backup windows xp REGISTRY

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aaronep

I read continuously that if changes are to be made in Windows
Registry, that the Registry file should first be backed up in case
changes foul up the registry.

My question therefore is: what is the exact name of the Registry file
so I can locate it and make a backup file?

best, Aaron
 
I read continuously that if changes are to be made in Windows
Registry, that the Registry file should first be backed up in case
changes foul up the registry.

My question therefore is: what is the exact name of the Registry file
so I can locate it and make a backup file?

best, Aaron
Click to expand...

Knowing the file name/location is useless for backup purposes because the
registry is locked and inaccessible for normal commands. Use reg.exe to back
it up - it knows where to look. To restore a thrashed registry you need to
boot the machine with a boot CD that gives you full access to the System
drive. You can then put your registry hives back where they came from:
c:\windows\system32\config (system hives), c:\documents and settings\Aaron
(your own hive). Note that System Restore will fix a thrashed registry,
provided you can start Windows. If you can't then this link will help:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545.
 
There are a set of files, not just one, that make up the Registry.

Windows XP's System Restore will restore the registry and can get one out of a
jam once in a while, but I've found that sometimes the required restore point is
not usable.

I, along with many others, recommend that you look into running a freeware
utility called ERUNT to backup and restore your registry beyond what is done via
System Restore. It
also includes a registry optimizer tool.

Get it here:
ERUNT
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

I use its Autoback.exe tool that is supplied in the current version of ERUNT.
This backs up the complete registry during system startup. By default it saves
30 days worth, each one in its own dated folder. I limit mine to the last 7
days. This automatic routine solves the problem of relying on System Restore,
but one can also make a special backup whenever needed.

ERUNT backups can easily be restored from within Windows or the Recovery
Console.

There's a detailed readme file included in the download.

Good luck!
 
I read continuously that if changes are to be made in Windows
Registry, that the Registry file should first be backed up in case
changes foul up the registry.

My question therefore is:  what is the exact name of the Registry file
so I can locate it and make a backup file?

best, Aaron
Click to expand...

If you're messing with the registry then you'd be doing that in
regedit and within regedit is an option to save a copy, of a piece of
the registry or the whole thing.

If you want general regular backup of the registry then you probably
really want a whole image of your system which a number of backup
programs can do. Actual full image of your C: drive. But not many
people do that. Just backup their data. Images are more typical of
servers. For the occasional edit of the registry just let regedit save
a copy.
 
I read continuously that if changes are to be made in Windows
Registry, that the Registry file should first be backed up in case
changes foul up the registry.

My question therefore is: what is the exact name of the Registry file
so I can locate it and make a backup file?

best, Aaron
Click to expand...

If you're messing with the registry then you'd be doing that in
regedit and within regedit is an option to save a copy, of a piece of
the registry or the whole thing.

===========

Saving the whole registry from within regedit for backup purposes is
pointless, for two reasons:
a) You cannot restore the whole registry from the saved version, only
certain keys.
b) If Windows no longer runs then you cannot run regedit to restore the
saved keys.
 
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