Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me automatically
save backup copies of the Registry. Windows
XP backs up it's registry as part of the
optional, more complete "System Restore". Windows 98 nominally saves the latest
5 "good boots" of the
registry,
and also saves other key system
files in
each backup. Windows 95 saves
just the Registry
files from the "last good
boot".
Windows Me adds the file classes.dat
to the
"classic" user.dat
and system.dat
for its registry backup.
Windows XP
Windows XP is much tougher about protecting
itself from damage than Windows 9x versions
are. It also backs up a lot more than just
the registry. Even so, bad things can happen,
usually when you're installing a program.
XP's System Restore can usually set things right again. But
sometimes it just can't do the job -- a drive image is the ultimate backup. I know, I've damaged XP beyond repair by
System Restore a couple of times. :-)
Windows 98
- Start or restart your computer in Windows
in DOS mode and go to Step 2 below. If Windows
will not start in DOS mode, you'll need to
boot from a floppy and navigate to C:\. (After
you boot to DOS, type C: at the prompt, like so A:\>C:) Then start at Step 2.
- Type "scanreg /restore" at the
MS DOS prompt (like so: C:\>scanreg /restore -- note the space before the slash). Press
Enter. Tell Scanreg -- Yes, you want to use
a backup to restore your system. If Scanreg wants to fix the registry first,
let it try. If Windows then starts, holler
Wooh-ha. Otherwise... go on to Steps 3 and
4.
- This dialog box should appear.
- Select the CAB file that is dated just before
the time when your troubles began. Click
Restore (or use the Tab key to move the highlight
to Restore and press Enter.) When scanreg
finishes restoring your registry, type "exit"
(C:\>exit) and Windows should start. If that backup doesn't fix the problem, start
at Step 1. again and try the others, going
back one at a time.
- If Windows starts, holler Wooh-ha. Otherwise...? I don't know what to tell you.
Windows 95
- Gather your courage.
- Click Start on the Taskbar > Click Shut
Down... > Select Restart in MS DOS mode
> Click OK. If you can't get into MS DOS mode this way,
look in your user's manual and find out how
to boot to DOS.
- Type cd windows at the MS DOS prompt [C:\>
--> C:\>cd windows]. Press Enter. You should now see C:\Windows>
- Type the following series of commands, pressing Enter after each line: Type very exactly. Use only the backspace
key to erase errors. The "0" is
a zero, not a capital "o".
attrib -h -r -s system.dat
attrib -h -r -s user.dat
copy system.da0 system.dat
copy user.da0 user.dat
attrib +h +r +s system.dat
attrib +h +r +s user.dat
- Restart your computer.
- If you fixed Windows, holler Woo-ha! If you didn't fix it, I don't know what to
tell you unless you have other backups to fall back on.
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