[NBNorth]

How does one use ERUNT to backup both limited and administrative user registries? Check boxes show system, current user, and other open user registries.

I tested combination of limited user, then logged out to relog in as admin user, without Windows restart. The backup files were about same size as if I backed up only as admin user, suggesting that maybe the limited user registry modules did not get backed up.

I use XP Home SP3. I use admin user primarily to install or uninstall software. I use limited user for using applications.

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Windows has only one registry set, which holds info about all users.

[Broni]

Windows has only one registry set, which holds info about all users.

[NBNorth]

I am confused. Why is there a check box for other open registries?

[Broni]

http://www.larsheder...erunt/erunt.txt

Next, select the backup options:

- System registry: The current system registry, usually consisting of
the files DEFAULT, SAM, SECURITY, SOFTWARE, and SYSTEM.

- Current user registy: The registry files for the currently logged-on
user, usually NTUSER.DAT and USRCLASS.DAT.

- Other open user registries: Sometimes Windows has a few other user
registries in memory. Examples for this are "generic" registries,
e.g. for user "EVERYONE", or registries of other users if you use
Fast Task Switching in Windows XP. Check this option to backup all
these additional user registries (if found) as well.

[NBNorth]

Thanks for your response. However, I am not sure you understand my concern.

erunt.txt says I should be logged in as a system administrator. I do. However, I want to include backup of a limited user's registry, whose name I may call "NBNorth". How do I get a backup file of NBNorth's registry entries? It appears from erunt.txt that I cannot run ERUNT while logged in as NBNorth.

[Broni]

Log in as Admin, and checkmark all 3 radio buttons.

[NBNorth]

erunt.txt says "Registry hives not listed there [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\hivelist], for example those of OTHER users of the computer, cannot be saved by ERUNT."

Does this need to be rewritten to say that Admin using ERUNT can save registry of the limited user?

I am a neophyte at trying to understand the registry, and perhaps that could help explain my confusion.

Thank you for your assistance so far.

[Broni]

This is actually good discussion.
I'm a single user on my computer, and I never paid attention to "other users" detail.
Reading further, it looks like you need to use a switch to back up other users part of registry.

ERUNT supports command line switches with which you can perform an
automated registry backup, without user interaction. The syntax for
the ERUNT command line is as follows:

ERUNT DestinationFolder [sysreg] [curuser] [otherusers]
[/noconfirmdelete] [/noprogresswindow]

[...]

otherusers
Backup other open user registries

(Note: If none of the three above options is given on the command
line, ERUNT automatically uses the default backup options, system
and current user registry.)

[NBNorth]

In Broni's quote, argument [otherusers] is defined as "Backup other open user registries." Please remember that only the admin user is being used -- the limited user is not open.

I don't see how argument [other users] in the command line gives a different result than checking the third button - other open registries in the GUI (graphical user interface)?

[Broni]

I think, the best way to find out, is to see what you have listed here: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\hivelist

[NBNorth]

Interestingly, hivelist includes 4 values for \REGISTRY\USERS\...\Documents and Settings\[user]: 2 with Admin user, and 2 with the limited user. It looks like I have my answer, sort of. It does not include any value for user Administrator, which shows up only in safe mode login. I'm not sure this really matters from a practical standpoint.

Although I don't know how to interpret the remaining data within each of these values, I am glad that both users do have entries.

Thanks for leading me through this all.

[Broni]

You're welcome