Simplified version of Convert-HexStringToByteArray from
@@ -148,62 +159,202 @@ Function Convert-RegExportHexStringToByteArray($string) {
     }
 }
 
-Function Test-RegistryProperty($path, $name) {
-    # will validate if the registry key contains the property, returns true
-    # if the property exists and false if the property does not
+Function Compare-RegistryProperties($existing, $new) {
+    # Outputs $true if the property values don't match
+    if ($existing -is [Array]) {
+        (Compare-Object -ReferenceObject $existing -DifferenceObject $new -SyncWindow 0).Length -ne 0
+    } else {
+        $existing -cne $new
+    }
+}
+
+Function Get-DiffValue {
+    param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueKind]$Type,
+        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][Object]$Value
+    )
+
+    $diff = @{ type = $Type.ToString(); value = $Value }
+
+    $enum = [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueKind]
+    if ($Type -in @($enum::Binary, $enum::None)) {
+        $diff.value = [System.Collections.Generic.List`1[String]]@()
+        foreach ($dec_value in $Value) {
+            $diff.value.Add("0x{0:x2}" -f $dec_value)
+        }
+    } elseif ($Type -eq $enum::DWord) {
+        $diff.value = "0x{0:x8}" -f $Value
+    } elseif ($Type -eq $enum::QWord) {
+        $diff.value = "0x{0:x16}" -f $Value
+    }
+
+    return $diff
+}
+
+Function Set-StateAbsent {
+    param(
+        # Used for diffs and exception messages to match up against Ansible input
+        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][String]$PrintPath,
+        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKey]$Hive,
+        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][String]$Path,
+        [String]$Name,
+        [Switch]$DeleteKey
+    )
+
+    $key = $Hive.OpenSubKey($Path, $true)
+    if ($null -eq $key) {
+        # Key does not exist, no need to delete anything
+        return
+    }
+
     try {
-        $reg_key = Get-Item -Path $path
-        $value = $reg_key.GetValue($name)
-        # need to do it this way return ($value -eq $null) does not work
-        if ($value -eq $null) {
-            return $false
+        if ($DeleteKey -and -not $Name) {
+            # delete_key=yes is set and name is null/empty, so delete the entire key
+            $key.Dispose()
+            $key = $null
+            if (-not $check_mode) {
+                try {
+                    $Hive.DeleteSubKeyTree($Path, $false)
+                } catch {
+                    Fail-Json -obj $result -message "failed to delete registry key at $($PrintPath): $($_.Exception.Message)"
+                }
+            }
+            $result.changed = $true
+
+            if ($diff_mode) {
+                $result.diff.before = @{$PrintPath = @{}}
+                $result.diff.after = @{}
+            }
         } else {
-            return $true
+            # delete_key=no or name is not null/empty, delete the property not the full key
+            $property = $key.GetValue($Name)
+            if ($null -eq $property) {
+                # property does not exist
+                return
+            }
+            $property_type = $key.GetValueKind($Name)  # used for the diff
+
+            if (-not $check_mode) {
+                try {
+                    $key.DeleteValue($Name)
+                } catch {
+                    Fail-Json -obj $result -message "failed to delete registry property '$Name' at $($PrintPath): $($_.Exception.Message)"
+                }
+            }
+
+            $result.changed = $true
+            if ($diff_mode) {
+                $diff_value = Get-DiffValue -Type $property_type -Value $property
+                $result.diff.before = @{ $PrintPath = @{ $Name = $diff_value } }
+                $result.diff.after = @{ $PrintPath = @{} }
+            }
         }
-    } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] {
-        # key didn't exist so the property mustn't
-        return $false
     } finally {
-        if ($reg_key) {
-            $reg_key.Close()
+        if ($key) {
+            $key.Dispose()
         }
     }
 }
 
-Function Compare-RegistryProperties($existing, $new) {
-    $mismatch = $false
-    if ($existing -is [Array]) {
-        if ((Compare-Object -ReferenceObject $existing -DifferenceObject $new -SyncWindow 0).Length -ne 0) {
-            $mismatch = $true
+Function Set-StatePresent {
+    param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][String]$PrintPath,
+        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKey]$Hive,
+        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][String]$Path,
+        [String]$Name,
+        [Object]$Data,
+        [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueKind]$Type
+    )
+
+    $key = $Hive.OpenSubKey($Path, $true)
+    try {
+        if ($null -eq $key) {
+            # the key does not exist, create it so the next steps work
+            if (-not $check_mode) {
+                try {
+                    $key = $Hive.CreateSubKey($Path)
+                } catch {
+                    Fail-Json -obj $result -message "failed to create registry key at $($PrintPath): $($_.Exception.Message)"
+                }
+            }
+            $result.changed = $true
+
+            if ($diff_mode) {
+                $result.diff.before = @{}
+                $result.diff.after = @{$PrintPath = @{}}
+            }
+        } elseif ($diff_mode) {
+            # Make sure the diff is in an expected state for the key
+            $result.diff.before = @{$PrintPath = @{}}
+            $result.diff.after = @{$PrintPath = @{}}
         }
-    } else {
-        if ($existing -cne $new) {
-            $mismatch = $true
+
+        if ($null -eq $key -or $null -eq $Data) {
+            # Check mode and key was created above, we cannot do any more work, or $Data is $null which happens when
+            # we create a new key but haven't explicitly set the data
+            return
         }
-    }
 
-    return $mismatch
-}
+        $property = $key.GetValue($Name, $null, [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueOptions]::DoNotExpandEnvironmentNames)
+        if ($null -ne $property) {
+            # property exists, need to compare the values and type
+            $existing_type = $key.GetValueKind($name)
+            $change_value = $false
 
