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If your
computer is running like a slug and every anti-virus,
anti-spyware and anti-adware scan has turned up nothing, it
could be that the problem lies in your computer's registry,
which has become disorganised and cluttered over time.
Note: Using a reputable registry repair tool such as
Registry Mechanic
will save you the hassle of having to back up your registry
manually.
Before
attempting to modify the Windows Registry yourself in any way,
it is highly recommended that you make a backup,
so you can easily "undo" any changes made if necessary. Below are a series of
short tutorials detailing how to back up your registry (and
restore it) for every
major Windows operating system from Windows 98 to Windows Vista.
Windows
98 / Windows ME - Backup and Restoration Instructions
How to Backup the Registry in Windows 98/Windows ME
1) Go to
"Start" and then "Run". In the text field, type in scanregw
and click "OK".
2) The
program will begin scanning your registry for any errors. After
it has finished, it will ask you if you'd like to make a backup
of your registry; click "Yes". After it has finished it's
backup, click "OK".
To
restore your backup:
In Windows
98, restart the computer and hold "Ctrl", selecting the "Safe
Mode - Command Prompt Only" option when it appears. This will
take you to a command-prompt DOS interface. To arrive at the
same interface in Windows ME; restart the computer with the
start-up disk, and select the "Start Computer Without CD-ROM
Support" option.
From then on,
regardless of whether you're using 98 or ME, type the following
into the command-prompt: c:\windows\command\scanreg /restore,
pressing "Enter" when you're done.
ScanReg will
provide you with a list of all previous backups. All you have to
do is select the one you want and press "Enter" to confirm your
choice. When the restoration, press "Enter" again when prompted
to restart your computer. If you're using ME, remove the
start-up disk before restarting.
Windows
2000/2003/XP - Backup and Restoration Instructions
Note:
You may need to be logged in as administrator.
How to Backup the Registry in Windows 2000/2003/XP
1) Go to
Start >> All Programs >> Accessories >> System Tools >> Backup.
2) When the
Backup starts, make sure you're in the "Wizard" part of the
application. Click "Next" button to continue.
3) Select
"Only back up the System State Data" when prompted. Continue
clicking "Next" and following the prompts until the backup is
finished. Click "Finish" to start the Registry Backup. When it
is complete, close down the program.
To restore
your backup:
Open the same
Backup Wizard as before. You should be presented with a list of
all previous Windows Registry backups. Simply select the
System-State backup you'd like to restore and press "Next", and
then "Finish". Close the program when the restoration is
complete.
Windows
Vista - Backup and Restoration Instructions
Note:
You may need to be logged in as administrator.
How to Backup the Registry in Windows Vista
1) Go to
Start >> Control Panel >> System >> System Protection.
2) Select the
hard drives you'd like to create a restore-point for and then
click on the "Create" button to create a new restore point.
3) Follow the
prompts in order to complete the backup process
To restore
your backup:
1) Go to
Start >> All Programs >> Accessories >> System Tools >> System
Restore.
2) Click
"Next", select the restore point for which you'd like to reset
your PC, and then click "Next" again.
3) Follow the
prompts in order to complete the restoration process.
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Remember,
even though it's possible to fix your registry, if you're not
100% sure of what you're doing, then perhaps it's best to go for
a trusted registry repair software program such as
Registry
Mechanic. Not only will it make a full backup of your
registry for you it, it will scan your computer and isolate the
problem within minutes.
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