Best or proper way to backup Registry?

[mikehende]

OK guys, please give me the leads and let me go hunting!

[dbarrow]

If you are going to modify or delete a key, export it first.
rename the export to something you can remember and write it down. Keep a running list.

Create a Restore Point
Remember that \Windows\repair keeps a copy of the registry hives. It updates every X reboots or X days (never did figure out the timing on this)
You can replace a hive from the XP repair console.

Best practice: Image the OS drive
you can always restore the whole thing if you really botch it.

[mikehende]

The first 2 I can do with any pc, for creating an image I will need both expensive software and another HDD.

[rVidia]

To back up a single key (http://kickenhardware.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3133&highlight=individual)

Do not export the whole registry. Create a restore point.

When creating an image, you could get another HDD and/or blank CDs to keep in a safe place. For imaging software, I recommend Acronis True Image, relatively cheap here (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?DEPA=0&type=&Description=acronis+true+image&Submit=ENE&Ntk=all&N=0&minPrice=&maxPrice=&Go.x=0&Go.y=0).

[dbarrow]

Were you absent during our discussions of "backup solutions"?

Read the MS warnings about messing in the registry!
Experienced registry editors seldom have too many problems but this is one critical area where a big goof can be tough to undo.
Accidentally highlighting a branch instead of a key and hitting delete....
Things will work until you reboot as the current registry stays active and changes don't occur until you re-load it next bootup.
Changes you make are permanent.

Go to the MSKB and read up on systate backup.
It can be done with NTbackup within XP.
It backs up all system settings and the registry.
As previously mentioned, "protected keys" are not restored during a restore but it is unlikely you will be messing with any of them.

If you get Acronis home (most highly recommended), you can image the machine to another machine via the network.

Let me guess... it's all one big C: drive isn't it?
That will make for a big backup but an image is still your best bet for recovery if you make a big mess.

When you get in the middle of a big fubar, it's just so much easier to restore an image from before it went sour.
I know... restored E:\OS on 2 machines this morning and still in the process of figuring out what went down.

If you use JV16 after using the uninstaller to remove any Symantec/Norton, reboot, run the reg cleaner and it should pick up the orphaned keys and let you delete them.
JV16, by default, makes bakups of all modifications.
They are easily restored from within the program.

[PeteF]

To back up a single key (http://kickenhardware.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3133&highlight=individual)

Do not export the whole registry. Create a restore point.

When creating an image, you could get another HDD and/or blank CDs to keep in a safe place. For imaging software, I recommend Acronis True Image, relatively cheap here (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?DEPA=0&type=&Description=acronis+true+image&Submit=ENE&Ntk=all&N=0&minPrice=&maxPrice=&Go.x=0&Go.y=0).

Check this out on Ebay. $19.82 For Acronis 9
I'm not sure if it's wise to buy SW from outside the USA.
Can anyone here advise on this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Acronis-True-Image-9-PC-BRAND-NEW-FULL-VERSION-98-TO-XP_W0QQitemZ270022698531QQihZ017QQcategoryZ3805QQs sPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

---pete---

[mikehende]

Go to the MSKB and read up on systate backup.
It can be done with NTbackup within XP.
It backs up all system settings and the registry.


2 things concerning this, this got me a little spooked

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811944

and this suggests to me that the systate backup cannot be done with XP 's "Home" edition?

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/backup.mspx

[dbarrow]

What I always found perplexing was XP's mother hen approach to protecting certain files and reg keys.
While you can backup/export/copy certain reg keys and even whole branches, there are some that fall under the "protected" envelope. If just one of these is included in a backup/export reg file, it will not restore using regedit or double clicking a .reg file. The restore stops at that particular key; ie: you export HKLM as a whole and go to restore it, it won't because it hits a protected key somewhere in the middle and stops. The only way to figure out where is to go branch by branch until you isolate the part that won't import.

Systate does not replace all files contained within it.
Try it and see that it skips certain protected files.

There is a most complicated way to load a copy of a hive in regedit and do editing but I found that to be way to cumbersome.

For whole registry backup, you can COPY the hives from system32\config or repair folder to somewhere (like the root) of your OS drive/partition. These can be copied back by booting with the XP cd and using Repair Console, ie: a common (and the fastest method) way to repair a blown HAL (HAL not found or corrupt) is to use repair console and copy the 4 hive files to system32\config thus replacing them.

The second best and fastest method is replacing them from an Acronis image file using the boot cd where, using Acronis Linux kernel, XP protections do not interfere.

Play in the registry all you want and export any key changes you made. The vast majority will restore by clicking a .reg export file. Should you hit a protected key, then you will have to revert using one of the Whole hive methods above.

[mikehende]

The cousin gave me the 80gb external HDD since it is of no use to her now so I will back up my entire pc on it, just so I understand this fully and don't run into the same problem I had with "pc mover", let me ask these itemized questions please, if I should use Acronis to create an image of my pc,

1] Does this mean that "everything" on my HDD will be copied? OS and all?

2] If yes to the above, can I restore that backup on a "different" pc and whether desktop or laptop in the future or does it have to be restored only on same type of pc it came from?

3] Would the license from one Acronis software enable to move that backup as many times as I wish from the external drive to any pc or would I only be able to move it just one time?