-Function Get-DiffValueString($type, $value) {
-    $enum = [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueKind]
-    if ($type -in @($enum::Binary, $enum::None)) {
-        $hex_values = @()
-        foreach ($dec_value in $value) {
-            $hex_values += "0x$("{0:x2}" -f $dec_value)"
+            if ($Type -ne $existing_type) {
+                $change_value = $true
+                $result.data_type_changed = $true
+                $data_mismatch = Compare-RegistryProperties -existing $property -new $Data
+                if ($data_mismatch) {
+                    $result.data_changed = $true
+                }
+            } else {
+                $data_mismatch = Compare-RegistryProperties -existing $property -new $Data
+                if ($data_mismatch) {
+                    $change_value = $true
+                    $result.data_changed = $true
+                }
+            }
+
+            if ($change_value) {
+                if (-not $check_mode) {
+                    try {
+                        $key.SetValue($Name, $Data, $Type)
+                    } catch {
+                        Fail-Json -obj $result -message "failed to change registry property '$Name' at $($PrintPath): $($_.Exception.Message)"
+                    }
+                }
+                $result.changed = $true
+
+                if ($diff_mode) {
+                    $result.diff.before.$PrintPath.$Name = Get-DiffValue -Type $existing_type -Value $property
+                    $result.diff.after.$PrintPath.$Name = Get-DiffValue -Type $Type -Value $Data
+                }
+            } elseif ($diff_mode) {
+                $diff_value = Get-DiffValue -Type $existing_type -Value $property
+                $result.diff.before.$PrintPath.$Name = $diff_value
+                $result.diff.after.$PrintPath.$Name = $diff_value
+            }
+        } else {
+            # property doesn't exist just create a new one
+            if (-not $check_mode) {
+                try {
+                    $key.SetValue($Name, $Data, $Type)
+                } catch {
+                    Fail-Json -obj $result -message "failed to create registry property '$Name' at $($PrintPath): $($_.Exception.Message)"
+                }
+            }
+            $result.changed = $true
+
+            if ($diff_mode) {
+                $result.diff.after.$PrintPath.$Name = Get-DiffValue -Type $Type -Value $Data
+            }
+        }
+    } finally {
+        if ($key) {
+            $key.Dispose()
         }
-        $diff_value = "$($type):[$($hex_values -join ", ")]"
-    } elseif ($type -eq $enum::DWord) {
-        $diff_value = "$($type):0x$("{0:x8}" -f $value)"
-    } elseif ($type -eq $enum::QWord) {
-        $diff_value = "$($type):0x$("{0:x16}" -f $value)"
-    } elseif ($type -eq $enum::MultiString) {
-        $diff_value = "$($type):[$($value -join ", ")]"
-    } else {
-        $diff_value = "$($type):$value"
     }
-
-    return $diff_value
 }
 
 # convert property names "" to $null as "" refers to (Default)
@@ -213,7 +364,7 @@ if ($name -eq "") {
 
 # convert the data to the required format
 if ($type -in @("binary", "none")) {
-    if ($data -eq $null) {
+    if ($null -eq $data) {
         $data = ""
     }
 
@@ -230,7 +381,7 @@ if ($type -in @("binary", "none")) {
     }
 } elseif ($type -in @("dword", "qword")) {
     # dword's and dword's don't allow null values, set to 0
-    if ($data -eq $null) {
+    if ($null -eq $data) {
         $data = 0
     }
 
@@ -260,14 +411,15 @@ if ($type -in @("binary", "none")) {
         }
         $data = [Int64]$data
     }
-} elseif ($type -in @("string", "expandstring")) {
+} elseif ($type -in @("string", "expandstring") -and $name) {
     # a null string or expandstring must be empty quotes
-    if ($data -eq $null) {
+    # Only do this if $name has been defined (not the default key)
+    if ($null -eq $data) {
         $data = ""
     }
 } elseif ($type -eq "multistring") {
     # convert the data for a multistring to a String[] array
-    if ($data -eq $null) {
+    if ($null -eq $data) {
         $data = [String[]]@()
     } elseif ($data -isnot [Array]) {
         $new_data = New-Object -TypeName String[] -ArgumentList 1
@@ -285,209 +437,59 @@ if ($type -in @("binary", "none")) {
 # convert the type string to the .NET class
 $type = [System.Enum]::Parse([Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueKind], $type, $true)
 
-if ($hive) {
-    if (-not (Test-Path $hive)) {
-        Fail-Json -obj $result -message "hive at path '$hive' is not valid or accessible, cannot load hive"
-    }
-
-    $original_tmp = $env:TMP
-    $env:TMP = $_remote_tmp
-    Add-Type -TypeDefinition $registry_util
-    $env:TMP = $original_tmp
+$registry_hive = switch(Split-Path -Path $path -Qualifier) {
+    "HKCR:" { [Microsoft.Win32.Registry]::ClassesRoot }
+    "HKCC:" { [Microsoft.Win32.Registry]::CurrentConfig }
+    "HKCU:" { [Microsoft.Win32.Registry]::CurrentUser }
+    "HKLM:" { [Microsoft.Win32.Registry]::LocalMachine }
+    "HKU" { [Microsoft.Win32.Registry]::Users }
+}
+$loaded_hive = $null
+try {
+    if ($hive) {
+        if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $hive)) {
+            Fail-Json -obj $result -message "hive at path '$hive' is not valid or accessible, cannot load hive"
+        }
 
-    try {
-        Set-AnsiblePrivilege -Name SeBackupPrivilege -Value $true
-        Set-AnsiblePrivilege -Name SeRestorePrivilege -Value $true
-    } catch [System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception] {
-        Fail-Json -obj $result -message "failed to enable SeBackupPrivilege and SeRestorePrivilege for the current process: $($_.Exception.Message)"
-    }
+        $original_tmp = $env:TMP
+        $env:TMP = $_remote_tmp
+        Add-Type -TypeDefinition $registry_util
+        $env:TMP = $original_tmp
 
-    if (Test-Path -Path HKLM:\ANSIBLE) {
-        Add-Warning -obj $result -message "hive already loaded at HKLM:\ANSIBLE, had to unload hive for win_regedit to continue"
         try {
-            [Ansible.RegEdit.Hive]::UnloadHive("ANSIBLE")
+            Set-AnsiblePrivilege -Name SeBackupPrivilege -Value $true
+            Set-AnsiblePrivilege -Name SeRestorePrivilege -Value $true
         } catch [System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception] {
-            Fail-Json -obj $result -message "failed to unload registry hive HKLM:\ANSIBLE from $($hive): $($_.Exception.Message)"
+            Fail-Json -obj $result -message "failed to enable SeBackupPrivilege and SeRestorePrivilege for the current process: $($_.Exception.Message)"
         }
-    }
 
