Backing Up the Windows Registry

Before you apply any registry tweaks or security fixes to your PC you should make a backup of your system’s registry. To do so, follow the appropriate set of steps below.

Create a manual System Restore point to backup your registry in Windows 8:

1. Press [Windows Key] + [X] and click System > System protection.
2. Click the Create button.
3. Enter a name for your restore point and click Create.
4. Once the restore point has been created, click Close > OK.

Backup the registry in Windows 7 by setting a Manual System Restore Point:

1. Click Start > Control Panel > System.
2. Click on the link System Protection, then click Create.
3. Enter a name for your restore point, then click OK.
4. Once the restore point had been created, click Close > OK.

Backup the registry in Windows Vista Home Premium/Vista Home Basic by setting a Manual System Restore Point:

1. Click Start.
2. Type: Sys and then wait for the search results to appear.
3. Under Programs, click System Restore.
4. If the User Account Control dialogue appears, click Continue.
5. Click Open System Protection.
6. Under Available Disks, tick one or more drives. Remember that System Restore will not make any difference to disks that only contain documents and standard file types. The important disk to tick is the one that Windows and your program files are installed on.
7. Click Create.
8. Type an appropriate and memorable name for your restore point.
9. Click Create.
10. When the process is complete, click OK.
11. To close any open dialogues, keep clicking Cancel.

Backup the registry in Windows XP by setting a Manual System Restore Point:

1. Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore.
2. Select Create a Restore Point and click Next.
3. Type a memorable name for your restore point.
4. Click Create.
5. Click Close.

Backup the registry in Windows 2000, using the Backup Wizard:

1. Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup > Welcome > Backup Wizard.
2. Click Next.
3. Select Only back up the System State data and click Next.
4. Click Browse.
5. If the Insert Disk warning message is displayed, click Cancel.
6. From the Look in drop-down box, choose Desktop.
7. In the File name field, type a suitable file name.
8. Click Open > Next > Finish.
9. When you see the message The backup is complete, click Close.
10. Close the Backup Utility window.

Backup the registry in Windows Me/98SE (using the Windows Registry Checker – SCANREGW.EXE):

1. Click Start > Run.
2. Type: scanregw
3. Click OK.
4. Click Yes > OK.