How to Backup and Restore the Registry in Windows 7 and Vista

Warning: Importing or merging a .reg file backup will only restore the keys and values that were included in the exported backup. If you have added new keys and values since the .reg file backup was created, then these items will not be affected or restored when you import or merge the older exported .reg file backup to the registry. If you wanted to replace the registry completely with a backup, then System Restore will allow you to do this instead.

Backup Registry

METHOD ONE

Using System Restore


NOTE: This is the best method to use since it will replace the current registry with the contents of the registry as it was on the date the restore point was created. These restore points contain information about registry settings and other system information that Windows 7 uses. System Restore points do not include the personal user files.

1. Create a restore point.
NOTE: See information at that link for more details on this.

METHOD TWO

Export Only Part of the Registry as a Backup


NOTE: This will allow you to only export a HKEY or key branch in the registry to a .reg file as a backup

  1. Open the Start menu and type regedit in the search line, then press Enter.
  2. If prompted by UAC, click on Yes to approve.
  3. To Export a Registry HKEY Branch
    4. NOTE: This will allow you to backup the entire selected HKEY branch with all of it's subkeys and key values to a .reg file as a backup.
    1. Right click on a HKEY branch that you want to backup, and click on Export.
    2. Select where you want to save the exported .reg file to, type in a name for the .reg file, and click on the Save button.
  4. To Export a Registry KEY Branch

NOTE: This will allow you to backup the entire selected KEY branch under a HKEY with all of it's subkeys and key values to a .reg file as a backup.

  1. Right click on a KEY branch under the HKEY that you want to backup, and click on Export
  2. Select where you want to save the exported .reg file to, type in a name for the .reg file, and click on the Save button.

Restore Registry

 

METHOD ONE
From a System Restore Point

NOTE: This will replace your current registry and system files in Windows by restoring the registry and system files in Windows back to how they were on the date the restore point was created/em>

  1. Do a System Restore using a restore point with the date you want to restore you Windows 7 registry and system files back to.
    NOTE: See information at link for more details on this

 

METHOD TWO
Restore a REG File to the Registry in Windows

NOTE: Any new keys and values added to the registry not included in the .reg file at the date it was created will not be affected.

  1. Merge from the REG File
    1. Right click on the backup .reg file and click on Merge
    2. Click on Yes and Yes to approve the merge.
    3. Go to step 3.

    OR

  2. Import from Regedit
    1. Open the Start menu and type regedit in the search line, then press Enter
    2. If prompted by UAC, click on Yes to approve.
    3. Click on File on the menu bar, then click on Import.
    4. Navigate to where you saved the backup .reg file and select it, then click on the Save button.
    5. You will now see the import progress window.
  3. Click on OK.
  4. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/4230-registry-backup-restore.html

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