Backup Registry - Ridiculously Difficult

[Guest]

Microsoft SUCKS! Now that I have that off my chest let me relate this
incredible convolution!

I want to install MS Streets & Trips 2006 and am getting an error message
that an MS KB article says can be resolved by deleting several registry keys.
Well, better backup the registry first, right? Yup! Easy? Nope! This is
Microsoft remember.

Where the heck is the backup utility in XP Home? After some effort I found
that the XP Home backup utillity is not installed by default. Terrific! Using
another MS KB article I found it on my system disk and installed it manually.
All set to go, right? Are you kidding?

I went nuts when trying to backup System State to a CD-RW. Error box said
path was invalid or I didn't have authority to do this. Of course the error
message had NOTHING TO DO with the REAL reason Backup wouldn't work - a
really maddening and typical Microsoft situation. After another diligent
search here I found out that the REAL reason is that this stupid utility
won't write to a CD or DVD. Well that makes sense!!! NOT!

My 256MB flash drive is too small by half to save System State using Backup.
Wonderful!

Well, I'll try using Sonic's RecordNow! Oh, oh! I have no idea where System
State is. Can't find it using Search or looking visually through Explorer.
Where do I find the Registry on my hard drive? Is the Sonic product a valid
application to backup the registry?

I'm a home user. I have no tape drive. I have no partioned or external hard
drive. I don't trust system restore as it has failed me in the past. I don't
want to have to buy third-party software or hardware to sucessfully install
MS S&T 2006!

I've read the documentation for ERUNT and think I could get into trouble
easily as it appears to be quite technical. Will ERUNT backup to a CD-RW? The
FAQ's don't say so. Is there some other reliable freeware with a very
user-friendly interface?

Has anyone another helpful solution to this ridiculous situation? MVP's -
don't be offended but this is truly unreasonable! I've been three days trying
to install Ms S&T 2006 just to get to this point!

Thanks,
Irish

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Microsoft SUCKS! Now that I have that off my chest let me relate this
incredible convolution!

I want to install MS Streets & Trips 2006 and am getting an error message
that an MS KB article says can be resolved by deleting several registry keys.
Well, better backup the registry first, right? Yup! Easy? Nope! This is
Microsoft remember.

Where the heck is the backup utility in XP Home? After some effort I found
that the XP Home backup utillity is not installed by default. Terrific! Using
another MS KB article I found it on my system disk and installed it manually.
All set to go, right? Are you kidding?

I went nuts when trying to backup System State to a CD-RW. Error box said
path was invalid or I didn't have authority to do this. Of course the error
message had NOTHING TO DO with the REAL reason Backup wouldn't work - a
really maddening and typical Microsoft situation. After another diligent
search here I found out that the REAL reason is that this stupid utility
won't write to a CD or DVD. Well that makes sense!!! NOT!

My 256MB flash drive is too small by half to save System State using Backup.
Wonderful!

Well, I'll try using Sonic's RecordNow! Oh, oh! I have no idea where System
State is. Can't find it using Search or looking visually through Explorer.
Where do I find the Registry on my hard drive? Is the Sonic product a valid
application to backup the registry?

I'm a home user. I have no tape drive. I have no partioned or external hard
drive. I don't trust system restore as it has failed me in the past. I don't
want to have to buy third-party software or hardware to sucessfully install
MS S&T 2006!

I've read the documentation for ERUNT and think I could get into trouble
easily as it appears to be quite technical. Will ERUNT backup to a CD-RW? The
FAQ's don't say so. Is there some other reliable freeware with a very
user-friendly interface?

Has anyone another helpful solution to this ridiculous situation? MVP's -
don't be offended but this is truly unreasonable! I've been three days trying
to install Ms S&T 2006 just to get to this point!

Thanks,
Irish

Have you considered creating a Restore Point? Nice, easy, fully
automatic, no hassles. RTFM!

 

[R. McCarty]

In this case, prior to deleting the keys - simply export them to a flat,
text format (.Reg). These can be double-clicked to re-import them
back to the Registry. Just left click the Key (To select/Highlight) &
then click the text option "File", "Export" and pick a recognizable
name for the key file.

 

[Guest]

Its not the way that Microsoft has set it up but more your approach that is
the problem to backing up the registry keys.
In regedit where you actually edit the registry right click on the key(s)
mentioned and choose export. Yes, its just that easy.

 

[David Parkes]

So what have we learnt in this lesson then children.

"Lets not go slagging off Microsoft, just because users are dumb".

Start -> Run -> Regedit-> Right Click the Top Level (My Computer) and then
click Export. Save it where you like. Thats one way of backing up the
registy. As mentioned

Another is create a restore point, as mentioned.

It really bugs me when dumbasses come on these newgroups spounting out how
much Microsoft suck when really they should be hitting themselves on the
back of the head whilst saying "I am not stupid, but logically challenged"

 

[Leythos]

Microsoft SUCKS! Now that I have that off my chest let me relate this
incredible convolution!

That was enough to convenience me that you're too stupid to be doing
anything with the registry and that you're too stupid to have already
made a backup before (of anything).

Maybe, next time you want help, you should try asking without being
an a$$hole about it.

 

[Richard Urban]

You have spent three days trying to do what any 6 year old can do. He will
ask "before" he wastes his time if he doesn't know how to do something. You
went free lancing and wasted a bunch of time on a very simple procedure -
and then YOU blame Microsoft for your ineptitude.

The next time you have a problem I suggest you remove the chip from your
shoulder before posting for assistance!

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[David Parkes]

Some people are just downright stupid

 

[Guest]

Yes, and rejected it. As I wrote, system restore has failed me in the past
and I don't want to have to restore the registry and read that restore is
unable to perform the action.

