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Revert to Older Registry Setting 1
- Thread starter Cougar01
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butchrecon
MIS
scanreg /restore and pick a date before you noticed it was having issues. Now default scanreg only stores for either 5 days or a week I think. James Collins
Field Service Engineer
A+, MCP
email: butchrecon@skyenet.net
Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.
Field Service Engineer
A+, MCP
email: butchrecon@skyenet.net
Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.
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- Jan 1, 1970
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How to Backup System Files
In Windows 98
You probably have read the warning to backup your system files before installing any hardware or software on your computer. The problem is they never tell you how to do it! The purpose of this white paper is to show the steps needed to backup System files in Windows 98.
Why is this important? Computers are complex. This makes it real easy for something to happen to your computer. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to go back in time and restore your computer to previous time when it was performing properly? Windows 98 has a command called “scanreg”, which automatically backs up your system files once a day. You can also command it to do a backup anytime. Here is how.
1) Click on start, shutdown, then Restart in MS-Dos mode.
2) When you see C:\Windows, type in CD \ and hit enter. You should be at the C:> prompt.
3) Type in scanreg and hit enter.
4) When you see a window asking you to start, click on start.
5) The Microsoft Registry Checker window will ask you if you want to create a new backup or view backups. Click on view backups. There will be four files showing that begin with rb00x (where x is 0-5.) You can see one more by using the up and down arrows. Select one of these and hit restore. When it is finished it will re-start your computer with the registry system files restored to the date you selected.
Note: If you would like to save more than five days registry settings you can do the following from windows:
1) Click on Start (lower left corner of screen).
2) Click on Run and type scanreg.ini
3) In the fourth paragraph it will say “MaxBackupCopies=5.” I would suggest you change the 5 to 15. This will save 15 days worth of systems files.
Where does it save these files? They are saved in a default folder under windows called Sysbckup. Note, this is a hidden file and you will need to do the following to view it.
1) Click on My Computer and click on view. Click on Folder Options then click on view.
2) Under advanced settings, files and folders you will see a yellow block called hidden files. Select show all files. Now click ok.
OVER
Now you can look at my computer and see all of the hidden files which have different wallpaper in there icons. Click on Sysbckup and scroll down to the .cab files. These contain your system backup files rb00x (which will go up to 15 now that you have changed the default in scanreg.ini to 15.
If you want to change the files displayed in the [5 file window under scanreg view], you can move some of these files over to another folder of your choice. I have a folder labeled Goodbackups which I store system backups along with a readme file explaining what was changed such as added new software Norton System Works on this date etc. That way I can restore back in time until things start working normal if my system gets messed up.
Other Tips to keep Your Computer Run Smoothly
Windows need to be shut down at least once per day in order to perform file housekeeping. It recommended you shut it off over night. This will save electricity and make your computer perform better. During the day you can program Task Scheduler to do a weekly Defrag, Scandisk and other tune up tools that are listed. Here is how to find Task Scheduler. Go to Start, Programs, accessories, system tools and schedule tasks.
In Windows 98
You probably have read the warning to backup your system files before installing any hardware or software on your computer. The problem is they never tell you how to do it! The purpose of this white paper is to show the steps needed to backup System files in Windows 98.
Why is this important? Computers are complex. This makes it real easy for something to happen to your computer. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to go back in time and restore your computer to previous time when it was performing properly? Windows 98 has a command called “scanreg”, which automatically backs up your system files once a day. You can also command it to do a backup anytime. Here is how.
1) Click on start, shutdown, then Restart in MS-Dos mode.
2) When you see C:\Windows, type in CD \ and hit enter. You should be at the C:> prompt.
3) Type in scanreg and hit enter.
4) When you see a window asking you to start, click on start.
5) The Microsoft Registry Checker window will ask you if you want to create a new backup or view backups. Click on view backups. There will be four files showing that begin with rb00x (where x is 0-5.) You can see one more by using the up and down arrows. Select one of these and hit restore. When it is finished it will re-start your computer with the registry system files restored to the date you selected.
Note: If you would like to save more than five days registry settings you can do the following from windows:
1) Click on Start (lower left corner of screen).
2) Click on Run and type scanreg.ini
3) In the fourth paragraph it will say “MaxBackupCopies=5.” I would suggest you change the 5 to 15. This will save 15 days worth of systems files.
Where does it save these files? They are saved in a default folder under windows called Sysbckup. Note, this is a hidden file and you will need to do the following to view it.
1) Click on My Computer and click on view. Click on Folder Options then click on view.
2) Under advanced settings, files and folders you will see a yellow block called hidden files. Select show all files. Now click ok.
OVER
Now you can look at my computer and see all of the hidden files which have different wallpaper in there icons. Click on Sysbckup and scroll down to the .cab files. These contain your system backup files rb00x (which will go up to 15 now that you have changed the default in scanreg.ini to 15.
If you want to change the files displayed in the [5 file window under scanreg view], you can move some of these files over to another folder of your choice. I have a folder labeled Goodbackups which I store system backups along with a readme file explaining what was changed such as added new software Norton System Works on this date etc. That way I can restore back in time until things start working normal if my system gets messed up.
Other Tips to keep Your Computer Run Smoothly
Windows need to be shut down at least once per day in order to perform file housekeeping. It recommended you shut it off over night. This will save electricity and make your computer perform better. During the day you can program Task Scheduler to do a weekly Defrag, Scandisk and other tune up tools that are listed. Here is how to find Task Scheduler. Go to Start, Programs, accessories, system tools and schedule tasks.
One small point with enabling 15 previous backups is that typing scanreg/restore at a dos prompt will only display the earliest 5 of these files. There is obviously a way to re-instate any of these .cabs, just that I don't know how! My suggestions are what I would try myself. If incorrect, I welcome corrections to my rather limited knowledge. Andy.
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