How do I Copy Ntuser.dat to backup drive?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kim
  • Start date Start date
K

Kim

How do I Copy Ntuser.dat to backup drive? My backup
program says its in use and cannot be copied. Tried safe
mode but it would not let me copy it either. This file
contains my desktop settings etc.
 
Kim said:
How do I Copy Ntuser.dat to backup drive? My backup
program says its in use and cannot be copied. Tried safe
mode but it would not let me copy it either. This file
contains my desktop settings etc.
Click to expand...

The registry is actually contained in several files, not just
ntusesr.dat, so backing that up by itself won't help. To backup the
registry there are two ways. One is system restore. By default it is
set to make a restore point every 24 hrs. This saves the registry
including ntuser.dat file along with certain system files. The other
way is to use a very good free utility, ERUNT. Install it into
C:\windows. Then if the registry is damaged it can be restored using
the recovery consolse and the utility contained within ERUNT> You can
get it from here:

http://home.t-online.de/home/lars.hederer/erunt/
 
Logon to another account, with Supervisory rights. If it is your NTUSER.DAT then the file
handle we be open. If you backup using another account then your NTUSER.DAT will not be in
use, not have its file handle open, and you will have success in backing up the file and you
profile.

Dave





| How do I Copy Ntuser.dat to backup drive? My backup
| program says its in use and cannot be copied. Tried safe
| mode but it would not let me copy it either. This file
| contains my desktop settings etc.
 
Your pretty smart, David! I booted into
Safemode_Administrator; I then copied Ntuser.dat to my
mirrored backup of C onto my D harddrive. Worked fine. I
verified I could use the mirrored backup by disconnecting
C: and was able to boot into windows using backup, and I
had all my desktop settings. Thanks

-----Original Message-----
Logon to another account, with Supervisory rights. If it
Click to expand...
is your NTUSER.DAT then the file
handle we be open. If you backup using another account
Click to expand...
then your NTUSER.DAT will not be in
use, not have its file handle open, and you will have
Click to expand...
success in backing up the file and you
 
Kim said:
How do I Copy Ntuser.dat to backup drive? My backup
program says its in use and cannot be copied. Tried safe
mode but it would not let me copy it either.
Click to expand...

It is your part of the registry and is backed up as part of that if
your backup program backs up the registry. If it does not there is no
point in backing up ntuser.dat on its own. In that case use the free
ERUNT
http://home.t-online.de/home/lars.hederer/erunt
to backup the whole registry to its own folder, and include that in a
backup.
 
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