Backup Files in Windows Vista Registry

Like any of the previous OS in the windows OS family, Windows Registry is important component in the Windows Vista OS too. Just any corrupted or malicious registry entry or key infects a file that is enough to put the system affected and vulnerable to threat. How to prevent this? Well a periodic registry backup can help you with this. A full backup of your windows vista registry is the call of the hour. Right now, there are no other tools in the windows OS that can do this automatically, so the only way is to manually copy all the files in the registry and save it, this is manual backup. Let’s talk about that now:

Using Windows Registry Editor “REGEDIT”:

A windows registry editor is basically a tool to edit the registry. But the good news is this tool will also let you backup a portion of your windows registry. Let’s briefly talk about how to backup your windows registry using REGEDIT.

Click the start button > Run > type REGEDIT and then press ok.
Once the REGEDIT is open, select File > Export.
Choose and enter the name of the backup file in the File name window.
To backup entire registry, select ALL in the Export Range. To make a backup of a portion, select the branch that you want to save and backup it.
Click on save, this will create a backup file in the location you choose. Make sure to keep a copy in the external storage device like USB drive and External Hard drive, so if one copy destroys you can use another!

Using Windows System Restore Utility:

This utility available in Windows Vista, restores your system to last known working condition to avoid any mishap in the system. System restore is turned on by default. When the system restore is turned on, it takes a portion of your disk space in that it archives copies of all your system files, settings & configurations and even the windows registry and creates a restore point. When you restore to a restore point, it will take your computer to that point just like a time machine. The only pitfall though when it comes to registry, it only archives a portion of the registry; So thus when you move back in time to a particular restore point, all the changes made to registry since that restore point time, is lost.

Using windows special “complete PC backup and restore” utility not available to Vista home version:

Yes this utility is not available to Vista Home, but it’s available to Vista Ultimate, Vista Business, Vista Enterprise editions. This is also not available to Vista Student edition. This utility creates a complete snap shot of your registry in whole, system files and data, configuration and settings file, other files and programs, and even the OS files. This also has a pitfall in that you can’t save a portion of your registry, but only a whole dump.

So far we’ve talked about the manual backup of Windows Vista Registry, now let’s talk about doing it automatically, which is what I do.

Using Registry Cleaner tool to automatically Backup Windows Vista Registry:

Registry cleaner not just takes care of registry it can also create backups. A commercial registry cleaner like we promote in this site, will help you take backups like a piece of cake. These are also Windows Vista compatible. Registry cleaners unlike the manual backing up method will help you automatically take partial registry and full registry backups. I personally use a registry cleaner to backup my registry, which is quite a popular method for a PC technician like me. This is what we use when you give your computer to us for a service; we use this utility to keep your PC in good working condition!

When you use this tool, you must periodically make a backup of your windows registry. It is one way of ensuring the safety of your OS. Like said before, when you make any kinds of backup, I recommend you to save it in a USB drive and External Hard drive or even burn it up in a CD or DVD. Keeping multiple copies are handy in case if one copy gets destroyed, you can always use another.

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