Cannot import registry err msg

[Guest]

Tried to import from backup disk several times & got this msg:
"Cannot import registry. Not all date was successfully written to the
registry. Some keys are open by the system or other processes."
Do I need to reinstall OS afterall?

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi,

What method are you using to restore the registry?

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

 

[Guest]

Before I altered the registry, I backed it up on a cd. When I import it from
the cd, it finishes so it appears to be a success, but then I get the error
msg. Word and Excel take an extremely long time to initiate and documents
take just as long to open.

I appreciate the inquiry!
Krista

 

[Jim]

Before I altered the registry, I backed it up on a cd. When I import it
from
the cd, it finishes so it appears to be a success, but then I get the
error
msg. Word and Excel take an extremely long time to initiate and documents
take just as long to open.

I appreciate the inquiry!
Krista

What technique did you use to backup the registry? It would seem that your
method of backup failed; hence a restore must fail as well.
Jim

 

[Guest]

I exported from regedit. If the restore won't work, then I have no
alternative but to reinstall te OS, correct?

Thanks, Jim.

 

[Jim]

I exported from regedit. If the restore won't work, then I have no
alternative but to reinstall te OS, correct?

Thanks, Jim.

Yes, it seems to me that you need to reinstall XP.
The next time you want to backup the registry, use ntbackup to save to
system state.
You could also create a restore point to accomplish much the same task.
Jim

 

[Guest]

The tips are appreciated. After I resinstall XP, I'll leave the registry
alone!

Have a good one.
Krista

 

[Bert Kinney]

Was the registry backed up from within Regedit?

Are there any System Restore restore points available?

All About System Restore in WinXP
http://bertk.mvps.org/index.html

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

 

[Guest]

Yes, backed up w/in regedit. No restore points.

When I import the registry from the cd, it finishes so it appears to be a
success, but then I get the error msg. Word and Excel take an extremely long
time to initiate and documents take just as long to open.

Another group member wrote that I'd have to reinstall XP as I feared. After
that, I'm leaving the registry alone!

I appreciate your inquiries!
Krista

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Jim,

Export and import within Regedit is *not* a good method of backing up the
entire registry. Its value is where you are going to modify a small section
- export that section, then if needed delete it and re-import to put things
back.
First the backups are text mode, largely in Unicode and are enormous.
Second there is no proper way to restore it. Import does not replace the
current registry but merges the file into it causing the registry to be come
severely bloated. Thus unwanted additions made since the export are not
removed - which is very often what you want to do.
And third when you want to use it may not be practicable, particularly if
the system will not boot.

System Restore is the built in method of restoring the registry.

Are there any restore points available?

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

More information on how to backup the Windows XP Registry?
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/registry.htm

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

 

[Bert Kinney]

I agree, reinstalling is a good idea.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install by Michael Stevens MS-MVP:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

How to perform a repair installation of Windows XP if IE 7 is installed
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;917964

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

 

[Jim]

Hi Jim,

Export and import within Regedit is *not* a good method of backing up the
entire registry. Its value is where you are going to modify a small
section - export that section, then if needed delete it and re-import to
put things back.
First the backups are text mode, largely in Unicode and are enormous.
Second there is no proper way to restore it. Import does not replace the
current registry but merges the file into it causing the registry to be
come severely bloated. Thus unwanted additions made since the export are
not removed - which is very often what you want to do.
And third when you want to use it may not be practicable, particularly if
the system will not boot.

System Restore is the built in method of restoring the registry.

Are there any restore points available?

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

More information on how to backup the Windows XP Registry?
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/registry.htm

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

Bert:

It was Krista who has the problem....
I use both system restore and system state.
In my case, it is much more likely that a more recent version of the
registry is available in a restore point.
This is especially the case since I create a restore point just before
editing the registry.
Jim

 

[Bert Kinney]

Bert:

It was Krista who has the problem....
I use both system restore and system state.
In my case, it is much more likely that a more recent version of the
registry is available in a restore point.
This is especially the case since I create a restore point just before
editing the registry.
Jim

Sorry about that Jim.


Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org