[SnapperOne]

I am working thru an unrelated problem on another post (Missing Windows 2000 Recycle Bin). It appears that part of the answer to that problem will involve (if I'm smart) backing up my Registry files just in case I screw things up. Since I've never backed up my Registry files, I'd like to know the best (?); i.e....least intrusive or difficult, way of doing this.

I've searched NTC for "Registry backups" but don't find anything specifically on-point. And, when I've gone out to M$ FAQ files, there are a bunch of "you should know this" assumptions made about the users knowledge.......such as what do you back the Registry files onto; CD, floppies,etc; and, how many of the chosen media will you likely need on-hand to complete the process.

In short, I'm looking for fairly straight-foward instructions on how, or what to use to backup my Registry files.

SnapperOne

[nebulus]

1. open regedit (start->run, and type regedit)
2. go to registry->export registry file
3. burn the file on CD or whatever, depends on how much of the registry you'll backup.. and that's it

PS: just check help if you need more information

[DosFreak]

NTBackup (Backup System State)
or ERUNT

The export registry option is not a very good solution.

[nebulus]

Quote:

The export registry option is not a very good solution.

OK.. and may I ask you why?

[madacgrav]

http://www.xtra.co.nz/help/0,,6156-1262916,00.html#w22

above is link to a how to restore and backup registry for all windows versions.

the easiest way i can think of would be to copy and then rename the system.dat and user.dat (the registry file names) to .da0 or whatever. To restore them just delete the bad system.dat and user.dat and then rename known good files back to .dat. This could only be for earlier versions of windows because i have never tried it past win 98.

[duhmez]

The uswer.dat and system.dat wont work thats not for NT so forget that. The reason for exporeting the reg from regedit is m,any keys wont export because even the administrator does not have acxcess to these hives.

Best way: run nTbackup>backup "system state"
This will grab your entire reg.

[madacgrav]

cool i could not remember is the user.dat and system.dat was for NT or not. never had the need to know with a NT system unlike 9x machines.

SnapperOne -- sorry for the misinfo

[clutch]

MS has departed from backing up the registry via copying since W2K, and with XP it's all but gone. Other metadata, such as key permissions, would be lost depending on the export. Applied policies can confound this even more. Using NTBackup is the best way to get many things backed-up (including Exchange Servers). Here's some articles:

HOW TO: Back Up, Edit, and Restore the Registry in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;322756

HOW TO: Backup, Edit, and Restore the Registry in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;322755

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP from Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307545

HOW TO: Use the Backup Program to Back Up and Restore the System State in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;240363

Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;256986

[SnapperOne]

Many of the "how to" articles I've read about backing up Registry files, refer to "System State" and "The Registry" interchangably. Relative to backing up Registry files, are they the same thing?

[duhmez]

yes, backing up the "system state" does backup the entire registry, plus other stuff.

For example, if you istal the machine fresh, then restore a "system state" it will be back to the way it was.