The Registry
Before attempting to edit any part of
the registry MAKE A BACKUP
Objectives
• Explain the rules for editing the registry.
• Describe the various methods by which
windows makes backups of the registry.
• Describe the structure of the registry,
including the use of keys and value entries.
What is the Registry?
• The registry is • Everything fron the
basically where all color of clickable
system configuration buttons to the fonts
and startup used on the screen.
information is held.
• Contains data that • A list of all drivers
used to be stored in and hardware they
files such as WIN.INI, control to the number
AUTOEXEC.BAT of processors and the
and CONFIG.SYS name of system users.
Editing Warnings
• The registry (regedit) Doesn’t act like a
regular text editor.
• It is LIVE as you edit.
• If you make a mistake, your done.
• NEVER experiment with the registry in a
computer which contains important data.
• Don’t use a backup from a different PC.
Backup Schemes (Win 95)
• No useful automatic backup tool.
• Backup is made, but overwritten during the
Reboot and try again” we all use when
problems occur.
• Make backup when system is running and
stable.
• Windows wont look for things such as
C:\Registry\Backup
Backup Schemes (Win 98)
• 5 Backups are automatically created.
• Backups created everyday, oldest of the
group being replaced.
• Stored in C:\windows\sysbckup\.
• With SCANREG you can also choose
which of the five backups
• Rb001 through rb005 are created for
backups.
Backup Schemes (Win ME)
• Uses Same general Scheme as Win 98.
– Couple new tools
• Ability of Win ME to auto recover is
questionable.
– Intermittent problem, sometimes works
sometimes doesn’t.
• New Tool System Recovery allows users to
much larger recoveries.
Backup Schemes (Win Me) Cont.
• Windows ME System Restore uses a series
of restore points
– Points in time where complete restoration
information s saved.
• After a couple are saved system can recover
from any of them.
• Consider saving one as you did in Win 98.
Backup Schemes (Win 2000)
• Makes a single automatic backup of registry
as part of Last Known Good boot options.
• You can always boot ot the last known good
settings, which is after a good launch and
login.
• Has many good tools, harder to destroy the
registry as long as you stay out of regedit.
Backup Schemes (Win XP)
• XP Uses refined and improved version of
windows restore to make backups.
• Last Known Good is also available.
• Registry in Windows XP is hard to break with the
exception of malware and adware. Which can fill
it so full of junk that you wont be bale to use it
ever again.
• Most bulletproof version of windows yet.
– Exception of vista because its being released as book
was written.
The Emergency Recovery Disk
• One of the many things you should do in windows
2000.
• In 9x, this is done from the Add/Remove
Programs applet in Control Panel.
• In Win 2000 use the backup program, found under
System Tools on the Start Menu.
• In Win XP the Automated System Recovery
(ASR) system replaces the ERD.
• You will explore the ASR function in one of the
exercises.
System Recovery Disk Cont.