Tweaking.com Registry Backup

[MilesAhead]

I have used ERUNT to back up my Registry since NT server 4.0.  But it is time to take advantage of a program that utilizes Shadow Copy Services to make complete Registry Backups.

Tweaking.com Registry Backup is a freeware that does just that.  So far I have made 2 backups.  I haven't done a Registry Restore yet.  Maybe I'll take the plunge later today.  

There is a good explanation on the site why using Shadow Copy is superior to the individual key backup API approach used by ERUNT.  So far the only "inconvenience" of using the program is that it takes a minute or so for the shadow service to make a snapshop.

If anyone has any experience using the utility I'd be curious to read it.  

Edit: The program uses manual mode by default.  But it has a mechanism for using Task Scheduler.  Generally I try to keep my distance from scheduled tasks as my experience has not been care free in the past.  For this reason I have only tried the manual mode.

[eleman]

Why backing up just the registry instead of taking an image of the boot partition?

Registry backup won't save much, and a restore will likely cause more problems than it may fix. The DLLs etc. on the system would have changed by the time you restored an old registry backup, so you would get problems which do not present any intelligible symptoms. I guess it would just be asking for trouble.

[MilesAhead]

Why backing up just the registry instead of taking an image of the boot partition?

Registry backup won't save much, and a restore will likely cause more problems than it may fix. The DLLs etc. on the system would have changed by the time you restored an old registry backup, so you would get problems which do not present any intelligible symptoms. I guess it would just be asking for trouble.

I don't see them as mutually exclusive options.  Restoring a backup image doesn't always work.  Also it's overkill if you corrupted a registry setting and could just restore it by running a registry restore.  Typically Registry backup is done every day as it only takes about 250 MB of space.  So I don't know why the "Dlls would change" in that time.

Also some uninstallers, notably those that come with Anti-Virus programs, and other software like Nero don't take out all the Registry stuff their installers put in.  One way to right the ship, especially with these things being sneaky installed piggy backed on other software, is to do a Registry Restore.  Then you can install the wanted software taking care to disallow all the PUPs.

[Giampy]

It seems there are little programs using VSS. Another one is RegBackup:

http://www.foolishit.com/vb6-projects/regbackup

[Giampy]

I copy the registry even by Regedit of Windows.
What about this method? Is it reliable? Does it export the whole registry just like the VSS method?

[tomos]

...www.foolishit.com...

[MilesAhead]

I copy the registry even by Regedit of Windows.
What about this method? Is it reliable? Does it export the whole registry just like the VSS method?

The link in my first post has a good explanation.  Just like when you do an image backup with Macrium Reflect a snapshot is taken to avoid conflicts with other software writing keys etc..  It is worth reading I think.

[MilesAhead]

...www.foolishit.com...

It's unfortunate the way http lower cases everything. 

[Giampy]

The link in my first post has a good explanation... It is worth reading I think.

I had already read those pages but there are technical terms I don't know/understand (API? In my zone API are bees.  ).

I thought Regedit was a distinctive program.

[MilesAhead]

The link in my first post has a good explanation... It is worth reading I think.

I had already read those pages but there are technical terms I don't know/understand (API? In my zone API are bees.   ).

I thought Regedit was a distinctive program.

API = Application Programmer Interface

The OS provides function calls for the application programmer to do stuff, like open files, change screen mode etc..

Other than this utility I've seen other write-ups why Regedit methods aren't that great to use.  Also the fact that I tried exporting and importing using it and it never worked as expected.

But the main reason to use Shadow Copy is so that the files do not get corrupted.  Once the snapshot is made processes writing to the Registry do not alter the files in the snapshot.  It's the same mechanism used by some of the Sandbox programs like ToolWiz TimeFreeze.  Programs or viruses that think they are writing to C: partition are really writing to a cache file on C: set up by the TimeFreeze program.  It is virtualized.

Regedit is better than using nothing.  But I like the Shadow Copy approach.  Even though it is dated ERUNT still provides some backup.  But it doesn't cost anything to use Shadow Copy.  It just does a better job.

[Vurbal]

...www.foolishit.com...

It's unfortunate the way http lower cases everything. 

OTOH it did give us the world's most elaborate dick joke.

http://www.penisland.net

[Deozaan]

It's unfortunate the way http lower cases everything.  

OTOH it did give us the world's most elaborate dick joke.

http://www.penisland.net

And this one:

http://kidsexchange.net/

[Vurbal]

It's unfortunate the way http lower cases everything. 

OTOH it did give us the world's most elaborate dick joke.

http://www.penisland.net

And this one:

http://kidsexchange.net/

This website is such a bad influence on me.



I love you guys!   

[Curt]

...www.foolishit.com...

It's unfortunate the way http lower cases everything.  

no shit, but IT
 
It took Miles' comment, before I could see what address it really is

[Vurbal]

...www.foolishit.com...

It's unfortunate the way http lower cases everything. 

no shit, but IT
   
It took Miles' comment, before I could see what address it really is

Me too. Plus it took me a few more minutes to see the clever double entendre.

[MilesAhead]

btw I have restored the Registry a couple of times using the Gui.  I haven't noticed any weird behavior.  It seems like a dependable tool.  The only thing I haven't tried yet is booting the OS recovery disc to get a command prompt and doing the batch restore procedure.

This utility looks like a good precaution to take before using a Registry Cleaner.  I used Wise Registry Cleaner free a couple of times now.  I used this backup just before the cleaning.  Everything seems fine.  The Wise Cleaner got out a few things CCleaner missed such as left over registry entries for Chrome Portable browser.