Partial backup of the Windows XP Registry?

[dareys]

Greetings,

After creating a logical backup of a computer I would like to selectively
restore directories for installed and configured software on another computer
to avoid having to re-install and reconfigure from scratch.

I am pretty sure this will work, although I was wondering how to deal with
the issue of restoring relevant Registry entries. I know I can backup and
restore the entire registry, however, I am not sure it can be done
selectively for a single product.

I would appreciate it if you could let me know if this is possible under
Windows XP SP2.

Thank you.

Jean-Pierre

 

[Ramesh Srinivasan, MS-MVP]

Hi Jean,

You may try something like InstallRite: http://www.epsilonsquared.com/

Or look for other install trackers:
http://www.google.com/search?q=software+installation+tracker

Track file and registry changes made by an application/installer:
http://www.winxptutor.com/tracker.htm

 

[Flyboy]

Hi Jean,

You may try something like InstallRite: http://www.epsilonsquared.com/

Or look for other install trackers:
http://www.google.com/search?q=software+installation+tracker

Track file and registry changes made by an application/installer:
http://www.winxptutor.com/tracker.htm

Those would have been nice when he was installing the programs, but
they are quite uselelss in the present situation.

 

[Flyboy]

I am pretty sure this will work, although I was wondering how to deal with
the issue of restoring relevant Registry entries. I know I can backup and
restore the entire registry, however, I am not sure it can be done
selectively for a single product.

It's not.

 

[John John (MVP)]

Greetings,

After creating a logical backup of a computer I would like to selectively
restore directories for installed and configured software on another computer
to avoid having to re-install and reconfigure from scratch.

I am pretty sure this will work, although I was wondering how to deal with
the issue of restoring relevant Registry entries. I know I can backup and
restore the entire registry, however, I am not sure it can be done
selectively for a single product.

I would appreciate it if you could let me know if this is possible under
Windows XP SP2.

That isn't really feasible, when a program is installed it might write
entries to many different locations in the registry, you would have to
know of all the different entries where it wrote to even try to copy
them, the only way to do that would be to take before and after registry
snap shots and compare them or use third party utilities that monitor
installations and then create reports of the changes made. The only
thing that you might be able to easily copy would be the software's user
settings kept in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software key (HKCU is obtained
from the currently logged on user's ntuser.dat file)

John

 

[dareys]

Ramesh,

My name is composite, like Billy-Bob. It is Jean-Pierre. In any case, I
appreciate the response.

Jean-Pierre

Hi Jean,

You may try something like InstallRite: http://www.epsilonsquared.com/

Or look for other install trackers:
http://www.google.com/search?q=software+installation+tracker

Track file and registry changes made by an application/installer:
http://www.winxptutor.com/tracker.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
The Winhelponline Blog http://www.winhelponline.com/blog

Greetings,

After creating a logical backup of a computer I would like to selectively
restore directories for installed and configured software on another
computer
to avoid having to re-install and reconfigure from scratch.

I am pretty sure this will work, although I was wondering how to deal with
the issue of restoring relevant Registry entries. I know I can backup and
restore the entire registry, however, I am not sure it can be done
selectively for a single product.

I would appreciate it if you could let me know if this is possible under
Windows XP SP2.

Thank you.

Jean-Pierre

 

[dareys]

Flyboy,

I saw your comment regarding Ramesh's response and I appreciate that and the
one you wrote directly to me. I did not think it would be possible. Feature
request? Sounds reasonable to me...

Thank you.

Jean-Pierre

 

[Flyboy]

Flyboy,

I saw your comment regarding Ramesh's response and I appreciate that and the
one you wrote directly to me. I did not think it would be possible. Feature
request? Sounds reasonable to me...

Sorry, m'friend.

XP will never see any new features. It was replaced by Vista 2 or 3
years ago, which itself will be replaced by Windows 7 in about another
year... so even Vista won't get any new features.

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was 11/25/2008 9:12 AM, and on a whim, dareys pounded
out on the keyboard:

Greetings,

After creating a logical backup of a computer I would like to selectively
restore directories for installed and configured software on another computer
to avoid having to re-install and reconfigure from scratch.

I am pretty sure this will work, although I was wondering how to deal with
the issue of restoring relevant Registry entries. I know I can backup and
restore the entire registry, however, I am not sure it can be done
selectively for a single product.

I would appreciate it if you could let me know if this is possible under
Windows XP SP2.

Thank you.

Jean-Pierre

Hi Jean-Pierre,

I've done it before but it's a long process. Usually only when a client
has to have a particular program that is no longer around or the
original discs aren't available.

You do registry searches for the manufacturer and program name (i.e.
Corel and Wordperfect), program folder, program executables, file
extensions, etc., and export each key as a separate reg file. I usually
create a folder of the program name to keep them all in it. Then you
have to merge each one back into the new registry. After you have
copied the files back, then you need to launch the program to find out
how many files it placed into the System32 folder or other locations.
And most of the user configurations are stored in the user profile of
Windows, not necessarily the registry.

If you have access to the install discs, it's not even worth messing
with the above. It's much faster to install the program and duplicate
the user configuration, although most programs you should be able to
Google search and find out where most config files are located.

--
Terry R.

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