Registry Restore

[Dave Patrick]

Exporting the entire registry to a *.reg file is not an acceptable means of
backup. You can't import the entire registry. If you run
Programs|Accessories|System Tools|Backup, then choose ERD, then if you check
the box for "Also backup....", then the reg will also be backed up to
%systemroot%\repair\RegBack
leaving the
%systemroot%\repair\
directory files intact as original installation.

Repair, Recovery, and Restore
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/core/fndc_rec_uctu.mspx?mfr=true


You can replace registry hives from within the recovery console by copying
the files from
%systemroot%\repair\regback
to
%systemroot%\system32\config

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000
Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have Setup
floppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup CD,
use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks. At
the "Welcome to Setup" screen. Press F10 or R to repair a Windows 2000
installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The Recovery
Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do not have
the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Note If the registry is corrupted
or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console starts
in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot
access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk, fixboot,
and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. Once the password has been validated,
you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access to the hard
disk. You can only access the following folders on your computer: drive
root, %systemroot% or %windir%




--

Regards,

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

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Continuing my learning process:

While in regedit, I took the opportunity of backing up the registry, going
to Registry\Export Registry. I renamed the file, giving it a date. When
I
went to reverse the process (Registry\Import Registry), the system said
that
it could not access the file. Was I incorrect to rename the registry file
that I backed up?

Gordon Biggar
Houston, Texas

You can use the registry export process to back up individual keys but you
cannot use it to back up and subsequently restore the whole registry. Under
Windows XP you could use the System Restore feature to restore a registry.
Under Windows XP there is no System Restore. You could use this process
instead:
1. Boot the machine with a Bart PE boot CD.
2. Copy all files from the c:\WinNT\System32\config folder
to your backup medium.
3. Copy all files (including the hidden ones) from the various
profile folders (e.g. c:\documents and settings\GBiggar)
to your backup medium.
4. To restore the registry, reverse the above process.

You could achive the same by performing the backup/restore
steps while in the Recovery Console.

 

[John John (MVP)]

Continuing my learning process:

While in regedit, I took the opportunity of backing up the registry, going
to Registry\Export Registry. I renamed the file, giving it a date. When I
went to reverse the process (Registry\Import Registry), the system said that
it could not access the file. Was I incorrect to rename the registry file
that I backed up?

You used the wrong method to backup the whole registry or whole hives.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pr.../reskit/regentry/RegistryBackup.mspx?mfr=true

How to back up, edit, and restore the registry in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322755

John

 

[Gordon Biggar]

Continuing my learning process:

While in regedit, I took the opportunity of backing up the registry, going
to Registry\Export Registry. I renamed the file, giving it a date. When I
went to reverse the process (Registry\Import Registry), the system said that
it could not access the file. Was I incorrect to rename the registry file
that I backed up?

Gordon Biggar
Houston, Texas

 

[Gordon Biggar]

Somehow the learning process is never as easy as I imagine it to be!

Thank you both for taking the time to set me on the correct course. Much
appreciated.

Gordon Biggar