Backup Windows 98, ME & XP Registry

Backing up your registry from time to time is a nice idea. Well, there is an simple way!


For Win 98 & ME...


1. Click Start /Run and type in "regedit" (no quotes).


2. Next, click the Registry menu, Export Registry File ..


.


3. Select a location from the resulting box and give your backup registry a
name. I use: like this...Regbackupfile 04-06-2010


For XP users...


That is it! All backed up.


1. Click Start /Run and type in "regedit" (no quotes).


2. Next, click the File menu, Export


3. Select a location from the resulting box and give your backup registry a
name. Something like:


Regbackupfile 04-06-2010.


Now, how to restore the registry you backed up...


 a quick note: by default, Windows backs up the registry when you shutdown your machine. The above is probably best used for those (like myself) who like to tinker with registry settings.


OK, but what do you do if you have been fooling around in your registry and have *really* messed stuff up?


First, if Windows gets a mistake when loading your registry, it will automatically revert to its backup, so it ought to never give you any kind of trouble loading.


Oh, more thing. You can also add the registry to your regular backup method (you do have a backup method, don't you?). Your registry is in hidden files called "User.dat" and "System.dat", located in the Windows folder. add those files to your normal backup.


Click the Registry menu (in the Registry Editor) and pick Import Registry . Then point the computer to your back up file.