Learn The Step To Create Registry Backup In Windows!
By making backup of the registry the computer's system and application settings are stored and saved.
Do you need to make registry backup of your PC computer?
Because...if you do...you should make sure to backup the registry before you make any changes to the registry.
As a general rule, don't mess with the registry unless you have to! Registry used in Windows Vista systems!
Why do you ever need to make changes to the registry?
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The most common reason has to do with adware and
spyware which are able to infect your computer and mess up the
registry. Another name for this is scumware. Adware are programs which at times pop-up intrusive and unwanted ads on your computer. Spyware are program that may give hacker access to your user activity. Not only that, but in theory it can harvest sensitive information such as your bank account and your credit card number. Imagine, if some from the Russian mafia is going out on a spending spree using your credit card number! Scary thought! Software can also be installed that highjack your modem and make long distance offshore calls. This is done without you knowing and shows up in your phone bill. It is easy for adware and spyware to infect your computer simply because you made a visit to a web site. Mostly from sites of dubious nature. This can happen even if you use firewall and anti-virus software. There are many tools for removing this sort of pest. Spysweeper is one of the better spyware removal products. |
So what is the registry?
The Registry Editor is a utility that is included in Windows. Its file name is regedit.exe and it is located in the Windows directory.
As its name imply it's a tool to make changes in the registry.
The registry is the central storage for all computer data configuration. Windows system configuration, the computer hardware configuration for devices, information's about installed programs, the types of documents that program can create and user preferences are all stored in the registry.
Windows continually make references to this information during its operation. The registry stores the data in a structured hierarchy of keys, subkeys, and named values. Incorrectly fixing and editing of the registry may severely damage the system. The registry is built as a database with a tree structure. Each branch start with the word HKEY.
The registry HKEY of each branch are for:
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT include files extensions, OLE data and includes alias of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER the part of HKEY_USERS which are used by the current user.
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE hardware and software configuration.
- HKEY_USERS Desktop user specific information and desktop data are stored here.
- HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG Printer and display settings.
- HKEY_DYN_DATA Stores information on Windows performance (only for Windows 95, 98 and Me)
In Windows 2000 and XP the registry is to be found in several hives at \windows\system32 and in \Documents and Settings\{username}.
The simplest solution to backup you registry is by exporting the reg keys data using Regedit.exe.
The registry editor has import and export functions in the File menu. This makes it possible to take security backups of the registry and to create patches to and from the registry.
Now, how do you make a backup of the registry?
This depends on the Windows version you use!
As always you should have created a complete backup of your hard drive which can be used as an emergency backup.
It is certainly a good idea to make such backup if you intend to make changes to the registry.
You may also export the specific group of keys you plan to work with and save this patch as an extra security backup of the Windows registry to avoid trouble. We start with Windows XP
The simplest way is to create a restore point. You accesss the system restore utility from the Start Key -> Programs -> System Tools -> System Restore
Give an appropriate name for the restore point and create it.
This stores a snapshot of you data system configuration including the full registry which you can use if you need to make a recovery if anything goes wrong.
You can also restore your computer to an earlier date. This is because restore points are automatically created if you make any changes to your system as shown in the figure.
To backup the whole registry you can use the NTBackup utility. This is not included in the Windows Home edition but it is included in the installation CD.
It is however included in Windows XP Professional. Use it to backup the system state which includes the registry, COM+ Class, registration database and your boot files.
Learn more of Windows XP backup.
Backing up the Windows 2000 and 2003 registry.
With the Windows backup utility you can backup the registry on Microsoft 2000 or 2003 using these steps:
- Click on Start, Programs, Accessories, and then click on backup.
- Then click on the backup tab.
- On the backup tab check "System State", this creates a backup of boot files, COM+ Class Registry Database and system registry.
Restart manually Windows 95 in MS-DOS in order perform a register backup.
Key in cd\windows
At the C:\WINDOWS> prompt type:
attrib user.dat -r -a -s -h [enter]
attrib system.dat -r -a -s -h [enter]
md backup [enter]
copy user.dat backup [enter]
copy system.dat backup [enter]
This will copy the registry files into a backup directory in the Windows directory. Of course this directory can have another name or be substituted to a different drive.
Normally this register backup can't be saved on a single floppy because the size is greater than the size of the floppy.
Backup of the Windows 98 and Me registry.
With a utility called scanreg the backup of the registry is made automatically on Windows 98 and Windows Me every time you boot.
Go to Start, select Run, enter scanregw and click OK. This runs Scanregw.exe. A Registry scan will take place followed by a "Registry Scan Results" dialog which will appear asking if you want to backup the Registry. Click yes and you're all done. The oldest backup will be replaced with the new one.
You can also use the same step used above for Windows 95, but it is not needed unless you want to keep the original registry backup stored elsewhere. Learn how to make laptop or desktop.
To avoid damage to the computer system and to fix Windows software issues make a security backup of the registry at regular intervals. It is highly recommended that users maintain backup of the Windows registry at regular interval. A copy partition of the whole partition which includes the Windows directory will also contain a backup registry. This copy is made to a new partition on a different hard drive by disk image utility software. This is done for achieving full and maximum data storage security.
Learn about Iomega Automatic Backup.
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