Windows 2000 Registry

[Ann]

In trying to sort out problems with McAfee Virus Scan,
McAfee gave me instructions to change the registry. I
took 2 backups of the registry before I started. I made a
mistake and wanted to restore the registry. Neither of
the backups worked - each gave rise to the same
message: "Cannot import (filename) - error accessing
registry" Can anyone tell me if I can get round this?

 

[Mark V]

In trying to sort out problems with McAfee Virus Scan,
McAfee gave me instructions to change the registry. I
took 2 backups of the registry before I started. I made a
mistake and wanted to restore the registry. Neither of
the backups worked - each gave rise to the same
message: "Cannot import (filename) - error accessing
registry" Can anyone tell me if I can get round this?

I will guess that by "backup" you mean an Export from regedit.exe.

In that case you will have realized that exporting entire registry
hives (or "branches") from regedit is neither supported nor effective
for registry backup.

The proper way to backup the registry to hive files on disk is via
built-in APIs. This is provided for in the OS via the ntbackup.exe
program in two ways.

* A "System State" backup
* An "ERD" backup (with the option "Also backup the registry to..."
box checked.

In case two above the backup will be saved to %systemroot%\repair
\RegBack\ and those hive files on disk can be utilized via the Recover
Console at need.

Non-OS provided is ERUNT, a free 3rd-party tool you may wish to aquire.


Regedit.exe Exports can be useful on a smaller scale. Exporting a
single key and be fast and effective.

You may (perhaps) be able to open an exported .REG file in a text
editor to recover information for a specific key/valuename/data.

 

[Mark V]

In trying to sort out problems with McAfee Virus Scan,
McAfee gave me instructions to change the registry. I
took 2 backups of the registry before I started. I made a
mistake and wanted to restore the registry. Neither of
the backups worked - each gave rise to the same
message: "Cannot import (filename) - error accessing
registry" Can anyone tell me if I can get round this?

I will guess that by "backup" you mean an Export from regedit.exe.

In that case you will have realized that exporting entire registry
hives (or "branches") from regedit is neither supported nor effective
for registry backup.

The proper way to backup the registry to hive files on disk is via
built-in APIs. This is provided for in the OS via the ntbackup.exe
program in two ways.

* A "System State" backup
* An "ERD" backup (with the option "Also backup the registry to..."
box checked.

In case two above the backup will be saved to %systemroot%\repair
\RegBack\ and those hive files on disk can be utilized via the Recover
Console at need.

Non-OS provided is ERUNT, a free 3rd-party tool you may wish to aquire.


Regedit.exe Exports can be useful on a smaller scale. Exporting a
single key and be fast and effective.

You may (perhaps) be able to open an exported .REG file in a text
editor to recover information for a specific key/valuename/data.