For System Backup: XP Backup or manual copy hives, or Export using Regedit

switzoid · Feb 3, 2003, 07:07 AM

Hi,

With some recent crashes (the last was an unrecoverable disabling of video driver - tried everything) I am wondering how you guys make system backups.

It seems I can run regedit, and select "my computer" and select "export" and just export the whole registry to a *.reg file. Could I use this in the event of a crash? Or could I install windows fresh, and then click on this file to restore my old registry?

Or could I copy the actual files here:
copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default

and then just copy them back into the appropriate directory?

Or I could use the accessories/system tools/backup built into XP. I have made a system state backup...it backed up boot/com/registry files...2177 files in all, and used 402mb in the process. Do I really need this 402mb...or is the 33mb Regedit registry backup enough?

What do you guys do?

Thanks!

Herman Munster

ToshiroOC · Feb 3, 2003, 07:28 AM

Personally, when my system goes to hell and crashes and burns, I just reinstall windows and delete my old programs, minus the save games, and reinstall em and put the games back in, and I'm pretty much back to normal...

merry · Feb 7, 2003, 11:29 AM

See above - only I have a separate partition for games, which makes it easier. If I had HDD space, I'd have a partition for images of my system drives - you install everything you want to have permanently, make a partition image... if it crashes, you're up and running in no time. I've seen the guys at the office install OS+appz on a new computer in minutes...

switzoid · Feb 7, 2003, 10:31 PM

I used to use a separate drive for images of my boot disk, but alt.binaries.music.utilities and such have choked that plan. So now I just look for registry backup options until I get more HDD space. Plus, an image wipes out things you might have inadvertently saved on drive c or your boot disk. It's not hard to have a program save a file to C: over the course of 6 months and forget lose it by using an image.

System restore seems to work okay. But I wonder what the use of exporting the whole registry is using regedit? Can this exported file be used in any way? I know individual keys and such can be used...but can one just click on the entire registry - one giant *.reg file representing the whole registry? And wouldn't one have to have windows working any way to use this? Hmmmm.

D@rthVeder · Feb 26, 2003, 05:33 AM

I use an old Ghost version (5.1), Dos based to back up my C-drive.
I do this almost every week or so. This way you always have a up to date backup and you don't have to rely on windows restore which also needs a lot of room on your c-drive.

switzoid · Feb 26, 2003, 08:36 AM

cheerio!!

D@rthVeder · Feb 27, 2003, 05:38 PM

Not a problem if you have partitioned your physical drive

: have a C: of +/- 10 gig with only my OS on it.
I only back that up.....no need for other partitions to be backed up.
Still, I am also running system restore (minimized) as a safety feature in case of.........well you never now with M$

Feb 3, 2003, 07:07 AM	#1
switzoid DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 35 Rep Power: 0	For System Backup: XP Backup or manual copy hives, or Export using Regedit Hi, With some recent crashes (the last was an unrecoverable disabling of video driver - tried everything) I am wondering how you guys make system backups. It seems I can run regedit, and select "my computer" and select "export" and just export the whole registry to a *.reg file. Could I use this in the event of a crash? Or could I install windows fresh, and then click on this file to restore my old registry? Or could I copy the actual files here: copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default and then just copy them back into the appropriate directory? Or I could use the accessories/system tools/backup built into XP. I have made a system state backup...it backed up boot/com/registry files...2177 files in all, and used 402mb in the process. Do I really need this 402mb...or is the 33mb Regedit registry backup enough? What do you guys do? Thanks! Herman Munster

Feb 3, 2003, 07:28 AM	#2
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	Personally, when my system goes to hell and crashes and burns, I just reinstall windows and delete my old programs, minus the save games, and reinstall em and put the games back in, and I'm pretty much back to normal... __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Feb 7, 2003, 11:29 AM	#3
merry gargouille Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 962 Rep Power: 0	See above - only I have a separate partition for games, which makes it easier. If I had HDD space, I'd have a partition for images of my system drives - you install everything you want to have permanently, make a partition image... if it crashes, you're up and running in no time. I've seen the guys at the office install OS+appz on a new computer in minutes... __________________ There is a war between the ones who say there is a war and the ones who say there isn't. ~~Leonard Cohen

Feb 7, 2003, 10:31 PM	Thread Starter #4
switzoid DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 35 Rep Power: 0	Yes...but...but... I used to use a separate drive for images of my boot disk, but alt.binaries.music.utilities and such have choked that plan. So now I just look for registry backup options until I get more HDD space. Plus, an image wipes out things you might have inadvertently saved on drive c or your boot disk. It's not hard to have a program save a file to C: over the course of 6 months and forget lose it by using an image. System restore seems to work okay. But I wonder what the use of exporting the whole registry is using regedit? Can this exported file be used in any way? I know individual keys and such can be used...but can one just click on the entire registry - one giant *.reg file representing the whole registry? And wouldn't one have to have windows working any way to use this? Hmmmm.

Feb 26, 2003, 05:33 AM	#5
D@rthVeder DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: the netherlands Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	I use an old Ghost version (5.1), Dos based to back up my C-drive. I do this almost every week or so. This way you always have a up to date backup and you don't have to rely on windows restore which also needs a lot of room on your c-drive. __________________ [color=yellow]Asus P4PE L/A/ Bios 1001 P4 2.53gzh/533mhz/stock Hs&F 768mb DDR333 (3x256 Apacer SS) Asus 8440 128mb DDR/TV-out Maxtor DiamondMax Plus9 80gig A-open CDRW 48x12x50 Sony 1,44 floppy Windows XP Pro sp1 IIyama Vision Master Pro 454 19" Logitech Internet Navigator SE keyboard Logitech Mouseman Dual Optical 3DmarkK2se:12298 det.4072 Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly aka d@rthveder/Team 1714[/color]

Feb 26, 2003, 08:36 AM	Thread Starter #6
switzoid DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 35 Rep Power: 0	used to do this, but ran out of space, big big c drive :) cheerio!!

Feb 27, 2003, 05:38 PM	#7
D@rthVeder DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: the netherlands Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Not a problem if you have partitioned your physical drive : have a C: of +/- 10 gig with only my OS on it. I only back that up.....no need for other partitions to be backed up. Still, I am also running system restore (minimized) as a safety feature in case of.........well you never now with M$ __________________ [color=yellow]Asus P4PE L/A/ Bios 1001 P4 2.53gzh/533mhz/stock Hs&F 768mb DDR333 (3x256 Apacer SS) Asus 8440 128mb DDR/TV-out Maxtor DiamondMax Plus9 80gig A-open CDRW 48x12x50 Sony 1,44 floppy Windows XP Pro sp1 IIyama Vision Master Pro 454 19" Logitech Internet Navigator SE keyboard Logitech Mouseman Dual Optical 3DmarkK2se:12298 det.4072 Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly aka d@rthveder/Team 1714[/color]