Windows 2000: Reloading the registry?

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Is there a way to reload the registry from disk on a Windows 2000 Server machine? Without restarting that is.

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Edit: Disregard that, was able to view that link another way and it did not contain the answer.

 

[Sianath]

What do you mean by reload the registry? Do you mean start with clean registry files (with no modifications made)?

If so, do you want all the registry files, or just the two most common (system and software).

Either way, the process would be as follows:

1. Boot to the Recovery Console
- Boot from CD
- At the "Welcome to Windows Setup" screen, press F10
- Choose your installation (normally 1), then type the default Administrator password
2. Type: cd system32\config
3. Type: ren system system.old
4. Type: ren software software.old

(you can do the rest of the registry files, but there is very little reason to do so)

5. Type: cd \
6. Type: cd winnt\repair
7. Type: copy system %systemroot%\system32\config
8. Type: copy software %systemroot%\system32\config
9. Reboot normally

When Windows is installed, we create a copy of your initial registry files to the winnt\repair folder. These files are only refreshed post-installation on a 2003 Server when you create a System State backup. If you have ever created an ERD (Windows 2000) and checked the box to backup the registry files, we create a subfolder in the repair folder called regback, and your backup registry files will be there.

If that doesn't answer your question, sorry!

 

[Smilin]

Yeah there's some utility out there that does it. Can't remember the same sorry.

It won't do all parts of the registry though. Some portions are built dynamically every boot. You're asking for super huge happy fun time trouble though. 😉

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Originally posted by: Sianath
What do you mean by reload the registry? Do you mean start with clean registry files (with no modifications made)?

If so, do you want all the registry files, or just the two most common (system and software).

Either way, the process would be as follows:

1. Boot to the Recovery Console
- Boot from CD
- At the "Welcome to Windows Setup" screen, press F10
- Choose your installation (normally 1), then type the default Administrator password
2. Type: cd system32\config
3. Type: ren system system.old
4. Type: ren software software.old

(you can do the rest of the registry files, but there is very little reason to do so)

5. Type: cd \
6. Type: cd winnt\repair
7. Type: copy system %systemroot%\system32\config
8. Type: copy software %systemroot%\system32\config
9. Reboot normally

When Windows is installed, we create a copy of your initial registry files to the winnt\repair folder. These files are only refreshed post-installation on a 2003 Server when you create a System State backup. If you have ever created an ERD (Windows 2000) and checked the box to backup the registry files, we create a subfolder in the repair folder called regback, and your backup registry files will be there.

If that doesn't answer your question, sorry!

Thanks, but what I mean is reload it while Windows is running. Windows makes changes to it realtime, but if something seems to be going wrong, and we dont want to kick the server down, we want to be able to reload it to see if that has any effect.

 

[Smilin]

What do you mean by something going wrong.

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Originally posted by: Smilin
What do you mean by something going wrong.

Combination of a software package update and a few Windows updates went awry, corrupted SP3, and made it impossible to install SP4. Exchange Server gives problems, and when trying to transfer the AD to a 2003 machine you get errors stating you need to install SP4 first.

 

[Sianath]

Ahh, then no. You can't reload your registry files while windows is using them.