-    try {
-        [Ansible.RegEdit.Hive]::LoadHive("ANSIBLE", $hive)
-    } catch [System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception] {
-        Fail-Json -obj $result -message "failed to load registry hive from '$hive' to HKLM:\ANSIBLE: $($_.Exception.Message)"
-    }
-}
-
-try {
-    if ($state -eq "present") {
-        if (-not (Test-Path -path $path)) {
-            # the key doesn't exist, create it so the next steps work
+        if (Test-Path -Path HKLM:\ANSIBLE) {
+            Add-Warning -obj $result -message "hive already loaded at HKLM:\ANSIBLE, had to unload hive for win_regedit to continue"
             try {
-                $new_key = New-Item -Path $path -Type directory -Force -WhatIf:$check_mode
-            } catch {
-                Fail-Json $result "failed to create registry key at $($path): $($_.Exception.Message)"
-            } finally {
-                if ($new_key) {
-                    $new_key.Close()
-                }
-            }
-            $result.changed = $true
-    
-            if ($diff_mode) {
-                $result.diff.prepared += @"
-+[$path]            
-"@
+                [Ansible.WinRegedit.Hive]::UnloadHive("ANSIBLE")
+            } catch [System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception] {
+                Fail-Json -obj $result -message "failed to unload registry hive HKLM:\ANSIBLE from $($hive): $($_.Exception.Message)"
             }
         }
-    
-        if (Test-RegistryProperty -path $path -name $name) {
-            # property exists, need to compare the values and type
-            $existing_key = Get-Item -Path $path
-            $existing_type = $existing_key.GetValueKind($name)
-            $existing_data = $existing_key.GetValue($name, $false, [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueOptions]::DoNotExpandEnvironmentNames)
-            $existing_key.Close()
-            $change_value = $false
-            
-            if ($type -ne $existing_type) {
-                $change_value = $true
-                $result.data_type_changed = $true
-                $data_mismatch = Compare-RegistryProperties -existing $existing_data -new $data
-                if ($data_mismatch) {
-                    $result.data_changed = $true
-                }
-            } else {
-                $data_mismatch = Compare-RegistryProperties -existing $existing_data -new $data
-                if ($data_mismatch) {
-                    $change_value = $true
-                    $result.data_changed = $true
-                }
-            }
-    
-            if ($change_value) {
-                if (-not $check_mode) {
-                    $reg_key = Get-Item -Path $path
-                    try {
-                        $sub_key = $reg_key.OpenSubKey($null, [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKeyPermissionCheck]::ReadWriteSubTree)
-                        try {
-                            $sub_key.SetValue($name, $data, $type)
-                        } finally {
-                            $sub_key.Close()
-                        }
-                    } catch {
-                        Fail-Json $result "failed to change registry property '$name' at $($path): $($_.Exception.Message)"
-                    } finally {
-                        $reg_key.Close()
-                    }
-                }
-                $result.changed = $true
-    
-                if ($diff_mode) {
-                    if ($result.diff.prepared) {
-                        $key_prefix = "+"
-                    } else {
-                        $key_prefix = ""
-                    }
-                    
-                    $result.diff.prepared = @"
-$key_prefix[$path]
--"$name" = "$(Get-DiffValueString -type $existing_type -value $existing_data)"
-+"$name" = "$(Get-DiffValueString -type $type -value $data)"
-"@
-                }
-            }
-        } else {
-            # property doesn't exist just create a new one
-            if (-not $check_mode) {
-                $reg_key = Get-Item -Path $path
-                try {
-                    $sub_key = $reg_key.OpenSubKey($null, [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKeyPermissionCheck]::ReadWriteSubTree)
-                    try {
-                        $sub_key.SetValue($name, $data, $type)
-                    } finally {
-                        $sub_key.Close()
-                    }
-                } catch {
-                    Fail-Json $result "failed to change registry property '$name' at $($path): $($_.Exception.Message)"
-                } finally {
-                    $reg_key.Close()
-                }
-            }
-            $result.changed = $true
-            if ($diff_mode) {
-                if ($result.diff.prepared) {
-                    $key_prefix = "+"
-                } else {
-                    $key_prefix = ""
-                }
-                
-                $result.diff.prepared = @"
-$key_prefix[$path]
-+"$name" = "$(Get-DiffValueString -type $type -value $data)"
-"@
-            }
+
+        try {
+            $loaded_hive = New-Object -TypeName Ansible.WinRegedit.Hive -ArgumentList "ANSIBLE", $hive
+        } catch [System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception] {
+            Fail-Json -obj $result -message "failed to load registry hive from '$hive' to HKLM:\ANSIBLE: $($_.Exception.Message)"
         }
+    }
+
+    if ($state -eq "present") {
+        Set-StatePresent -PrintPath $path -Hive $registry_hive -Path $registry_path -Name $name -Data $data -Type $type
     } else {
-        if (Test-Path -path $path) {
-            if ($delete_key -and $name -eq $null) {
-                # the clear_key flag is set and name is null so delete the entire key
-                try {
-                    $null = Remove-Item -Path $path -Force -Recurse -WhatIf:$check_mode
-                } catch {
-                    Fail-Json $result "failed to delete registry key at $($path): $($_.Exception.Message)"
-                }
-                $result.changed = $true
-    
-                if ($diff_mode) {
-                    $result.diff.prepared += @"
--[$path]
-"@
-                }
-            } else {
-                # the clear_key flag is set or name is not null, check whether we need to delete a property
-                if (Test-RegistryProperty -path $path -name $name) {
-                    $existing_key = Get-Item -Path $path
-                    $existing_type = $existing_key.GetValueKind($name)
-                    $existing_data = $existing_key.GetValue($name, $false, [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueOptions]::DoNotExpandEnvironmentNames)
-                    $existing_key.Close()
-    
-                    # cannot use Remove-ItemProperty as it fails when deleting the (Default) key ($name = $null)
-                    if (-not $check_mode) {
-                        $reg_key = Get-Item -Path $path
-                        try {
-                            $sub_key = $reg_key.OpenSubKey($null, [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKeyPermissionCheck]::ReadWriteSubTree)
-                            try {
-                                $sub_key.DeleteValue($name)
-                            } finally {
-                                $sub_key.Close()
-                            }
-                        } catch {
-                            Fail-Json $result "failed to delete registry property '$name' at $($path): $($_.Exception.Message)"
-                        } finally {
-                            $reg_key.Close()
-                        }
-                    }
-                    $result.changed = $true
-    
-                    if ($diff_mode) {
-                        $result.diff.prepared += @"
-[$path]
--"$name" = "$(Get-DiffValueString -type $existing_type -value $existing_data)"
-"@
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-        }
+        Set-StateAbsent -PrintPath $path -Hive $registry_hive -Path $registry_path -Name $name -DeleteKey:$delete_key
     }
 } finally {
-    if ($hive) {
-        [GC]::Collect()
-        [GC]::WaitForPendingFinalizers()
-        try {
-            [Ansible.RegEdit.Hive]::UnloadHive("ANSIBLE")
-        } catch [System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception] {
-            Fail-Json -obj $result -message "failed to unload registry hive HKLM:\ANSIBLE from $($hive): $($_.Exception.Message)"
-        }
+    $registry_hive.Dispose()
+    if ($loaded_hive) {
+        $loaded_hive.Dispose()
     }
 }
 
