What is a registry backup?

Your registry is the road map for your computer. It tells the system where to find files and programs, and it also contains information about which resources and how much of those resources each of your files and processes use. Without the registry, your computer will not operate. A backup is an exact copy of the registry, a snapshot so to speak. Prudent computers users always make a backup of the registry prior to making any changes. This is a good habit to get into, as it only takes the removal of 1 critical system key to bring your computer crashing like a car in a demolition derby.

How do you backup the registry?

This depends on what version of Windows you have. You also have to choose between backing up a single registry key or an entire subtree or group of subtrees. As an example, HK_USERS is a subtree, HK_USERS\.DEFAULT is a key. If you want to backup one or more subtrees, then you should perform a backup of the whole registry. Use the backup facility to backup the system state. This will backup the entire registry, as well as other critical items like the computer’s boot files. You can also backup a single key through the registry editor.

The exact steps to take for either scenario depend on your version of Windows. Microsoft makes this complicated, because they change the terminology used for the same items in the help files from one version of Windows to the next. For example; in Windows XP, Microsoft refers to HK_USERS as a subtree, in Windows 2000 Microsoft calls it a hive. For this article we will refer to it as a subtree to avoid any more confusion.

Ideally, anytime you want to make manual changes to your registry, you should backup your system state. This is the safest way to be sure that you do not accidentally remove something other than a registry key and it also assures you that your operating system can be restored. Also be sure that you have the original disks for your operating system or an Emergency Repair Disk or Rescue Disk and that you know how to start your system in safe mode.

If you lack the disks or the skills to restore your entire system or its registry, leave editing the registry to someone more experienced or use a registry repair program like RegCure, which can backup and restore your registry for you. Otherwise, you run the risk of inflicting irreparable harm to your system. Microsoft cautions users in their help files to use the registry editor at their own risk; there is no guarantee that you can recover your system if you remove a critical key in error.

What can go wrong with a registry backup?

Surprisingly, more than you would think. It is possible to incorrectly perform the steps to backup either a registry key or subtree. This is especially true if you forget what you named the backup (this happens more often than you would think). One would assume that you make the backup and everything is fine, so you go and make changes, and then … oops! So you follow the procedure to restore, but it doesn’t work. Then what? You can try to restore from your disks. This may work, but then you have lost all of your Windows updates and you must go through all of that again. This all could take what seems like an eternity.

Luckily for you, there is a better way. RegCure, a top of the line registry repair program, will quickly and easily backup your system’s registry for you. The process is safe, complete, and as easy as a click of the mouse. There is no searching for the Window’s backup utility and no need to read through all of the confusing help files on Microsoft’s website. Many of their help files are poorly written and unclear, even to experts – it could take you several hours just to learn how to back up your system yourself.

After backing up your registry files, RegCure will scan for problems and remove them without removing one critical system file. It was written by experts who know and understand exactly how the computer’s registry works. They know which files should always be there and where they should be located. So, instead of taking unnecessary time and effort to create a system state backup, it makes better sense to use RegCure in order to back up your system’s registry safely and effectively.

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