Backup and Restore Registry in Windows

Network Administration - The Registry is an important database containing information about Windows hardware and software or in other words it stores all information of the computer. But this is an open database that allows users to change data.

But changing the Registry is always hidden from the dangers that users cannot fully estimate. So before making changes to the Registry, professional computer administrators always perform Backup Registry. This method is quite simple but not everyone knows. This article will guide you how to Backup and Restore Registry of some Windows operating systems, including Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Backup Registry

With Windows Vista and Windows 7

1. Go to the Start menu, then enter the systempropertiesprotection in the Start Search box and press Enter .

If you receive a message to enter an administrator password or confirm that you enter the password or click Allow.

1. Then wait for Windows to search for available drives and the most recent restore point. In the System Properties dialog box, select the System Protection tab and click the Create button.

1. Enter a name for the new Restore point and then click Create . Suppose that the name for this restore point is Registry Backup .

1. After the new Restore point has been successfully created, press the OK button twice.

Note: If the System Restore feature is disabled, click to select the local disk, then click Apply then click Create.

With Windows XP

1. Go to the Start menu and enter % SystemRoot% system32restorerstrui.exe in the Run box. Click OK .

1. On the Welcome to System Restore page , click the Create a restore point button, then click the Next button.
   
   

1. Next enter the name for the restore point on the Create a Restore Point page , and then click the Create button.
   
   

1. Done when creating the restore point, click the Close button.

Note: If System Restore is currently turned off, the system will display a message asking if you want to turn on System Restore. When you see this message, click on Yes . Then on the System Properties dialog box, uncheck the Turn off System Restore check box and click OK . When you have System Restore turned on, do the above.

Use System Restore to restore Registry changes

With Windows Vista and Windows 7

1. Go to the Start menu, enter the systempropertiesprotection into the Start Search box and press Enter .
   
   If you receive a message to enter an administrator password or confirm that you enter the password or click Allow.

1. Select the System Protection tab in the System Restore dialog box, then click on System Restore .

1. When the System Restore dialog box appears, select Choose a different restore point and then click Next .

1. Select the restore point you want to use and click Next .

1. Reconfirm the access point and then click Finish so that System Restore restores the selected Windows 7 or Windows Vista configuration and restarts the system.

1. Then log back on the system. When the System Restore confirmation page appears, click OK .

With Windows XP

1. Go to the Start menu and enter % SystemRoot% System32RestoreRstrui.exe in the Run box and then click OK .

1. On the Welcome to System Restore page , click Restore my computer to an earlier time (restore the system to a previous time), then click Next .
   
   

1. On the Select a Restore Point page , click on the system checkpoint. In the On this list select the restore point area ( select the restore point in the list), click the Registry Backup item, and then click Next .
   
   

1. If System Restore displays a notification of configuration changes that it will cause, click OK .

1. On the Confirm Restore Point Selection confirmation page, click Next . System Restore will restore the previous configuration of Windows XP and restart the system.
   
   

1. Please log back into the system. When you see the System Restore confirmation page, click OK .