To manually backup my WinXP registry I need to copy which files...?

[MCS]

And having done this, if my registry corrupts and I cannot get into Windows XP (which is happening a lot lately), rather than reverting to a Ghost image I can boot into 98 and copy the saved reg files back again?

Thanks

 

[extro]

Unfortunately there's no easy way to do what you want with what XP has for the task. They've changed the structure of the way the registry works.

The two best solutions in XP are:

1) Run System Restore (Programs/Accessories/System Tools) and make a restore point. Problem with this is you have to be able to boot into the OS to use it.

2) Run Backup and run the ASR wizard to create a copy of the C: partition. Problem with this is the backup file can be quite large (2GB).


There are some third party apps that claim to be able to backup the registry, this is one but I've never tried it myself.

 

[MCS]

<< 1) Run System Restore (Programs/Accessories/System Tools) and make a restore point. Problem with this is you have to be able to boot into the OS to use it. >>



- Exactly 🙂

So not possible to just copy it then. Thanks for the link. I may have to keep using Ghost until I can resolve this (extremly irritating) problem. I think I have narrowed it down to either a) the registry file being too big or b) shutdown is too quick thus registry file is getting corrupted.

 

[Psychoholic]

<< They've changed the structure of the way the registry works. >>


WTH are you talking about??? Would you care to explain what part of the registry structure has been changed??? I'll give you a hint, none.

The files that make up the registry are found here:
\WINDOWS\system32\config

You cannot just copy these files while Windows is running, however. You can use the Recovery Console or the methods extro described. However:


<< Run Backup and run the ASR wizard to create a copy of the C: partition. Problem with this is the backup file can be quite large (2GB). >>


You don't have to backup the entire drive just to backup the registry.



<< And having done this, if my registry corrupts and I cannot get into Windows XP (which is happening a lot lately), rather than reverting to a Ghost image I can boot into 98 and copy the saved reg files back again? >>


Depends on exactly what the problem is that's causing this. You have a driver/hardware issue that needs to be sorted out. Fix the actual problem instead of relying on a backup to fall back to. Note: I'm not saying backups are unimportant, just that you have an underlying problem that needs to be addressed.

 

[MCS]

<< Depends on exactly what the problem is that's causing this. You have a driver/hardware issue that needs to be sorted out. Fix the actual problem instead of relying on a backup to fall back to. Note: I'm not saying backups are unimportant, just that you have an underlying problem that needs to be addressed. >>



Yes but think about the logic and nature of this problem for a second. I have to use trial and error to find out what is causing it eg remove a driver - reboot a reasonable amount of times. Does problem occur? No - problem sorted. Yes - cause not found, computer rendered useless as far as XP is concerned. It takes about 20 minutes to decompress the Ghost image back, therefore it will be much quicker to boot into 98 and dump the registry files back. See what I mean?

Seems we have a conflict of opinion here, of whether I can copy the files back over while running 98. I just tried to copy the files under XP, it wouldn't let me, as Psychoholic said, but I did discover that my SOFTWARE file (which is where the error is occuring) is 15MB in size.

 

[Psychoholic]

<< Yes but think about the logic and nature of this problem for a second. I have to use trial and error to find out what is causing it eg remove a driver - reboot a reasonable amount of times. Does problem occur? No - problem sorted. Yes - cause not found, computer rendered useless as far as XP is concerned. It takes about 20 minutes to decompress the Ghost image back, therefore it will be much quicker to boot into 98 and dump the registry files back. See what I mean? >>


I understand the logic here, I was just making sure you knew the importance of actually solving the problem. 🙂



<< Seems we have a conflict of opinion here, of whether I can copy the files back over while running 98. >>


The files can be copied back under 98, as long as XP isn't using NTFS, which it should be. If that's the case the Recovery Console is your friend.



<< but I did discover that my SOFTWARE file (which is where the error is occuring) is 15MB in size. >>


It's not unusual for the software hive to be that big. It all depends on what you have installed. However it could be that there's some software you have installed that's not compatible with XP that's caused a problem with the registry. If thta's the case your "backups" whther they are ghosted or copied registry hives are bad as well and the problem will continue to surface.

A repair of the OS might be in order, after that a careful survey of software compatibility.

 

[extro]

WTH are you talking about??? Would you care to explain what part of the registry structure has been changed??? I'll give you a hint, none


Did we wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?

Pardon me, I should have said they've changed the file structure of the way the registry is stored. I did not mean they changed the structure of the way the registry is organized and presented in regedit. I apologize for that lack of clarity.


The files that make up the registry are found here: \WINDOWS\system32\config

Correct, but incomplete. The files, USER.DAT and SYSTEM.DAT that were once in Win98 and easy to copy to other media are gone. In NT/2K/XP the registry data is now stored in multiple files in what MS calls Hives located \windows\system32\config AND \Documents and Settings\{username} folders.

As you said, many of these files are locked during use and that makes backing up the registry in XP quite a pain in the butt. Even if you try exporting the entire registry tree in regedit to make a backup, it won't be complete.

 

[MCS]

extro - I assume this is where having a dual boot with 98 is useful then? I should be able to copy all the files without issue. Thanks for revealing the other location I need to copy.



<< It's not unusual for the software hive to be that big. It all depends on what you have installed. However it could be that there's some software you have installed that's not compatible with XP that's caused a problem with the registry. If that's the case your "backups" whther they are ghosted or copied registry hives are bad as well and the problem will continue to surface. >>



Yep - broken backups. But if I can fix this I will.



<< The files can be copied back under 98, as long as XP isn't using NTFS, which it should be. If that's the case the Recovery Console is your friend. >>



No NTFS here, for this exact reason. I wanted to be able to get to the WinXP partition from 98 "just in case".

 

[Psychoholic]

<< AND \Documents and Settings\{username} folders. >>


Poop, I forgot to include that location.



<< No NTFS here, for this exact reason. I wanted to be able to get to the WinXP partition from 98 "just in case". >>


The Recovery Console will allow you to do the exact same thing without having to have an install of 9x. This way you can use XP as it was intended, with NTFS, intsead of FAT32. You don't have the GUI, but you don't have a poopload of harddrive space wasted either. 😉

 

[extro]

<<extro - I assume this is where having a dual boot with 98 is useful then? I should be able to copy all the files without issue.>>

Yep, that'll work. If any of the files gives an error that it's read-only, that's easily rectified by changing its attributes in explorer.

 

[MCS]

98 is already there, and has been for years. When I used to run 2K I had 98 there as a dual boot still. I probably won't remove it either. It is only using about 1.2GB, and HDs are getting bigger and bigger. I don't see it as a waste of disk space at all. I did ought to get the hang of the Recovery Console though 🙂

 

[Psychoholic]

<< 98 is already there, and has been for years. When I used to run 2K I had 98 there as a dual boot still. I probably won't remove it either. It is only using about 1.2GB, and HDs are getting bigger and bigger. I don't see it as a waste of disk space at all. >>


That also completely ignores the fact that XP was meant to be used with NTFS, instead of FAT32. But to each his own. If you could use DOS you should have no trouble with the Recovery Console.

 

[MCS]

It's sorted. If you're interested, see my last reply here. Thanks for the help people.