Backing up the registry?

[Xantipis]

Is there any way to back up the registry to CD's?
If so where would I find instructions as I don't seem to find any at
Micrsoft.

Thanks

 

[Chris]

Is there any way to back up the registry to CD's?
If so where would I find instructions as I don't seem to find any at
Micrsoft.

Thanks

hi,
when you back up the reg you create a file, you have to select where to save
the file. i would just start my burning software, go to the location i
stored the backup in, and burn that file to CD. but thats just what i would
do. Chris

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Is there any way to back up the registry to CD's?
If so where would I find instructions as I don't seem to find any at
Micrsoft.

Thanks

While it is possible to back up the registry files, doing so
is unlikely to help you in case you have a problem. Restoring
a registry file requires a good knowledge about the inner
workings of Windows. It also requires a method to access
your hard disk without launching Windows. Much better
to rely on the inbuilt System Restore facility or perhaps on
a third party product such as Acronis TrueImage.

Remember: Backing up something only gives you a *hope*
of restoring it later on. To be *sure* you must perform a
full test restore. If you don't then it probably won't work
when the crunch comes.

 

[WaIIy]

Is there any way to back up the registry to CD's?
If so where would I find instructions as I don't seem to find any at
Micrsoft.

Thanks

I'd get this and backup the folder to the CD .....

http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Is there any way to back up the registry to CD's?
If so where would I find instructions as I don't seem to find any at
Micrsoft.

ERUNT is an excellent program.
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

 

[Bill in Co.]

Using both now. I'm still trying to decide when one is preferable over
the other. Is there some common theme here? Like as to when it would be
preferable to use ERUNT over System Restore, or vice versa?

One thing I'm pretty sure of is that ERUNT is more basic and fundamental,
and does not save/restore user programs or applications, per se. Whereas
System Restore might (and sometimes will even delete some stuff (like
recently downloaded program exe files, for example) you had saved
previously - thinking it's doing you a favor - but sometimes it's a
disservice).

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

One thing I'm pretty sure of is that ERUNT is more basic and fundamental,
and does not save/restore user programs or applications, per se. Whereas
System Restore might [snip]

WRONG

System Restore saves SYSTEM settings. Nothing else.

 

[Bill in Co.]

One thing I'm pretty sure of is that ERUNT is more basic and fundamental,
and does not save/restore user programs or applications, per se.
Whereas
System Restore might [snip]

WRONG

System Restore saves SYSTEM settings. Nothing else.

It also saves the REGISTRY, which is much more than JUST "system settings"

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

It also saves the REGISTRY, which is much more than JUST "system settings"

YOU are a MORON.

The registry CONTAINS ALL THE SYSTEM SETTINGS.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Using both now. I'm still trying to decide when one is preferable over
the other. Is there some common theme here? Like as to when it would be
preferable to use ERUNT over System Restore, or vice versa?

One thing I'm pretty sure of is that ERUNT is more basic and fundamental,
and does not save/restore user programs or applications, per se. Whereas
System Restore might (and sometimes will even delete some stuff (like
recently downloaded program exe files, for example) you had saved
previously - thinking it's doing you a favor - but sometimes it's a
disservice).

No, System Restore doesn't save user programs, just the operating
system. It's somewhat more than the registry, so it's good to keep it
in place even if you use Erunt. Personally, I try to be extra
cautious, and use both

 

[Bill in Co.]

YOU are a MORON.

The registry CONTAINS ALL THE SYSTEM SETTINGS.

Forget it, it's over your head. Go read Ken's post for starters.

 

[Bill in Co.]

Using both now. I'm still trying to decide when one is preferable over
the other, and is there some common theme here. Like when it would be
preferable to use ERUNT over System Restore, OR vice versa??

One thing I'm pretty sure of, by now, is that ERUNT is more "fundamental",
and
does not change or delete ANY files upon restoration, except the system
registry files.

Whereas System Restore apparently can, at least in some instances. System
Restore can even delete some files upon a restore operation, like some
recently downloaded program exe files that you had saved before - I've been
through that one already.

Still, in retrospect, System Restore seems to monitor at least SOME
application installation related files, unlike ERUNT, which only monitors
the registry and its few system files, so it seems System Restore would
"generally" be more useful.

 

[Daave]

Using both now. I'm still trying to decide when one is preferable
over the other, and is there some common theme here. Like when it
would be preferable to use ERUNT over System Restore, OR vice versa??

Usually, System Restore is preferable. However, if there are no clean
restore points or if you are unable to boot into Windows, you can boot
off a boot disk and then use ERUNT to restore your registry. But as long
as System Restore is working, then I would use *it* to restore your
registry, etc.

One thing I'm pretty sure of, by now, is that ERUNT is more
"fundamental", and does not change or delete ANY files upon
restoration, except the system registry files.

