How To Make A Backup Of Your Registry. Perform this befor you make any changes in the registry

[delivi 0]

Registry is the most sesitive part of the Windows OS as it stores each and every important information needed by the Windows to run properly.

 

We can make changes in the registry that can enhace our windows OS by increasing speed or changing visually etc. You can find lots of Windows Regisrty Tweaks here in Xisto and also in number of other sites.

But It is very very Important to make a backup copy of the registry before you go to apply the twek by making changes in the registry. By this you can reset your registry back if anything goes wrong.

 

Here is the steps to be followed to make a backup of the registry.

 

Step 1: Select Start Menu >> Run, the Run dialog box will open

 

Step 2: In the run dialog box type regedit and click Ok

The Registry editor window will open.

 

Step 3: In the left pane of the Registry Editor select the My Computer, which is the Top most node in the Tree.

 

Step 4: Right Click on My Computer and Select Export. The Save as dialog box will open.

 

Step 5: Give a name for the registry backup file preferabbly the date of saving in the File Name Text Box and Select Registration Files (*.reg) from the File Types List.

 

Step 6: This is the most important Step save the registration backup file in a partion other than that in which the OS is Installed and select Save.

 

Now you've made a backup of your registry. You can fearlesly modify the keys in the regisry and try the new tweaks.

 

Now lets see how to reset the registry with the backup file that we've created in case any thing goes wrong in the regisry or in the system. The steps to be followed are,

 

Step 1: Select Start Menu >> Run, the Run dialog box will open

 

Step 2: In the run dialog box type regedit and click Ok

The Registry editor window will open.

 

Step 3: Goto File Menu and select Import from the menu in the registry Editor.

 

Step 4: The Open File Dialog Box will appear, navigate to the location where you've saved the backup of your registry and seclt the file and click Open.

 

Now you've done it, your registry has been reset and restart the system after resetting the Registry to make it work properly.

[bakuryu 0]

Also you can backup all your 5 registry hives : system, software, sam, security, default.

This will be helpful when a corrupted registry has prevented you from starting up or booting into Windows.

ERUNT isa free software that backs up all the 5 registry hives. (It can restore backup also).

Now, for a disaster recovery step, after you have backed up with ERUNT, open the folder, you'll find the 5 files :
default
SAM
SECURITY
software
system

copy/burn the 5 files to a CD/DVD.

In case when you cannot bootup due to a corupted registry :
1. Start Windows with the Windows CD, and go to Recovery console.

Assuming D to be the backup drive where the files are stored : type the following commands in recovery console :

md tmpcopy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bakcopy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bakcopy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bakcopy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bakcopy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bakdelete c:\windows\system32\config\systemdelete c:\windows\system32\config\softwaredelete c:\windows\system32\config\samdelete c:\windows\system32\config\securitydelete c:\windows\system32\config\defaultcopy d:\system c:\windows\system32\config\systemcopy d:\software c:\windows\system32\config\softwarecopy d:\config c:\windows\system32\config\samcopy d:\security c:\windows\system32\config\securitycopy d:\default c:\windows\system32\config\default

Now restart normally. And delete the C:\Windows\Tem folder. You can also import a registry hive through regedit, modify the changes you made and restore them. Alternately a copy of the 5 registry hives are located in C:\Windows\Repair directory. However they are the hives when Windows is first installed on a system, so they don't contain any new software, custom settings that you have applied after installing Windows.
Edited July 23, 2006 by bakuryu (see edit history)

[delivi 0]

Thanx bakuryu, forc ontributing more to this tutorial. This will really help all the users and will be really benefical. Thanx once again.

Edited July 28, 2006 by delivi (see edit history)

[FirefoxRocks 0]

Um...Import and Export does not work on the entire registry actually. The registry entries file will get corrupt after a few hours to a few days.Use the software as mentioned or find free software from Download.com. They usually work better.

[tydes 0]

yeah, using registry tool. like tune up utilities, tweakxp, etc, It can backup your registry and can restore it if there are problems!!!