 Exit-Json $result
+
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/win_reg_stat/defaults/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/win_reg_stat/defaults/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a714e4399db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/win_reg_stat/defaults/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+---
+test_reg_path: Test Key / [&Ansible*]
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/win_reg_stat/files/test_reg.reg b/test/integration/targets/win_reg_stat/files/test_reg.reg
deleted file mode 100644
index 64a3fc6971c..00000000000
--- a/test/integration/targets/win_reg_stat/files/test_reg.reg
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
-
-[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Test]
-
-[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Test\nested]
-"string"="test"
-"binary"=hex:01,16
-"dword"=dword:00000001
-"qword"=hex(b):01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
-"multi"=hex(7):61,00,2c,00,20,00,62,00,00,00,63,00,00,00,00,00
-"expand"=hex(2):25,00,77,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,69,00,72,00,25,00,5c,00,64,00,69,\
-  00,72,00,00,00
-
-[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Test\nested\nest1]
-"dontcare"=""
-
-[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Test\nested\nest2]
-
-
-[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Test\single]
-"string1"=""
-"string2"="abc123"
-"none"=hex(0):
-"none1"=hex(0):00
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/win_reg_stat/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/win_reg_stat/tasks/main.yml
index ebaa37d2339..654aeebd111 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/win_reg_stat/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/win_reg_stat/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,322 +1,29 @@
 ---
-- name: test
-  win_file:
-    path: "{{win_output_dir}}"
-    state: absent
-
-- name: make sure win output dir exists
-  win_file:
-    path: "{{win_output_dir}}"
-    state: directory
-
-- name: template out test registry structure
-  win_copy:
-    src: test_reg.reg
-    dest: "{{win_output_dir}}\\raw_test_reg.reg"
-
-- name: convert the line endings to the windows variant
-  win_shell: Get-Content "{{win_output_dir}}\raw_test_reg.reg" | Set-Content "{{win_output_dir}}\test_reg.reg"
-
-- name: import test registry structure
-  win_regmerge:
-    path: "{{win_output_dir}}\\test_reg.reg"
-
 - name: get value of expand string %windir%
   win_command: powershell.exe $env:windir
   register: win_dir_value
 
