How,REALLY,backup,the,Windows, computer How to REALLY backup the Windows Registry
Gone are those times when the companies and the organisations didn't need a hi-tech system to handle them. Owing to the considerable increase in the business sector and thus, an enormous increase in the complexity of the organisational struc ----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website,offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as longas no changes a
Reprintable Article: Permission is granted for thefollowing article to forward, reprint, distribute, use forezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part ofa product for sale as long as no changes are made and thebyline, copyright, and resource box is included. ----------------------------------------------------------How to REALLY backup the Windows RegistryBy Stephen BucaroIn Windows 3.x configuration information was stored inhuman readable text files like win.ini, system.ini,config.sys, and autoexec.bat. But that method of storingconfiguration was inadequate to store configuration forthe enormous amount of bloat Microsoft put into Windows 95and higher.In Windows 95 and higher, configuration information isstored in the "registry". The word "registry" rarelyappears without being accompanied by the word "warning",and a vague description of how your computer will go up insmoke if you even think about messing with the registry.The registry is bloated and overcomplicated, but since itis the central repository for almost all of Windowsconfiguration information, you will probably have to dealwith it sooner or later. In fact, if you ever require theassistance of a support technician, the first thing theywill instruct you to do is open registry editor.It is perfectly safe for you to work with the registry,provided that you back it up first (and you know how torestore it). Windows automatically creates a backup of theregistry every time you start your computer. But when youare making configuration changes, you usually have toreboot your computer several times, possibly writing baddata to the backup.To make your own backup of the registry, start your systemwith your startup floppy disk. (If you cant find yourstartup disk, use the Add/Remove utility in Control Panelto make a new one. Place a copy of the file attrib.exefrom the c:windowscommand folder on the disk.)After you start your system with your startup disk, useDOS to change to the C:WINDOWS directory (type c: thencd windows). Then carefully type in the following DOScommands.attrib -s -h -r system.datattrib -s -h -r user.datcopy system.dat c:copy user.dat c:attrib +s +h +r system.datattrib +s +h +r user.datNote: if your system is Windows Me, also back upclasses.datThen remove the startup disk and restart your system.Why did I put you through such a laborious method just tomake a copy of two files? Could you just use WindowsExplorer to copy the files? Could you use the RegistryEditor (Regedit) to back up the registry (or Windows MeSystem Restore)?Yes, you could. But what if your system crashed so that itcant even start in Safe Mode? Then you cant use any ofthose Windows programs to restore the registry. I put youthrough the DOS method to make sure:1. The boot sequence in your BIOS is setup to boot fromthe A: drive.2. You have the minimum proficiency with DOS to restorethe registry if required.3. To make sure that you have a copy of attrib.exe on yourstartup disk.To restore the registry, start your system with yourstartup disk. Use DOS to change to the c:windowsdirectory. Then type in the following commands.attrib -s -h -r system.datattrib -s -h -r user.datdel system.datdel user.datcd copy system.dat c:windowscopy user.dat c:windowscd windowsattrib +s +h +r system.datattrib +s +h +r user.datThen remove the startup disk and restart your system.My advice is to frequently use Windows Explorer to makecopies of the registry files. Make copies of the registryfiles before you install any hardware or software or makeany changes to the registry. Make sure you are preparedto use your startup disk and DOS to restore the registry.----------------------------------------------------------Resource Box:Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintainyour computer and use it more effectively to design a Website and make money on the Web visithttp://bucarotechelp.comTo subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blankemail to [email protected]
How,REALLY,backup,the,Windows,