1237c9e9f3fd
tech



Hello Matt - 

MM>>>>> Five other files often VERY handy to keep spares of are
MM>>>>> the Registry Backup files located in the Hidden
MM>>>>> directory "C:\WINDOWS\SYSBCKUP". Those are
rb000.cab,
MM>>>>> rb001.cab, rb002.cab, rb003.cab and rb004.cab. 

MM> ................. 

CA>> Something is missing in this equation. I remember being
CA>> told to save copies using 'regedit' prior to changing the
CA>> registry. If these copies made by the OS were adequate why
CA>> would I manually create backup? 

MM> Here is a listing of the files in their native sequence.
MM> Note particularly the filename sequence, and the filedates: 

I'm familiar with the FIFO construct and understood what you
referred to as 'backup' copies. My confusion is that W2K has
seven files to backup for the registry and requires third party
software to do this efficiently. I have not been working with
W9x OS here other than occassional use of my brother's machine
(W98SE). I skipped from W31 to W2K. :-) 

--8<--cut 

MM> Now, back to the question: Why save a copy(s) when using
MM> REGEDIT? It is always 'comfortable' to have a spare, known
MM> good, _current_ working registry when working in the
MM> editor. Minor changes, as innocent as swapping a different
MM> monitor three  days ago, will show up when using one of the
MM> RB00x.CAB files. You will see the familiar "New hardware
MM> found", "Installing drivers for 'unknown device'", etc. Any
MM> software installed since the date of any particular
MM> RB00x.CAB file will also have to be re-installed, even
MM> though the software is visible in directories and takes up
MM> space on the drive.. 

I remember now. The typical instructions are to locate and
rename the 'system.dat' and 'user.dat' to something else and
then do a current 'save' using regedit which recreates new
'system.dat' and 'user.dat' without overwriting the other two.
:-) 

MM> WinXP uses the same files and principles for their
MM> "Go-Back", with the addition of saving copies of the FATs
MM> (whatever NTFS uses), as well as copies of the directories.
MM> When you use "Go- Back" on WinXP, you get the old
MM> directories and 'FATs', in addition to the old registry, so
MM> that in effect, whatever changes were made _after_ that
MM> time simply no longer exists, and any programs installed
MM> after that time no longer appear in any directories. 

WinXP and W2K use MFT to refer to the 'FAT'. The registry is
stored in seven files (something referred to as 'hives') and
it's all really a pita IMO. I don't rely on any Microsoft
'backups'. I keep full image copies of the OS partition and
just replace the entire partition if something goes badly. 

MM> Hope this helps a little... 

Well somewhat. It helped me to remember what the typical W9x
use of regedit and renaming of the two files was all about even
though I don't use W9x here normally. :-) 

>
>        ,                          ,
>      o/      Charles.Angelich      \o       ,
>       __o/
>     / >          USA, MI           < \   __\__
 

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