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Backup Registry

Windows Registry Backup and Restore

Most Windows users never backup registry databases on their computers. The reason is simple. They never get told to do it, let alone how to do it. Let's fix that oversight.

Backup your registry often. How about right now?

To open the registry editor:
Click Start, Run, then type Regedit in the "open" dialog box, the click "Ok". You should see something like this:

Backup Registry - Registry Editor Screenshot

If the tree list is all expanded out, press the "Home" key on your keyboard so that "My Computer" is highlighted at the top.
The next step is to export the entire registry (Note: My Computer is highlighted in blue, you want to be at the top so that you export everything.)
Click on File, Export, and you should get a dialog box like this:

Backup Registry - Editor

Next you are asked what to save and where to save it:

Backup Registry Export Dialog

Notice under "Export Range" I have selected "All". Choose a location where you can find it, and I recommend this gets backed up to something besides just the same hard drive that Windows resides on. Restoring the Registry When you do have need for data in the registry backup, I recommend that you seek out specific professional help to restore only what is necessary.
I will tell you, though, that this data, saved in a .reg file, is just a simple text file that can be viewed and edited in Notepad or WordPad. And simply double clicking on a .reg file will cause Windows to prompt you to add that data to the registry. So, if you want to add it, it's easy to do. But if you double click on it by mistake, cancel out by selecting "no" so as not to enter data into the registry that is not what you intend.

Another Backup Registry method, using Windows Backup

Windows backup, while not the best software I have ever used, is definitely handy once in a while. Buried in the Start Menu under All Programs, Accessories, System tools, it doesn't seem like Microsoft wants you to use it too often, which is definitely a mistake in my mind.

Backup Utility Screenshot for Backup Registry

Notice in the above screenshot that all I have checked for backup is the System State, and that I am backing up to a file on the C: drive. Again, put this backup file somewhere besides your Windows hard drive. Backing up the system state will backup registry and other important files; and, add to your arsenal of recovery options should things go bad. See Sidebar 1 below.

SIDEBAR 1: A positive side effect of backing up the registry with Windows Backup "System State" is that the contents of the "Repair" directory (typically C:\Windows\Repair) is updated with a current copy of the important registry hives also. This data can be used by Windows repair procedures to simplify the repair task. If you never do this System State backup, these files in the "Repair" folder are typically from the initial install of Windows and relatively worthless to you. So I recommend BOTH backup methods!

SIDEBAR 2: Here is a great resource on editing, backing up, and restoring the Windows registry: Microsoft's Comprehensive Registry Backup & Restore Document

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