-- name: expect failure when not passing in path option
-  win_reg_stat:
-    name: a
-  register: actual
-  failed_when: "actual.msg != 'Get-AnsibleParam: Missing required argument: path'"
-
-- name: expect failure when passing in an invalid hive
-  win_reg_stat:
-    path: ABCD:\test
-  register: actual
-  failed_when: actual.msg != "the hive in path is 'ABCD'; must be 'HKCR', 'HKCC', 'HKCU', 'HKLM' or 'HKU'"
-
-- name: get known nested reg key structure for testing with short hive form
-  win_reg_stat:
-    path: HKCU:\Test\nested
-  register: actual_short
-
-- name: get known nested reg key structure for testing with quoted yaml
-  win_reg_stat:
-    path: "HKCU:\\Test\\nested"
-  register: actual_quoted
-
-- name: set expected value for reg structure
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: false
-      exists: true
-      failed: false
-      properties:
-        binary: { raw_value: ["0x01", "0x16"], type: 'REG_BINARY', value: [1, 22] }
-        dword: { raw_value: 1, type: 'REG_DWORD', value: 1 }
-        expand: { raw_value: '%windir%\dir', type: 'REG_EXPAND_SZ', value: "{{win_dir_value.stdout_lines[0]}}\\dir" }
-        multi: { raw_value: ['a, b', 'c'], type: 'REG_MULTI_SZ', value: ['a, b', 'c'] }
-        qword: { raw_value: 1, type: 'REG_QWORD', value: 1 }
-        string: { raw_value: 'test', type: 'REG_SZ', value: 'test' }
-      sub_keys:
-      - nest1
-      - nest2
-
-- name: validate test
-  assert:
-    that:
-    - "actual_short == expected"
-    - "actual_quoted == expected"
-
-- name: get known reg key with no sub keys but some properties
-  win_reg_stat:
-    path: HKCU:\Test\single
-  register: actual
-
-- name: set expected value for reg key with no sub keys but some properties
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: false
-      exists: true
-      failed: false
-      properties:
-        none: { raw_value: [], type: 'REG_NONE', value: [] }
-        none1: { raw_value: ["0x00"], type: 'REG_NONE', value: [0] }
-        string1: { raw_value: '', type: 'REG_SZ', value: '' }
-        string2: { raw_value: 'abc123', type: 'REG_SZ', value: 'abc123' }
-      sub_keys: []
-
-- name: validate test
-  assert:
-    that:
-    - "actual == expected"
-
-- name: get known reg key without sub keys and properties
-  win_reg_stat:
-    path: HKCU:\Test\nested\nest2
-  register: actual
-
-- name: set expected value for reg key without sub keys or properties
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: false
-      exists: true
-      failed: false
-      properties: {}
-      sub_keys: []
-  register: expected
-
-- name: validate test
-  assert:
-    that:
-      - "actual == expected"
-
-- name: get non-existent reg key
-  win_reg_stat:
-    path: HKCU:\Test\Thispathwillneverexist
-  register: actual
-
-- name: set expected value for non-existent reg key
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: false
-      exists: false
-      failed: false
-
-- name: validate test
-  assert:
-    that:
-    - "actual == expected"
-
-- name: get string property
-  win_reg_stat:
-    path: HKCU:\Test\nested
-    name: string
-  register: actual
-
-- name: set expected string property
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: false
-      exists: true
-      failed: false
-      raw_value: 'test'
-      type: 'REG_SZ'
-      value: 'test'
-
-- name: validate test
-  assert:
-    that:
-    - "actual == expected"
-
-- name: get expand string property
-  win_reg_stat:
-    path: HKCU:\Test\nested
-    name: expand
-  register: actual
-
-- name: set expected expand string property
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: false
-      exists: true
-      failed: false
-      raw_value: '%windir%\dir'
-      type: 'REG_EXPAND_SZ'
-      value: "{{win_dir_value.stdout_lines[0]}}\\dir"
-
-- name: validate test
-  assert:
-    that:
-    - "actual == expected"
-
-- name: get multi string property
-  win_reg_stat:
-    path: HKCU:\Test\nested
-    name: multi
-  register: actual
-
-- name: set expected multi string property
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: false
-      exists: true
-      failed: false
-      raw_value: ['a, b', 'c']
-      type: 'REG_MULTI_SZ'
-      value: ['a, b', 'c']
-
-- name: validate test
-  assert:
-    that:
-    - "actual == expected"
-
-- name: get binary property
-  win_reg_stat:
-    path: HKCU:\Test\nested
-    name: binary
-  register: actual
-
-- name: set expected binary property
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: false
-      exists: true
-      failed: false
-      raw_value: ["0x01", "0x16"]
-      type: 'REG_BINARY'
-      value: [1, 22]
-
-- name: validate test
-  assert:
-    that:
-    - "actual == expected"
-
-- name: get dword property
-  win_reg_stat:
-    path: HKCU:\Test\nested
-    name: dword
-  register: actual
-
-- name: set expected dword property
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: false
-      exists: true
-      failed: false
-      raw_value: 1
-      type: 'REG_DWORD'
-      value: 1
-
-- name: validate test
-  assert:
-    that:
-    - "actual == expected"
-
-- name: get qword property
-  win_reg_stat:
-    path: HKCU:\Test\nested
-    name: qword
-  register: actual
-
-- name: set expected qword property
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: false
-      exists: true
-      failed: false
-      raw_value: 1
-      type: 'REG_QWORD'
-      value: 1
-
-- name: validate test
-  assert:
-    that:
-    - "actual == expected"
-
-- name: get none property
-  win_reg_stat:
-    path: HKCU:\Test\single
-    name: none
-  register: actual
-
-- name: set expected none property
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: false
-      exists: true
-      failed: false
-      raw_value: []
-      type: 'REG_NONE'
-      value: []
-
-- name: validate test
-  assert:
-    that:
-    - "actual == expected"
-
-- name: get none with value property
-  win_reg_stat:
-    path: HKCU:\Test\single
-    name: none1
-  register: actual
-
-- name: set expected none with value property
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: false
-      exists: true
-      failed: false
-      raw_value: ["0x00"]
-      type: 'REG_NONE'
-      value: [0]
-
-- name: validate test
-  assert:
-    that:
-    - "actual == expected"
-
-- name: get non-existence property
-  win_reg_stat:
-    path: HKCU:\Test\single
-    name: doesnotexist
-  register: actual
-
-- name: set expected non-existence property
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: false
-      exists: false
-      failed: false
-
-- name: validate test
-  assert:
-    that:
-    - "actual == expected"
+- name: template out test registry structure
+  win_template:
+    src: test_reg.reg.j2
+    dest: '{{ win_output_dir }}\test_reg.reg'
 
