How to Backup Registry and Restore it in Windows XP-7-8-10 and Server

Learn how to backup registry and restore it after or before editing it. Windows XP, 7, 8, 10 and Server warns you before editing your registry. It is advised you backup your registry before editing, if there is an error in the process you can easily restore it. The danger of not having a backup is that your system may not function properly or fail to start up.

Note: Windows have suspended support for Windows XP, you may need to rely on the process here to backup registry or restore it.

How to Backup registry in Windows 7

Windows 7 is a very popular operating system, most users of Windows 7 have not upgraded to Windows 10 due to the ease of use. The free upgrade to Windows 10, did not appeal to everyone. Maintaining and backup of the registry before edit is important. Below you will find the steps required.

  • Click Start, type regedit.exe in the search box, and then press Enter. If you’re prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
  • In Registry Editor, locate and click the registry key or subkey that you want to back up.
  • Click File > Export.
  • In the Export Registry File dialog box, select the location where you want to save the backup copy to, and then type a name for the backup file in the File name field.
  • Click Save.
  • Then you can go ahead with the edit if that is what you want to do.

How to Restore Registry in Windows 7

If you have backup your registry file before editing, then you are in luck. Errors occur while editing the registry, and some errors are the doing of some softwares. The process of uninstalling some software’s can cause damage to the system registry, likewise your Antivirus. Some Antivirus software removes both the virus and the host, the host might be a system file.

So how do you restore registry file missing in Windows 7: The process depend on the gravity of the challenge you are faced with. The process is more complex if your system will not boot than when it boots.

To start:

You are in luck if you have a backup of the registry stored in the system, if not you may need to get a restore or startup disc. Be proactive backup regularly, especially if you mess around with system files.

This process applies to Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10

Start by shutting down and starting your system in safe mode, Press F8 key while starting to show safe mode option.

Then proceed by doing the following.

  • Click Start, type regedit in the search box, and press Enter.
  • Click File>Import
  • In the Import Registry dialogue box, browse to the location we saved our backup – remember My Documents is set as the default – and click Open
  • You will get warning about the risk involved, Ok or Yes then Proceed.
  • Once you confirm everything is fine, restart your system to effect the change.

How to Backup registry in Windows 10

You can back up the registry by creating a System Restore Point.

  • Search for Create a restore point from the taskbar and select it from the list of results.
  • On the System Protection tab in System Properties, select Create.
  • Enter a description for the restore point, and then select Create > OK.

or you can back it up manually:

  • From the Start menu, in the search box, type regedit.exe, and then press Enter. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
  • In Registry Editor, locate and click the registry key or subkey that you want to back up.
  • Click File > Export.
  • In the Export Registry File dialog box, select the location where you want to save the backup copy to, and then type a name for the backup file in the File name field.
  • Click Save.

How to Restore Registry in Windows 10

It is safe to use the restore system designed with the system. The CMD method is a bit complicated and a false move may cause more harm.

  • Click Start, type regedit in the search box, and press Enter.
  • Click File>Import
  • In the Import Registry dialogue box, browse to the location we saved our backup – remember My Documents is set as the default – and click Open
  • You will get warning about the risk involved, Ok or Yes then Proceed.
  • Once you confirm everything is fine, restart your system to effect the change

How to Backup registry in Windows 8 and 8.1

The windows 8 and 8.1 are similar in build, expect for some changes with the start button, swipe and more. After coming with heavy criticism for not coming above par to the Windows 7. The Windows 8 and 8.1 was a short-lived transition. Many still considered it a failure, while a few see it has dearing and a needed move for development.

To backup the registry in Windows 8 and 8.1, the following steps is needed.

  • Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. Or, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then click Search.
  • In the search box, type regedit.exe, and then press Enter. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
  • In Registry Editor, locate and click the registry key or subkey that you want to back up.
  • Click File > Export.
  • In the Export Registry File dialog box, select the location where you want to save the backup copy to, and then type a name for the backup file in the File name field.
  • Click Save.

Now how do you restore your system registry in windows 8 and 8.1.

How to Restore Registry in Windows 8 and 8.1

  • Press Windows + R keys to open the Run window.
  • On the Open field, type “regedit” and press ENTER.
  • Click File > Import.
  • Select the directory where the registry backup will be imported (e.g. desktop) and select the registry backup.
  • Click Open.
  • Restart your computer to begin using the restored registry.

How to Backup registry in Windows XP

As at now Microsoft does not provide support for Windows XP, technically you are on your own. However techies like us have not forgotten you. Below you will find the procedure to backup registry for Windows XP.

Follow these steps to create a system restore point:

  • Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe, and then click OK.
  • On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Create a restore point, and then click Next.
  • On the Create a Restore Point page, type a name for the restore point and then click Create.
  • After the restore point is 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

This leads us to how do your restore the registry backup incase you run into an error or something went wrong.

How to Restore Registry in Windows XP

This one should be easy, it is the same process required to backup; though this time you import files.

Use System Restore to undo registry changes in Windows XP:

  • Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\System32\Restore\Rstrui.exe, and then click OK.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration and then restarts the computer.
  • Log on to the computer. When the System Restore confirmation page appears, click OK.

So you can backup registry with system restore, regedit, and also command line (CMD).

How to Backup registry in Windows Server 2008 and 2012

1. From the windows server, click Start >> Run >> Type regedit to open Registry Editor.
2. Click Computer in the Registry Editor.
3. Click File from the Registry Editor >> Export.
4. Enter the file name to save the backup file in appropriate location.
5. Click Save button.

How to Restore registry in Windows Server 2008 and 2012

1. From the Registry Editor, click File >> Import.
2. Locate the registry backup where you have stored and click “Open”
3. Restart the Windows server to use the restored registry.

If you system fails to start use the installation disc to run the system and choose repair to fix the system issue. To help others visiting this site, comment below if this has help you and how you tackled the issue.

And yes, if you run a Windows Vista kindly upgrade to a latter version, you will thank me latter for this advice.

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