Need access to old registry

[Frank Dreyfus]

I got really screwed up trying to update to SP2 and finally
had to reinstall windows in a new folder (WINDOWS1 instead of
the old WINDOWS).

So I still have all the old files in the old Windows folder
and in my old user's Docs and Settings folders.

I want to dig into the old registry to find and copy settings
from various applications; and hopefully to paste them into
the new registry.

Is there some way to do this? Do I need special software?

It seems that regedit only works on the current registry.

What are the files that comprise the registry? They used to
be C:\Windows\System.dat and user.dat but I guess that's not
the case with XP.

Thanks in advance for any help,

Frank

 

[Dave Patrick]

Run regedt32, then from the Local Machine Hive, choose Registry|Load Hive.
Then navigate to the location of the hive you want to edit/read. Give it
some tempname (doesn't matter what). Then when your done, move the cursor
back to tempname, then Registry|Unload Hive, Registry|Exit

You'll find them in
%windir%\system32\config

the current_user hive is in
%userprofile%\ntuser.dat

The last reg backup files in
%windir%\repair\RegBack

and the original as-installed files in
%windir%\repair

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
|I got really screwed up trying to update to SP2 and finally
| had to reinstall windows in a new folder (WINDOWS1 instead of
| the old WINDOWS).
|
| So I still have all the old files in the old Windows folder
| and in my old user's Docs and Settings folders.
|
| I want to dig into the old registry to find and copy settings
| from various applications; and hopefully to paste them into
| the new registry.
|
| Is there some way to do this? Do I need special software?
|
| It seems that regedit only works on the current registry.
|
| What are the files that comprise the registry? They used to
| be C:\Windows\System.dat and user.dat but I guess that's not
| the case with XP.
|
| Thanks in advance for any help,
|
| Frank

 

[Guest]

You can do this but advise against it. Keep in mind the registry has become
so complicated that I assume only the smartest Microsoft people know how the
whole thing works. I had manned the XP support lines for three years and I
would not attempt to do this myself. I guess my point is that if you have to
ask this question then you shouldn't be doing it.

At any rate I will find the KB articles and post them in a few.

Thanks,

John
(e-mail address removed)
www.americantechie.com

 

[Alex Nichol]

I got really screwed up trying to update to SP2 and finally
had to reinstall windows in a new folder (WINDOWS1 instead of
the old WINDOWS).

So I still have all the old files in the old Windows folder
and in my old user's Docs and Settings folders.

I want to dig into the old registry to find and copy settings
from various applications; and hopefully to paste them into
the new registry.

You should be able to use regedit, and with the appropriate Hive root
HKEY_USERS or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ highlighted, use File - Load hive to
browse to where it is in the other folder's Windows\system32\config
folder