2 questions HKLM->hiv, and reg compression

[Ms. Linda A.W.]

I wanted to see what the size of my registry would be if exported as a new
hive to see how much "slack" I have in my registry.

I first exported HKCU as a hive and that went fine -- less than a meg
difference.

But then I tried exporting HKLM and was told "permission denied".
What's up with that? I can export it as a ".reg" file but not as a hive?

While I'd like to know why I can't export HKLM as .reg but not .hiv,
what is the recommended way to compact one's registry using MS's tools
(or preferably open source tools). Are there any open source registry
editing programs? Any free (as in no spyware attached) compactors?

It'd be nice if there was an open-source registry editor project -- that
could be "a bit" (ok, alot) more user friendly than the current model.

Thanks for any/all pointers...
-linda

 

[Dave Patrick]

Try running Programs|Accessories|System Tools|Backup, then choose ERD, then
if you check the box for "Also backup....", then the reg will also be backed
up to
%windir%\repair\RegBack
leaving the
%windir%\repair\
directory files intact as original installation.

You can replace registry hives from within the recovery console by copying
the files from
%windir%\repair\regback
to
%windir%\system32\config

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000
Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have Setup
floppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup CD,
use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks.
Press ENTER at the "Setup Notification" screen. Press R to repair a Windows
2000 installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The
Recovery Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do
not have the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Note If the registry is corrupted
or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console starts
in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot
access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk, fixboot,
and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. Once the password has been validated,
you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access to the hard
disk. You can only access the following folders on your computer: drive
root, %systemroot% or %windir%

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
|I wanted to see what the size of my registry would be if exported as a new
| hive to see how much "slack" I have in my registry.
|
| I first exported HKCU as a hive and that went fine -- less than a meg
| difference.
|
| But then I tried exporting HKLM and was told "permission denied".
| What's up with that? I can export it as a ".reg" file but not as a hive?
|
| While I'd like to know why I can't export HKLM as .reg but not .hiv,
| what is the recommended way to compact one's registry using MS's tools
| (or preferably open source tools). Are there any open source registry
| editing programs? Any free (as in no spyware attached) compactors?
|
| It'd be nice if there was an open-source registry editor project -- that
| could be "a bit" (ok, alot) more user friendly than the current model.
|
| Thanks for any/all pointers...
| -linda
|
|
| --
| ---
| Email: to send me email, then my address would be like
| 'earthlink' was 'tlinx' and 'net' was 'org'

 

[Mark V]

I wanted to see what the size of my registry would be if
exported as a new hive to see how much "slack" I have in my
registry.

See Dave's post.

[ ]

While I'd like to know why I can't export HKLM as .reg but not
.hiv, what is the recommended way to compact one's registry
using MS's tools (or preferably open source tools). Are there

That ntbackup-ERD..., recovery console method does exactly that.

any open source registry editing programs? Any free (as in no
spyware attached) compactors?

If you like, look at NTRegOpt
http://home.t-online.de/home/lars.hederer/erunt/
which is nothing much more than a 3rd-party package of the manual
procedure. Requires a reboot, but no RC manual actions.

I tried it once on W2K Pro workstation system well maintained and
running for over four years and got less than 2% compaction on
average. Insignificant. YMMV

It'd be nice if there was an open-source registry editor project
-- that could be "a bit" (ok, alot) more user friendly than the
current model.

There are many shareware and commercial 3rd-party registry editors.
Tastes vary. Most are "more capable". Not certain what you would
mean by more "user friendly". One of the
http://www.resplendence.com/docs/pp.dll
products might be of interest.

More at
http://lists.gpick.com/pages/Registry_Tools.htm

No particular recommendations beyond ERUNT and Regmon (neither an
editor).

That "ERD" backup method or ERUNT or other "full registry backup"
method is recommended as a regular task. Just like data backups.