Here's a good post pointing out the differences:

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support/msg/0dc0f4fcd7974abf

Whereas System Restore apparently can, at least in some instances.
System Restore can even delete some files upon a restore operation,
like some recently downloaded program exe files that you had saved
before - I've been through that one already.

That's news to me. System Restore to the best of my knowledge does not
do this. If you downloaded *anything*, it should still be where you
saved it to last.

 

[Nepatsfan]

Bill in Co. wrote:


That's news to me. System Restore to the best of my knowledge does not
do this. If you downloaded *anything*, it should still be where you
saved it to last.

As an experiment, try the following.

Create a restore point.
Download an executable file and save it on your Desktop. Any file with an .exe
or .msi extension will do.
Run System Restore and take your computer back to the state it was in before you
created that restore point.
Where's the file you downloaded?

Protecting Files During System Restore
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/expert/russel_sysrestore.mspx

Nepatsfan

 

[Bill in Co.]

Usually, System Restore is preferable.

That's what I feel, too. (Generally, that is)

However, if there are no clean
restore points or if you are unable to boot into Windows, you can boot
off a boot disk and then use ERUNT to restore your registry.

IF you have a floppy "boot disk" that sees - and allows - access to the HD,
I had thought. (I've been playing around with several of these things,
including an old Avira NTFSDOS program, and BART PE, and it's getting a bit
confusing at this point to remember which does what under what circumstances


But as I recall, at least some of these so-called boot disks are dos-based,
and can't see or recognize the NTFS formatted HD.

But as long as System Restore is working, then I would use *it* to restore
your
registry, etc.

Yeah, and that's what I've been doing.

Here's a good post pointing out the differences:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support/msg/0dc0f4fcd7974abf


That's news to me. System Restore to the best of my knowledge does not
do this. If you downloaded *anything*, it should still be where you
saved it to last.

Nope. If you've downloaded an exe file, and saved it in some directory
that is NOT under the special Documents folder, it can (and has) be deleted.
System Restore is covering its bases, by *assuming* that that exe file could
have been part of the problem and part of the reason why you chose to run
System Restore, so it "nicely" deletes it. (Been burned by that one)

And thanks for that link. I want to digest that in depth, because up to
now I hadn't found a *really definitive* article covering EXACTLY what is,
and what is not, taken care of, by System Restore. (and I mean exactly -
at the file level, in detail).

 

[Bill in Co.]

As an experiment, try the following.

Create a restore point.
Download an executable file and save it on your Desktop. Any file with an
.exe
or .msi extension will do.
Run System Restore and take your computer back to the state it was in
before
you created that restore point.
Where's the file you downloaded?

Protecting Files During System Restore
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/expert/russel_sysrestore.mspx

It's GONE into never never land!! And that's VERY annoying.
(yes, I know, you're supposed to save them somewhere "special", per above)

 

[Daave]

As an experiment, try the following.

Create a restore point.
Download an executable file and save it on your Desktop. Any file
with an .exe
or .msi extension will do.
Run System Restore and take your computer back to the state it was in
before you created that restore point.
Where's the file you downloaded?

Protecting Files During System Restore

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/expert/russel_sysrestore.mspx

Heh, ya learn somethin' new every day!

 

[Bill in Co.]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/expert/russel_sysrestore.mspx

Heh, ya learn somethin' new every day!

Pass the word along to Gramps, too!

 

[Edward W. Thompson]

System Restore has a very fundemental problem that is if any one of the
restore points becomes corrupted, you have lost the ability to restore
anything. For such a vital 'backup/safeguard' utility this makes it close
to useless as far as I am concerned. On the other hand ERUNT creates
standalone backups of the Registry. I am aware that ERUNT does not do
everything that SR does but the differences, in my view are insignificant
and are surpassed by ERUNT's total reliability.

Run, both, I don't I use SR due to its reliability problems. I have never
had the need for the 'extras' in SR and if I did I could repair those
whereas you need a reliable backup of the Registry in case of problems.

 

[Bill in Co.]

System Restore has a very fundemental problem that is if any one of the
restore points becomes corrupted, you have lost the ability to restore
anything.

Well, that's a good point too.

Actually, there was one time when it failed me, but admitedly that was due
to this being a fairly large program that I had installed to try out, and
then decided to uninstall, and then finally tried to restore the system back
to the previous restore point, just to have a clean system - and it balked
at that.

For such a vital 'backup/safeguard' utility this makes it close
to useless as far as I am concerned. On the other hand ERUNT creates
standalone backups of the Registry. I am aware that ERUNT does not do
everything that SR does but the differences, in my view are insignificant
and are surpassed by ERUNT's total reliability.

Run, both, I don't I use SR due to its reliability problems. I have never
had the need for the 'extras' in SR and if I did I could repair those
whereas you need a reliable backup of the Registry in case of problems.

OK, and thanks for that perspective.