Since most of the tutorials on this website deal with Windows registry, today I decided to post a tutorial for creating backup of registry and restoring the backup using Windows built-in tool "System Restore".
Backup Registry in Windows Vista, Server 2008 and 7:
1. Type systempropertiesprotection in Startmenu Search box or RUN dialog box and press enter. It'll open "System Protection" tab of "System properties". You can also open System properties by giving sysdm.cpl command or by right-click on My Computer icon and select Properties.
2. Now click on "Create" button and provide a name for restore point.
3. When the restore point is made successfully, click OK.
Backup Registry in Windows XP:
1. Type %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe in RUN dialog box and press enter. It'll open System Restore page. You can also open it from Programs menu.
2. Now click on "Create a restore point" and then click on Next.
3. Provide a name for restore point and click on Create.
4. When the restore point is made successfully, click on Close.
Restore Registry in Windows Vista, Server 2008 and 7:
1. Type systempropertiesprotection in Startmenu Search box or RUN dialog box and press enter. It'll open "System Protection" tab of "System properties". You can also open System properties by giving sysdm.cpl command or by right-click on My Computer icon and select Properties.
2. Now click on "System Restore" button.
3. In System Restore dialog box, select "Choose a different restore point" and then click on Next.
4. Select the desired restore point which you made earlier and click on Next.
5. Confirm your decision and click on Finish. Windows will restore the configuration and will restart the system.
6. When you'll log on to the computer, System Restore Confirmation page will appear, click on OK.
Restore Registry in Windows XP:
1. Type %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe in RUN dialog box and press enter. It'll open System Restore page. You can also open it from Programs menu.
2. Now click on "Restore my computer to an earlier time" and then click on Next.
3. Now click on the system checkpoint. In the "On this list select the restore point" area, click on "Guided Help (Registry Backup)" and then click on Next. A message will appear listing configuration changes that System Restore will make, click OK.
4. Now on Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next.
5. System Restore will restore the configuration and will restart the system.
6. When you'll log on to the computer, System Restore Confirmation page will appear, click on OK.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
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Manan
Super Post :!:
Greg
This does not work for Server 2008. i am running both the 32 and 64 bit version and it appears that this program does not exist on 2008 Server
macejv
Great guide & great post. Beside all the information posted by you here on this blog post, i would want to add the fact that it is very important to have a very good registry cleaner and optimizer, and a very good example would be jv16 PowerTools 2009. In my case, it has done great in comparison with any other similar products. Surely, it is highly recommended.
Stefan
I would add that instead of the defaule windows system restore tool you can use better alternatives, such as Rollback Rx or Deep Freeze. Rollback is very fast and light. deep freeze is so so.