-- name: remove registry entry
-  win_regedit:
-    path: HKCU:\Test
-    state: absent
+- name: import test registry structure
+  win_regmerge:
+    path: '{{ win_output_dir }}\test_reg.reg'
+
+- block:
+  - name: run tests
+    import_tasks: tests.yml
+
+  always:
+  - name: remove test registry key
+    win_regedit:
+      path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}
+      state: absent
+      delete_key: True
+
+  - name: remove template registry file
+    win_file:
+      path: '{{ win_output_dir }}\test_reg.reg'
+      state: absent
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/win_reg_stat/tasks/tests.yml b/test/integration/targets/win_reg_stat/tasks/tests.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..285b501a4ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/win_reg_stat/tasks/tests.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,364 @@
+---
+- name: expect failure when not passing in path option
+  win_reg_stat:
+    name: a
+  register: actual
+  failed_when: "actual.msg != 'Get-AnsibleParam: Missing required argument: path'"
+
+- name: expect failure when passing in an invalid hive
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: ABCD:\test
+  register: actual
+  failed_when: 'actual.msg != "path: ABCD:\\test is not a valid registry path, see module documentation for examples."'
+
+- name: get known nested reg key structure
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\nested
+  register: actual
+
+- name: set expected value for reg structure
+  set_fact:
+    expected:
+      changed: false
+      exists: true
+      failed: false
+      properties:
+        binary: { raw_value: ["0x01", "0x16"], type: 'REG_BINARY', value: [1, 22] }
+        dword: { raw_value: 1, type: 'REG_DWORD', value: 1 }
+        expand: { raw_value: '%windir%\dir', type: 'REG_EXPAND_SZ', value: "{{win_dir_value.stdout_lines[0]}}\\dir" }
+        large_dword: { raw_value: 4294967295, type: 'REG_DWORD', value: 4294967295 }
+        large_qword: { raw_value: 18446744073709551615, type: 'REG_QWORD', value: 18446744073709551615 }
+        multi: { raw_value: ['a, b', 'c'], type: 'REG_MULTI_SZ', value: ['a, b', 'c'] }
+        qword: { raw_value: 1, type: 'REG_QWORD', value: 1 }
+        string: { raw_value: 'test', type: 'REG_SZ', value: 'test' }
+      sub_keys:
+      - nest1
+      - nest2
+
+- name: assert get known nested reg key structure
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual == expected
+
+- name: get known reg key with no sub keys but some properties
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\single
+  register: actual
+
+- name: set expected value for reg key with no sub keys but some properties
+  set_fact:
+    expected:
+      changed: false
+      exists: true
+      failed: false
+      properties:
+        none: { raw_value: [], type: 'REG_NONE', value: [] }
+        none1: { raw_value: ["0x00"], type: 'REG_NONE', value: [0] }
+        string1: { raw_value: '', type: 'REG_SZ', value: '' }
+        string2: { raw_value: 'abc123', type: 'REG_SZ', value: 'abc123' }
+      sub_keys: []
+
+- name: assert get known reg key with no sub keys but some properties
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual == expected
+
+- name: get known reg key without sub keys and properties
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\nested\nest2
+  register: actual
+
+- name: set expected value for reg key without sub keys or properties
+  set_fact:
+    expected:
+      changed: false
+      exists: true
+      failed: false
+      properties: {}
+      sub_keys: []
+  register: expected
+
+- name: assert get known reg key without sub keys and properties
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - actual == expected
+
+- name: get non-existent reg key
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\Thispathwillneverexist
+  register: actual
+
+- name: set expected value for non-existent reg key
+  set_fact:
+    expected:
+      changed: false
+      exists: false
+      failed: false
+
+- name: assert get non-existent reg key
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual == expected
+
+- name: get string property
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\nested
+    name: string
+  register: actual
+
+- name: set expected string property
+  set_fact:
+    expected:
+      changed: false
+      exists: true
+      failed: false
+      raw_value: 'test'
+      type: 'REG_SZ'
+      value: 'test'
+
+- name: assert get string property
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual == expected
+
+- name: get expand string property
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\nested
+    name: expand
+  register: actual
+
+- name: set expected expand string property
+  set_fact:
+    expected:
+      changed: false
+      exists: true
+      failed: false
+      raw_value: '%windir%\dir'
+      type: 'REG_EXPAND_SZ'
+      value: "{{win_dir_value.stdout_lines[0]}}\\dir"
+
+- name: assert get expand string property
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual == expected
+
+- name: get multi string property
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\nested
+    name: multi
+  register: actual
+
+- name: set expected multi string property
+  set_fact:
+    expected:
+      changed: false
+      exists: true
+      failed: false
+      raw_value: ['a, b', 'c']
+      type: 'REG_MULTI_SZ'
+      value: ['a, b', 'c']
+
+- name: assert get multi string property
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual == expected
+
+- name: get binary property
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\nested
+    name: binary
+  register: actual
+
+- name: set expected binary property
+  set_fact:
+    expected:
+      changed: false
+      exists: true
+      failed: false
+      raw_value: ["0x01", "0x16"]
+      type: 'REG_BINARY'
+      value: [1, 22]
+
+- name: assert get binary property
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual == expected
+
+- name: get dword property
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\nested
+    name: dword
+  register: actual
+
+- name: set expected dword property
+  set_fact:
+    expected:
+      changed: false
+      exists: true
+      failed: false
+      raw_value: 1
+      type: 'REG_DWORD'
+      value: 1
+
+- name: assert get dword property
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual == expected
+
+- name: get qword property
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\nested
+    name: qword
+  register: actual
+
+- name: set expected qword property
+  set_fact:
+    expected:
+      changed: false
+      exists: true
+      failed: false
+      raw_value: 1
+      type: 'REG_QWORD'
+      value: 1
+
+- name: assert get qword property
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual == expected
+
+- name: get none property
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\single
+    name: none
+  register: actual
+
+- name: set expected none property
+  set_fact:
+    expected:
+      changed: false
+      exists: true
+      failed: false
+      raw_value: []
+      type: 'REG_NONE'
+      value: []
+
+- name: assert get none property
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual == expected
+
+- name: get none with value property
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\single
+    name: none1
+  register: actual
+
+- name: set expected none with value property
+  set_fact:
+    expected:
+      changed: false
+      exists: true
+      failed: false
+      raw_value: ["0x00"]
+      type: 'REG_NONE'
+      value: [0]
+
+- name: assert get non with value property
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual == expected
+
+- name: get non-existent property
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\single
+    name: doesnotexist
+  register: actual
+
+- name: set expected non-existent property
+  set_fact:
+    expected:
+      changed: false
+      exists: false
+      failed: false
+
+- name: assert get non-existent property
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual == expected
+
+- name: get key with default property set
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\Duplicate Default
+  register: actual
+
+- name: assert get key with default property set
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual.properties[""]['raw_value'] == "default"
+    - actual.properties[""]['type'] == "REG_SZ"
+    - actual.properties[""]['value'] == "default"
+    - actual.properties['(Default)'].raw_value == "custom"
+    - actual.properties['(Default)'].type == "REG_SZ"
+    - actual.properties['(Default)'].value == "custom"
+
+- name: get default property
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\Duplicate Default
+    name: ''
+  register: actual
+
+- name: assert get default property
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual.value == "default"
+    - actual.raw_value == "default"
+    - actual.type == "REG_SZ"
+
+- name: get key with blank property set
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\Blank Default
+  register: actual
+
+- name: assert get key with blank property set
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual.properties[""].raw_value == ""
+    - actual.properties[""].type == "REG_SZ"
+    - actual.properties[""].value == ""
+    - actual.properties['(Default)'].raw_value == ""
+    - actual.properties['(Default)'].type == "REG_SZ"
+    - actual.properties['(Default)'].value == ""
+
+- name: get default property as empty string
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\Blank Default
+    name: ''
+  register: actual
+
+- name: assert get default property as empty string
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual.value == ""
+    - actual.raw_value == ""
+    - actual.type == "REG_SZ"
+
+- name: get key with no properties set
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\Empty Default
+  register: actual
+
+- name: assert get key with no properties set
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - actual.properties == {}
+
+- name: get default property that has not been set
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: HKCU:\{{ test_reg_path }}\Empty Default
+    name: ''
+  register: actual
+
+- name: assert get default property that has not been set
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - not actual.exists
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/win_reg_stat/templates/test_reg.reg.j2 b/test/integration/targets/win_reg_stat/templates/test_reg.reg.j2
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ac3d44ed730
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/win_reg_stat/templates/test_reg.reg.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
+
+[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\{{ test_reg_path }}]
+
+[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\{{ test_reg_path }}\nested]
+"string"="test"
+"binary"=hex:01,16
+"dword"=dword:00000001
+"qword"=hex(b):01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
+"large_dword"=dword:ffffffff
+"large_qword"=hex(b):ff,ff,ff,ff,ff,ff,ff,ff
+"multi"=hex(7):61,00,2c,00,20,00,62,00,00,00,63,00,00,00,00,00
+"expand"=hex(2):25,00,77,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,69,00,72,00,25,00,5c,00,64,00,69,\
+  00,72,00,00,00
+
+[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\{{ test_reg_path }}\nested\nest1]
+"dontcare"=""
+
+[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\{{ test_reg_path }}\nested\nest2]
+
+
+[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\{{ test_reg_path }}\single]
+"string1"=""
+"string2"="abc123"
+"none"=hex(0):
+"none1"=hex(0):00
+
+[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\{{ test_reg_path }}\Empty Default]
+
+
+[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\{{ test_reg_path }}\Blank Default]
+@=""
+"(Default)"=""
+
+[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\{{ test_reg_path }}\Duplicate Default]
+@="default"
+"(Default)"="custom"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/win_regedit/defaults/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/win_regedit/defaults/main.yml
index cb3b84b0a15..ec884875568 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/win_regedit/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/win_regedit/defaults/main.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-test_win_regedit_local_key: HKLM:\Software\Cow Corp
+test_win_regedit_local_key: 'HKLM:\Software\Moo []{}!@#$%^&*()-_=+/key''"?<>'
 test_win_regedit_classes_key: HKCR:\.test-ansible
 test_win_regedit_hive_key: HKLM:\ANSIBLE\NewKey
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/win_regedit/tasks/create_tests.yml b/test/integration/targets/win_regedit/tasks/create_tests.yml
index d2e3a38e64e..e8cc5367744 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/win_regedit/tasks/create_tests.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/win_regedit/tasks/create_tests.yml
@@ -131,14 +131,6 @@
     - data_create_actual.type == test_win_regedit_key_expected_type
   when: test_win_regedit_key_type not in ['dword', 'qword']
 
