Before the scan, Registry First Aid will create a full registry backup. It will show the user an information dialog, and the user must click the OK button to continue. To view the help on how to restore the registry from a full backup, the user can click on the Help button. The Cancel button will close the dialog and stop the registry scan within the program. So, making a full registry backup is required. Registry First Aid calls Windows® registry backup tools.
Windows® 98/ME
The program will launch Windows®' Registry scanner and backup utility SCANREGW.EXE. This utility will check the registry integrity. Once complete, you will see a Registry Scan Results dialog box informing you of the scan results (it will tell you whether there were errors or not) and asking if you'd like to create a backup. Click the Yes button and Scanreg will create a full registry backup with the label "RFA_backup". You can use this label later to restore the registry.
Windows® 2000
User should have administrator's privileges on the system.
The program will launch the Windows® 2000 Backup utility. You can find the Backup utility on the System Tools menu.
To create registry backup you need to create Emergency Repair Disk. Click on a third button at the Welcome page of Backup utility and select the "Backup the registry" checkbox. You may not insert any floppy disks - simply click Cancel on the prompt. Registry files will be backed up anyway into the system folder "C:\WINNT\repair\RegBack".
Then backup the System State. The System State item can be found on the Backup tab under My Computer. Or you can use the Backup Wizard and choose the "Only back up the System State data" option. After choosing to back up the System State, you can select the media to which you want to back up. You can choose a disk file or tape. The Win2K Registry backup utility backs up all of the hives of interest in %systemroot%\system32\config, including Default, Software, System, SAM, and Security. However, it also backs up system files, user profiles, and any part of your system required to do a complete system restoration.
As such, you can easily back up the Registry by clicking the Start Backup button.
Windows® XP Professional and Home Edition User should have administrator's privileges on the system.
The program will launch System Restore Wizard that can be found manually from the Start menu -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore. When System RestoreWizard opens, click "Create a Restore Point" then click Next. Enter a name for this Restore Point (for instance, "Before Registry First Aid scan"), and click Create. The utility will then take a snapshot of your system so that you can restore to that point sometime in the future.
For additional information about System Restore in Windows® XP, click Help and Support on the Start menu. In the Search box, type "system restore", and then press ENTER.