 

[Guest]

Its not the way that Microsoft has set it up but more your approach that is
the problem to backing up the registry keys.
In regedit where you actually edit the registry right click on the key(s)
mentioned and choose export. Yes, its just that easy.

Ron,

The problem, Ron, is that I don't want to do anything in the registry
without backing it up beforehand. A slip of the mouse and I'm in computer
hell.

Why export keys that have to be deleted anyway? There's no point to
restoring them. It's the inadvertent error while in regedit that I want to
protect against.

Are these just more dumass questions as those helpful fellows below flamed?

Irish

 

[Guest]

You have spent three days trying to do what any 6 year old can do. He will
ask "before" he wastes his time if he doesn't know how to do something. You
went free lancing and wasted a bunch of time on a very simple procedure -
and then YOU blame Microsoft for your ineptitude.

The next time you have a problem I suggest you remove the chip from your
shoulder before posting for assistance!

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Richard,

I respectfully suggest that if a six-year old could have solved my problem
and I shouldn't go freelancing, then why the heck is MS wasting its time and
money publishing KB articles?

I don't want to back up the keys I need to delete because there's no point
to restoring them. I want to back up the entire registry in case I make a
gross error while in regedit. Instead of providing a tongue lashing do you
have a suggestion as to how I can back up the registry to a CD-RW? Do you
recommend ERUNT and can a six-year old run it without having to have the
skill to use command switches?

Thank you,
Irish

 

[Gordon]

I don't want to back up the keys I need to delete because there's no point
to restoring them. I want to back up the entire registry

Then open Regedit, highlight "My Computer" at the very top of the tree,
and click on "Export".

That will export the ENTIRE registry for your user to a file you can call
whatever you like.

 

[Guest]

Then open Regedit, highlight "My Computer" at the very top of the tree,
and click on "Export".

That will export the ENTIRE registry for your user to a file you can call
whatever you like.

Gordon,

I ran regedit, highlighted computer and left-clicked File>Export. In the
Export Registry File window I moved up to My Computer, highlighted CD Drive
(D entered Backup as the file name and clicked Save. A dialog window opened
reading: "You cannot save in the folder you specified. Please choose another
location."

The CD is blank. Do I need to create an empty folder named Backup prior to
exporting? Will regedit not export to a CD-RW, as is the problem with the MS
Backup utility? Since I'm not as smart as a six-year old, as others have
suggested, any idea what the problem now is?

Thanks,
Irish

 

[Anna]

Yes, and rejected it. As I wrote, system restore has failed me in the past
and I don't want to have to restore the registry and read that restore is
unable to perform the action.

Irish:
Might you consider another approach...

Why not use a disk imaging program such as Symantec's Norton Ghost or
Acronis True Image (or other similar-type programs) and clone the contents
of your day-to-day working HD to another HD (either internal or external).
By so doing, you'll have at hand, for all practical purposes, a bit-for-bit
copy of your source drive, including the operating system, registry, all
programs & data - in short, everything that's on your day-to-day hard drive.
The direct disk-to-disk cloning process is simple, straightforward,
reasonably quick, and most of all very effective. What better backup system
can one have but a "carbon copy" of their working HD?

Now I know you're previously said you do not have an external HD and I'm
assuming you also do not have another internal HD. Either one of those
devices would serve as the recipient of the clone. Might you consider
purchasing a USBEHD or another internal HD? As I'm sure you know the cost of
today's hard drives have fallen precipitously and the cost of a disk imaging
program isn't particularly onerous.

I can assure you that you'll never regret the expense involved in using a
disk imaging program for disk-to-disk cloning for routine & systematic
backups.
Anna

 

[George]

talk about calling the kettle black????? Speaking of dumbasses, how do you
spell convince? "convenience"

 

[George]

usuualy people who call people stupid and think they are smarter than
everyone else!!!

 

[Guest]

Thank you, Anna. I will consider that. Irish

Irish:
Might you consider another approach...

Why not use a disk imaging program such as Symantec's Norton Ghost or
Acronis True Image (or other similar-type programs) and clone the contents
of your day-to-day working HD to another HD (either internal or external).
By so doing, you'll have at hand, for all practical purposes, a bit-for-bit
copy of your source drive, including the operating system, registry, all
programs & data - in short, everything that's on your day-to-day hard drive.
The direct disk-to-disk cloning process is simple, straightforward,
reasonably quick, and most of all very effective. What better backup system
can one have but a "carbon copy" of their working HD?

Now I know you're previously said you do not have an external HD and I'm
assuming you also do not have another internal HD. Either one of those
devices would serve as the recipient of the clone. Might you consider
purchasing a USBEHD or another internal HD? As I'm sure you know the cost of
today's hard drives have fallen precipitously and the cost of a disk imaging
program isn't particularly onerous.

I can assure you that you'll never regret the expense involved in using a
disk imaging program for disk-to-disk cloning for routine & systematic
backups.
Anna

 

[Leythos]

I don't want to back up the keys I need to delete because there's no point
to restoring them.

Wrong, you want to back them up IN CASE YOU SCREW UP!

 

[Kerry Brown]

Then open Regedit, highlight "My Computer" at the very top of the
tree, and click on "Export".

That will export the ENTIRE registry for your user to a file you can
call whatever you like.

That will not backup the entire registry. Saving a restore point will, using
ntbackup to backup the system state will, and using a third party
application will. I use erunt.

Kerry

 

[Leythos]

talk about calling the kettle black????? Speaking of dumbasses, how do you
spell convince? "convenience"

Yep, I admit it, early and I let the spell checker auto-correct me
instead of looking at what it replaced before I posted it.

Still doesn't explain why a person has to RANT instead of asking in a
nice tone when seeking help from the world.

People generally set the tone for the type of reply they get - and he
did.