Windows 7: Registry - Backup and Restore

   Information

This will show you a few options on how to export the registry as a .reg file backup, and how to import the .reg file to restore to 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 (see Method One in OPTION ONE & TWO below) will allow you to do this instead.

OPTION ONE

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.

   Tip

Creating a restore point before making any changes to Windows 7 is the recommended method to use to have the registry backed up.

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. (See screenshot below)

2. If prompted by UAC, click on Yes to approve.

3. To Export a Registry HKEY Branch
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.

A) Right click on a HKEY branch that you want to backup, and click on Export. (See screenshot below)

B) 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. (See screenshot below)

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.

A) Right click on a KEY branch under the HKEY that you want to backup, and click on Export. (See screenshot below)

B) 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. (See screenshot below step 3B)

OPTION TWO

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 (Option One, Method One) was created.

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.

   Tip

Doing a system restore is the recommended method to use to undo any changes made to Windows with a restore point dated before you made the changes.

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

A) Right click on the backup .reg file and click on Merge. (See screenshot below)

B) Click on Yes and Yes to approve the merge.

C) Go to step 3.

OR

2. Import from Regedit

A) Open the Start menu and type regedit in the search line, then press Enter. (See screenshot below)

B) If prompted by UAC, click on Yes to approve.

C) Click on File on the menu bar, then click on Import. (See screenshot below)

D) Navigate to where you saved the backup .reg file and select it, then click on the Save button. (See screenshot below)

E) You will now see the import progress window. (See screenshot below)

3. Click on OK.

   Tip

If you get the error below, then you will need to do a system restore instead since the keys are in use.