Registry backup

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Why is it important?

Behind the scenes

To increase the number of backups automatically stored

To make a new cabinet file backup and replace the oldest

To restore the registry from a cab file

Why do I need to make additional manual backups?

To make a manual backup of the registry

To restore a manual backup of the registry

Why is it important?

As mentioned in the what first section, the registry is the key to the whole operating system. Any corruption in the registry however small, can cause a major crash. It follows that you should always keep it backed up properly. It is also possible that if you have to resort to using a full system backup, even is it is a few weeks old, that restoring the registry from a more current registry backup will bring the system more up to date.

Backing up the registry has to be one of the simplest tasks and yet too many people either don't do it or don't know how.

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Behind the scenes

By default, Windows 98 in fact comes with a built in system for keeping the registry backed up automatically. The Registry Checker application (called SCANREGW.EXE) checks the registry each time Windows 98 is started and checks for the following:

The registry will be backed up if it has not already been backed up that day. The backup is extended to not only the main two registry files SYSTEM.DAT and USER.DAT but also includes the system files SYSTEM.INI and WIN.INI. The backup is then compressed into a cabinet file and stored in the C:\WINDOWS\SYSBCKUP folder. The default setting is to keep backups of the registry for the last 5 days. The cabinet files are consequently named RB000.CAB to RB004.CAB, the oldest one being replaced each time a new one is created.
If there is a lot of wasted or unused space in the registry files, they will be compacted to save space and increase system speed.
The integrity of the registry is checked and if found to be corrupt will be restored from the last backup which gave a successful load and run of Windows.
If for any reason a backup is not available to the Registry checker, an attempt will be made to repair the registry.

Because some people manage to go for days and sometimes even weeks without rebooting their system, relying on the normal Windows method of backing up the registry only on boot wouldn't be so reliable. The newest backup could be quite old and the one previous to that would be considerably older. You can add a Scheduled Task that runs the command SCANREG /BACKUP every night to make sure the latest registry backup is no more than a day old.

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To increase the number of backups automatically stored:

Show me how

Open NotePad
Click File
Click Open
Type C:\WINDOWS\SCANREG.INI in the File Name Box
Click Open
Alter the line MaxBackupCopies=5 to a higher number. (Note: there should be no spaces either side of the equals sign and this number should never be reduced to a lower number than 5.)

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To make a new cabinet file backup and replace the oldest:

Show me how

Open the registry checker
The registry checker will check the registry for errors and offer an option to back up the registry again
Click YES

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To restore the registry from a cab file:

Show me how

Start the computer in safe MS-DOS command prompt mode.
At the DOS prompt (C:\), type scanreg /restore.
Press the ENTER key.
Choose from the list of available and useable backups.
Scanreg will restore your registry and prompt you to restart the computer.

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Manual backups

Why do I need to make additional manual backups?

Whilst SCANREGW.EXE will check for corruption in the registry and if found will restore from a backup, it is not able to find and repair all faults. It is possible for a registry fault to go unnoticed for a number of days and so therefore each day the corruption is backed up. If you rely entirely on this automatic system, it is possible that you could end up with no good versions to restore from. For this reason, manual backups should be made at regular intervals.

Also, manual backups should be made before installing software, hardware, new drivers etc., because of the nature of the changes that are made to the registry.

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To make a manual backup of the registry:

IMPORTANT, in order to use this method of backing up the registry, an application called REGEDIT.EXE will be used. This application is primarily for editing the registry directly. When using REGEDIT, do not make any alterations to the registry without having first made sure you have a current backup. To carry out a manual backup, proceed as follows:

Show me how

Open the registry editor
Ensure "My Computer" is selected
Click Registry in the menu bar
Click Export Registry File
In the dialogue box, select a folder and file name to store the backup
Click Save
When finished, click the close window button

The result is a rather large text file that can be inspected and edited if necessary by using WordPad.

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To restore a manual backup of the registry:

This file can be restored back into the registry. Simply:

Open the registry editor
Ensure "My Computer" is selected
Click Registry.
Click Import Registry File.
Select the file to import.
Click OK

Even if Windows 98 refuses to start, REGEDIT.EXE will run in MS-DOS mode and is capable of restoring a registry from a backup.

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©2000 - 2012 ez-pc.org. All rights reserved Visitor Number 4,483,710	ez-pc Forum	Site Map	Registry backup was last reviewed May 18, 2002