Backing Up the Win2K Registry

  • Thread starter Thread starter Thomas M
  • Start date Start date
T

Thomas M

About a month back I setup a Windows 2000 machine. I got everything
configured exactly how I wanted, then did a full backup using the Backup
utility that is built in to Windows 2000. I didn't notice the System
State option until after I had done the backup. Since I had backed up
all the vital Windows 2000 files, including the registry hives, I figured
that it wouldn't matter. I had also backed up the Documents and Settings
folder and the Program Files folder.

Shortly after that I messed up the machine, so I figured that I would
reinstall Windows, wiping the disk clean in the process, then simply
restore from my system backup to get back to a clean installation with
all of my customizations.

It didn't work. After restoring from the system backup, not only were
most of my customizations missing, but much of the software was seriously
screwed up too. For example, my DSL modem wouldn't work because it had
the wrong driver loaded, but it also would not let me change the driver.
So basically, I had to do the entire project again from scratch.

How do create a I backup that I can use in the future to restore the
system to the pristine state it's in currently, which should include all
my customizations (Desktop icons, Start menu shortcuts, Office
configurations, firewall and virus scanning software configurations,
etc.)?

--Tom
 
About a month back I setup a Windows 2000 machine. I got everything
configured exactly how I wanted, then did a full backup using the Backup
utility that is built in to Windows 2000. I didn't notice the System
State option until after I had done the backup. Since I had backed up
all the vital Windows 2000 files, including the registry hives, I figured
that it wouldn't matter. I had also backed up the Documents and Settings
folder and the Program Files folder.

Shortly after that I messed up the machine, so I figured that I would
reinstall Windows, wiping the disk clean in the process, then simply
restore from my system backup to get back to a clean installation with
all of my customizations.

It didn't work. After restoring from the system backup, not only were
most of my customizations missing, but much of the software was seriously
screwed up too. For example, my DSL modem wouldn't work because it had
the wrong driver loaded, but it also would not let me change the driver.
So basically, I had to do the entire project again from scratch.

How do create a I backup that I can use in the future to restore the
system to the pristine state it's in currently, which should include all
my customizations (Desktop icons, Start menu shortcuts, Office
configurations, firewall and virus scanning software configurations,
etc.)?
Like you said at the beginning, back up the System State. If you did a
Full Backup however, it should have backedup the System State.

Cheers,

Cliff
 
use Ghost

Geoff

Joseph Conway said:
Making an ERD will also backup the registry hives.

--
Joseph W. Conway, MCSE
Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP/2003 Server Group

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
 
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