-- name: debug 1
-  debug:
-    var: test_win_regedit_key_expected_value1
-
-- name: debug 2
-  debug:
-    var: test_win_regedit_key_expected_value1|int
-
 - name: assert create a {{test_win_regedit_key_type}} for dword or qword
   assert:
     that:
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/win_regedit/tasks/tests.yml b/test/integration/targets/win_regedit/tasks/tests.yml
index d2e89963b40..d633e5333b0 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/win_regedit/tasks/tests.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/win_regedit/tasks/tests.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,17 @@
 ---
+- name: check warning is fired if path with / as separators is used
+  win_regedit:
+    path: HKLM:\SOFTWARE/Microsoft
+    state: present
+  register: forward_separator_warn
+
+- name: assert warning is fired if / is used as a separator
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - forward_separator_warn.deprecations|length == 1
+    - forward_separator_warn.deprecations[0].msg == "path is not using '\\' as a separator, support for '/' as a separator will be removed in a future Ansible version"
+    - forward_separator_warn.deprecations[0].version == 2.12
+
 - name: fail run win_regedit with larger dword
   win_regedit:
     path: '{{test_win_regedit_local_key}}'
@@ -82,16 +95,17 @@
   register: modify_default_check
   check_mode: yes
 
-# win_reg_stat struggles with the (Default) property just use powershell
 - name: get actual modify the (Default) key property check
-  win_command: powershell.exe "(Get-Item -Path '{{test_win_regedit_local_key}}').GetValue($null, $null)"
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: '{{ test_win_regedit_local_key }}'
+    name: ''
   register: modify_default_actual_check
 
 - name: assert modify the (Default) key property check
   assert:
     that:
     - modify_default_check is changed
-    - modify_default_actual_check.stdout == ""
+    - not modify_default_actual_check.exists
 
 - name: modify the (Default) key property
   win_regedit:
@@ -101,14 +115,16 @@
   register: modify_default
 
 - name: get actual modify the (Default) key property
-  win_command: powershell.exe "(Get-Item -Path '{{test_win_regedit_local_key}}').GetValue($null, $null)"
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: '{{ test_win_regedit_local_key }}'
+    name: ''
   register: modify_default_actual
 
 - name: assert modify the (Default) key property
   assert:
     that:
     - modify_default is changed
-    - modify_default_actual.stdout == "default value\r\n"
+    - modify_default_actual.value == "default value"
 
 - name: create an actual property called (Default)
   win_regedit:
@@ -120,20 +136,17 @@
   register: create_specific_default_check
   check_mode: yes
 
-- name: get actual value for (Default) property to ensure it didn't change check
-  win_command: powershell.exe "(Get-Item -Path '{{test_win_regedit_local_key}}').GetValue($null, $null)"
-  register: create_specific_default_actual_default_check
-
-- name: get actual for create specific property called (Default) check
-  win_command: powershell.exe "(Get-Item -Path '{{test_win_regedit_local_key}}').GetValue('(Default)', $null)"
+- name: get actual value for (Default) property
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: '{{ test_win_regedit_local_key }}'
   register: create_specific_default_actual_check
 
