Making a backup of your registry

Here below you should two simple methods on how to make a backup and to restore your registry.

Export/ Import

Firstly open your registry editor: click on Start Menu /Run / type in the following command: regedit.

Click on File /Export. Enter File name and select a path. Ensure that the file extension is .reg and in the Export range field select All



Click on save to validate operation.

To restore the registry when using this method, simply click on File/ Import.

This method is quite simple and useful, but if one of the registry keys is modified or deleted, causing your system to fail and you can’t restart your PC, this backup shouldn’t be of any use.

The second method allows you to restore your registry base in case of system failure.

Making a backup and restoring your registry using the Windows Recovery Console

The Recovery Console is accessible from the Windows XP installation CD.

The aim is make a copy of certain files (SYSTEM, SOFTWARE, SAM, SECURITY and DEFAULT) found in the WINDOWS/System32/Config folder

The first step is to create a folder to store the copy of these files (E.g.: C:\ Backup).

Insert the XP installation CD; restart your PC, using your CD Drive as First Boot Device.

After the Installation Files are copied, Windows will ask you whether you want to Install Windows XP or Repair.

Type on the R key to select the repair option.

Go to the line ''on which installation of Windows''

Type 1 and enter your password.

After the command line: C:WINDOWS> enter the following command :

copy C:\Windows\system32\Config\SYSTEM C:\Backup

Type in Exit to quit and restart your PC.

Note that when making changes in the registry it’s important to:
Make a backup of the registry before making any modifications.
Make changes sequentially (one after the other).