Registry Back Up

[woofer]

How do you back up the registry in Windows XP? and how do you restore the registry with your back up?

[pawprint]

start>run>regedit
make sure my computer at the top is highlighted. This will create a full backup of your registry. File>export>then create a name for your file. Name it 9-23-2002 full reg backup for example. Choose folder destination of backup{preferably a separate partition or hdd if system gets hosed. }To restore, choose file>import>navigate to saved backup file>right click>merge to restore full registry backup. However, if you install software after this backup, you will need to reinstall to create new registry keys. Or create a system restore image, along with backing up registry for double protection.
cheers, ~pawprint~

[woofer]

Cool Pawprint thanks very much

[mike breck]

Hmmm...interesting.

Has anyone had any experience of merging back reg files in W2K or XP?

In Win9x it was always best done in DOS because it's not recommended to replace Registry files when Windows is running. Even then, merging a Key was usually OK, but trying to replace the entire Registry from a backup was really a hit and a miss affair.

However, some third party programs like ERS98 did it flawlessly from DOS.

Old habits would tend to make me use System Restore before XP starts by pressing F8 and using the Windows Advanced Options Menu method.

But does it work just as well when Windows is running?

[pawprint]

You can merge registry files within the windows operating system.
You can also back up individual registry keys as well as the entire registry. Win98 and ME used the scanreg/restore DOS utility, and XP's restore feature is more robust and dependable than the ME version IMHO.
Check out here the WIn XP backup utility that is included in your operating system, which receives little publicity. It can also be an excellent resource re: backing up your user profiles, along with your system settings {which includes a full registry backup btw.}
cheers, ~pawprint~

[doctorgonzo]

Unfortunately, Windows XP Home doesn't have that utility.

[pawprint]

The backup utility in Win XP Home is not installed by default. Insert your Win XP Home disk. Browse to the H:\VALUEADD\MSFT\NTBACKUP directory , and click on the ntbackup utility to initialize installation. According to the read me file, "ASR is not supported on home edition.

IF you install NtBackup from the CD to the Home Edition, ASR functionality will appear to work fine during
the backup session. Since the setup does not support ASR in the home edition, there is no way to initiate
the ASR restore in case of a disaster. If you need to restore from this session, install Windows XP manually
and then restore from the ASR media.

2. Backup to CDRW

If you decide to backup to a CDRW, you cannot target that device directly. You must create a backup set of
650MB or less and backup to a file. After the file is complete, copy the file to the CDRW. "
cheers, ~pawprint~

[mike breck]

Thanks for the info pawprint.