 - name: assert create specific property called (Default) check
   assert:
     that:
     - create_specific_default_check is changed
-    - create_specific_default_actual_default_check.stdout == "default value\r\n"
-    - create_specific_default_actual_check.stdout == ""
+    - create_specific_default_actual_check.properties[""].value == "default value"
+    - not "(Default)" in create_specific_default_actual_check.properties
 
 - name: create an actual property called (Default)
   win_regedit:
@@ -144,20 +157,17 @@
     state: present
   register: create_specific_default
 
-- name: get actual value for (Default) property to ensure it didn't change
-  win_command: powershell.exe "(Get-Item -Path '{{test_win_regedit_local_key}}').GetValue($null, $null)"
-  register: create_specific_default_actual_default
-
-- name: get actual for specific property called (Default)
-  win_command: powershell.exe "(Get-Item -Path '{{test_win_regedit_local_key}}').GetValue('(Default)', $null)"
+- name: get actual value for (Default) property
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: '{{ test_win_regedit_local_key }}'
   register: create_specific_default_actual
 
 - name: assert create specific property called (Default)
   assert:
     that:
     - create_specific_default is changed
-    - create_specific_default_actual_default.stdout == "default value\r\n"
-    - create_specific_default_actual.stdout == "custom default value\r\n"
+    - create_specific_default_actual.properties[""].value == "default value"
+    - create_specific_default_actual.properties["(Default)"].value == "custom default value"
 
 - name: delete property check
   win_regedit:
@@ -219,19 +229,16 @@
   check_mode: yes
 
 - name: get actual of key's (Default) property check
-  win_command: powershell.exe "(Get-Item -Path '{{test_win_regedit_local_key}}').GetValue($null, $null)"
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: '{{ test_win_regedit_local_key }}'
   register: delete_default_actual_check
 
-- name: get actual of custom (Default) property check
-  win_command: powershell.exe "(Get-Item -Path '{{test_win_regedit_local_key}}').GetValue('(Default)', $null)"
-  register: delete_default_custom_actual_check
-
 - name: assert delete the key's (Default) property check
   assert:
     that:
     - delete_default_check is changed
-    - delete_default_actual_check.stdout == "default value\r\n"
-    - delete_default_custom_actual_check.stdout == "custom default value\r\n"
+    - delete_default_actual_check.properties[""].value == "default value"
+    - delete_default_actual_check.properties["(Default)"].value == "custom default value"
 
 - name: delete the key's (Default) property
   win_regedit:
@@ -241,19 +248,16 @@
   register: delete_default
 
 - name: get actual of key's (Default) property
-  win_command: powershell.exe "(Get-Item -Path '{{test_win_regedit_local_key}}').GetValue($null, $null)"
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: '{{ test_win_regedit_local_key }}'
   register: delete_default_actual
 
-- name: get actual of custom (Default) property
-  win_command: powershell.exe "(Get-Item -Path '{{test_win_regedit_local_key}}').GetValue('(Default)', $null)"
-  register: delete_default_custom_actual
-
 - name: assert delete the key's (Default) property
   assert:
     that:
     - delete_default is changed
-    - delete_default_actual.stdout == ""
-    - delete_default_custom_actual.stdout == "custom default value\r\n"
+    - not "" in delete_default_actual.properties
+    - delete_default_actual.properties["(Default)"].value == "custom default value"
 
 - name: recreate the key's (Default) property for next test
   win_regedit:
@@ -270,19 +274,16 @@
   check_mode: yes
 
 - name: get actual of key's (Default) property check
-  win_command: powershell.exe "(Get-Item -Path '{{test_win_regedit_local_key}}').GetValue($null, $null)"
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: '{{ test_win_regedit_local_key }}'
   register: delete_custom_default_actual_check
 
-- name: get actual of custom (Default) property check
-  win_command: powershell.exe "(Get-Item -Path '{{test_win_regedit_local_key}}').GetValue('(Default)', $null)"
-  register: delete_custom_default_custom_actual_check
-
 - name: assert delete the custom (Default) property check
   assert:
     that:
     - delete_custom_default_check is changed
-    - delete_custom_default_actual_check.stdout == "default value\r\n"
-    - delete_custom_default_custom_actual_check.stdout == "custom default value\r\n"
+    - delete_custom_default_actual_check.properties[""].value == "default value"
+    - delete_custom_default_actual_check.properties["(Default)"].value == "custom default value"
 
 - name: delete the custom (Default) property
   win_regedit:
@@ -293,19 +294,16 @@
   register: delete_custom_default
 
 - name: get actual of key's (Default) property
-  win_command: powershell.exe "(Get-Item -Path '{{test_win_regedit_local_key}}').GetValue($null, $null)"
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: '{{ test_win_regedit_local_key }}'
   register: delete_custom_default_actual
 
-- name: get actual of custom (Default) property
-  win_command: powershell.exe "(Get-Item -Path '{{test_win_regedit_local_key}}').GetValue('(Default)', $null)"
-  register: delete_custom_default_custom_actual
-
 - name: assert delete the custom (Default) property
   assert:
     that:
     - delete_custom_default is changed
-    - delete_custom_default_actual.stdout == "default value\r\n"
-    - delete_custom_default_custom_actual.stdout == ""
+    - delete_custom_default_actual.properties[""].value == "default value"
+    - not "(Default)" in delete_custom_default_actual.properties
 
 - name: add some nested keys for later deletion
   win_regedit:
@@ -366,6 +364,26 @@
     that:
     - delete_key_again is not changed
 
+- name: create a new key without specifying the property
+  win_regedit:
+    path: '{{ test_win_regedit_local_key }}\new'
+    state: present
+  register: create_key_no_prop
+
+- name: get result of create a new key without specifying the property
+  win_reg_stat:
+    path: '{{ test_win_regedit_local_key }}\new'
+  register: create_key_no_prop_actual
+
+- name: assert create a new key without specifying the property
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - create_key_no_prop is changed
+    - not create_key_no_prop.data_changed
+    - not create_key_no_prop.data_type_changed
+    - create_key_no_prop_actual.exists
+    - create_key_no_prop_actual.properties == {}
+
 - name: create key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT check
   win_regedit:
     path: '{{test_win_regedit_classes_key}}'