I realize that the questions above are more designed for Acronis than to ask here but after my experience with Laplink I realize that I cannot count on what Acronis should tell me and might better if if these answers come from actual users of the software.

[dbarrow]

1. Depending on which version of Acronis you use..
I don't believe Home does folders and files which Workstation and Server versions do.
You can do entire drives or individual Partitions.

Again, you need a "backup strategy" that fully encompasses what you intend to do and what you need to cover.
Remember, in setting up your "backup solution", consider what you have to protect and the frequency necessary.
This is where I choose to break down various things into PARTITIONS to make backup and restore much faster.
To image or restore an entire 200g drive will involve a whole day. That can be a real PITA if you are trying to fix something as simple as a blown HAL preventing you from booting.
(see also Acronis Secure Zone, Recovery Manager, Snap Restore features)
I choose to isolate my XP OS on a 10g E: partition allowing me to image or restore it in 10 minutes. It gets a weekly full image + daily incrementals. It is stored locally on the C: drive and also on the network machine. (all my machines do the same) This yields two sources for the OS backup in case one is corrupted or lost due to HD failure.

2. As above, Acronis works with a network or external. Workstation even works with FTP. You can save your images anywhere you can connect and restore from them just as easily.
If you have network or external storage capability, it is worthwhile to save your backups in two locations in the event of hardware failure. If you lose the HD where the image resides...

Workstation, server versions of Acronis can use the Universal Restore (additional $29.95) add-on. Universal Restore allows you to move an OS to a different machine with dissimilar hardware as it rebuilds the HAL.

Partitions with only DATA can be restored to any machine.
Just bear in mind that they need to be on a partition that does not contain the OS, ie: I can restore the partition on my one machine that contains all my MP3 music collection to any of the other machines.
IF that was located on one huge C:\ drive that also contained XP, I could restore it to another machine but that machine would not boot because the HAL would be different for the hardware and XP would BSOD.

3. The Acronis boot media generally works on machines other than the one you created it on. I'm not sure how the EULA words usage restrictions but, you don't have to install Acronis on another machine. You can boot it with the Acronis boot cd and restore an image from network storage to it. You will have to study the EULA in detail.

I have been in the process of testing Workstation and Universal Restore to move my son into his new box.
Waiting on RMA of a water pump to complete this chore which has been unsuccessful to date. I have been up against the wall with this and have not gotten any answers to the problem.

If you are intent on purchasing Acronis (which I'm sure we will all highly recommend), I would suggest the Workstation version as it has many more features and much more versatility.

Having tested various other "backup solutions", I have yet to find any with the range of features or the reliability of Acronis.

[mikehende]

Partitions with only DATA can be restored to any machine.
Just bear in mind that they need to be on a partition that does not contain the OS, ie: I can restore the partition on my one machine that contains all my MP3 music collection to any of the other machines.
IF that was located on one huge C:\ drive that also contained XP, I could restore it to another machine but that machine would not boot because the HAL would be different for the hardware and XP would BSOD.

I will use Acronis for backup when I'm ready, I have all video and mp3 files backed up on many cd's but I intend to take your advice and back these up on a HDD as had been mentioned in a thread a while back. I will be installing my music software on my wife's laptop and will use the external drive to store the mp3's and use that to play music from the laptop so the external drive will serve 2 purposes at the same time, therefore I will have my mp3's on 3 separate systems. That leaves the OS and other softwares/files. Since that external is 80gb, I can partition into 3, the OS on one, the softwares/files on another and the mp3's/videos on the third, is this a good idea or should I simply create an image of everything?

I don't fully understand everything you wrote in the quote above which is why I am asking this.

[dbarrow]

You can't have the OS on an external.

Go search through the forums and brush up on the many posts about "backups" and "backup solutions" where this has been discussed in detail previously.

Design YOUR "backup solution" and define your needs and how/when/where you want to backup each of your machines. Decide what resides on what machine and how critical it is, how frequently it needs a backup, how to isolate it from everything else, and where you want to store it.
I'll take it for granted you are getting/using Acronis and again, suggest the Workstation version for added versatility.

Post your "backup solution" when ready and we can go over it.

ie: My vast music collection is critical and took years to build up. It 'lives' on the C:\ of my network storage machine where it is played on any of the others over the network. An image of that C:\MUSIC partition is parked on each of my other machines just in case...
It does not change all that frequently so these images are a monthly scheduled task unless I make a bunch of additions in which case I do a manual run of that backup task. If I wanted the collection available on a laptop to make it portable, I could restore one of these images to the laptop to make it available there or to refresh content.

The main threat to guard against is a crapped out OS.
When XP blows up, you can't boot the machine. In most cases, data files like your MP3 collection are still there and intact but you don't have a functional OS to get to them.
That is the main reason I isolate the OS on its' own partition and keep it apart from everything else. If I can restore the OS and get the machine back up, everything else should be intact.
My OS partition is backed up weekly to the C:\BACKUPS folder on each machine along with a DAILY incremental.
It also gets a weekly backup to a BACKUP folder on the network storage machine to ensure I have TWO images of the OS for each machine, one internal and one external.

Never rely on just one image in one location as Murphy's law will dictate that the one and only time you need it, that will be the drive that fails!