W2K registry backup - how-to and onto what media
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.
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
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
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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.
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.
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
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
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?
