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How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

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Article ID:322756
Last Review:November 20, 2007
Revision:7.6
This article was previously published under Q322756
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SUMMARY

This article describes how to back up the registry in Windows XP or Windows Vista.

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Back up the registry

Guided Help to export registry keys and to back up the registry in Windows XP

Guided Help Guided Help is available to export registry keys and to back up the registry. Guided Help can automatically perform the steps for you.

The actions that this Guided Help performs cannot be undone after Guided Help is finished.

Requirements to install and to use this Guided Help
•You must be logged on to Windows by using a computer administrator account to install and to use this Guided Help.
•You must be running an English version of Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Media Center Edition, or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition to install and to use this Guided Help.
You must first download Guided Help. To start, click the following link:
Download Guided Help

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/)

Manual steps to back up the registry in Windows Vista or in Windows XP

Windows Vista

1.Click StartStart button, type systempropertiesprotection in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
User Access Control permission If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
2.Wait for Windows to search for available disks and most recent restore points. In the System Properties dialog box, on the System Protection tab, click Create,
3.Type a name for the restore point and then click Create.
4.After the restore point has been created successfully, click OK two times.
Note If System Restore is turned off, click to select the local disk, click Apply and then click Create.

Windows XP

1.Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe, and then click OK.
2.On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Create a restore point, and then click Next .
3. On the Create a Restore Point page, type a name for the restore point and then click Create
4.After the restore point has been created, click Close.
Note If System Restore is turned off, you receive a message that asks whether you want to turn on System Restore now. Click Yes. Then, in the System Properties dialog box, click to clear the Turn off System Restore check box, click OK, and then repeat this step.

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Restore the registry

Manual steps to restore the registry in Windows Vista or Windows XP

Use System Restore to undo registry changes in Windows Vista or in Windows XP

Windows Vista
1.Click StartStart button, type systempropertiesprotection in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
User Access Control permission If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
2.In the System Properties dialog box, on the System Protection tab, click System Restore,
3.In the System Restore dialog box select Choose a different restore point, and then click Next
4.Select the restore point that you want to use, and then click Next.
5.Confirm your restore point, and then click Finish System restore restores the selected Windows Vista configuration and then restarts the computer.
6.Log on to the computer. When the System Restore confirmation page appears, click OK..
Windows XP
1.Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\System32\Restore\Rstrui.exe, and then click OK.
2.On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer to an earlier time (if it is not already selected), and then click Next .
3. On the Select a Restore Point page, click the system checkpoint. In the On this list select the restore point area, click an entry that is named "Guided Help (Registry Backup)," and then click Next. If a System Restore message appears that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make, click OK.
4. On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration and then restarts the computer.
5. Log on to the computer. When the System Restore confirmation page appears, click OK..

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Similar solutions

320820 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320820/) How to use the Backup utility to back up files and folders in Windows XP Home Edition
308422 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308422/) How to use the Backup utility that is included in Windows XP to back up files and folders
309340 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309340/) How to use Backup to restore files and folders on your computer in Windows XP
310405 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310405/) How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows XP

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Information for other Windows operating systems and advanced users

256986 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/) Windows registry information for advanced users
915092 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/915092/) Description of Guided Help for Microsoft Knowledge Base articles

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APPLIES TO
•Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
•Microsoft Windows XP Professional
•Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
•Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
•Windows Vista Business
•Windows Vista Enterprise
•Windows Vista Home Basic
•Windows Vista Home Premium
•Windows Vista Ultimate

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Keywords: 
kbacw kbhowto kbresolve kbacwsurvey kbregistry kbgpo kbbackup kbhowtomaster kbenv KB322756

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