[superstar]

I ran the latest version of CCleaner to scan my registry because I've been using this pc for quite a few years, and it found over 600 issues. I'd like to allow it to fix everything but before doing so I'd like to make a backup of my entire registry using Windows Xp's Regedit. I know I can also backup the registry with CCleaner prior to letting it fix what it finds. But I'd rather use Regedit because I heard it saves the registry better, or as a "whole" compared to CCleaner.

1. How can I backup my entire registry with Regedit in case of failure after using CCleaner?

2. How safe/reliable is CCleaner when it comes to cleaning/fixing the registry?

3. Doesn't Windows System Restore safe the entire registry? [meaning it would be useless to make a backup using Regedit]


Thank You

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I ran the latest version of CCleaner to scan my registry because I've been using this pc for quite a few years, and it found over 600 issues. I'd like to allow it to fix everything but before doing so I'd like to make a backup of my entire registry using Windows Xp's Regedit. I know I can also backup the registry with CCleaner prior to letting it fix what it finds. But I'd rather use Regedit because I heard it saves the registry better, or as a "whole" compared to CCleaner.

1. How can I backup my entire registry with Regedit in case of failure after using CCleaner?

2. How safe/reliable is CCleaner when it comes to cleaning/fixing the registry?

3. Doesn't Windows System Restore safe the entire registry? [meaning it would be useless to make a backup using Regedit]


Thank You

1) Regedit is a very dangerous program if you do not know what you are doing, and as it's Windows based if an issue does occur with the registry you will not be able to use it anyway.

2) It isn't. Registry Cleaners are dangerous and can cause more problems than they actually solve. Therefore please do not use them, the most that can go wrong is you have to wipe the system and lose all your programs.

3) System Restore doesn't back the registry up as such, it only rolls it back to the state it was in at the restore. Therefore if you install Program X, it screws everything else up, you can roll back to before Program X. While it is possible to use System Restore checkpoints to recover the registry, this can itself cause more complicated issues.

[Neil Jones]

I ran the latest version of CCleaner to scan my registry because I've been using this pc for quite a few years, and it found over 600 issues. I'd like to allow it to fix everything but before doing so I'd like to make a backup of my entire registry using Windows Xp's Regedit. I know I can also backup the registry with CCleaner prior to letting it fix what it finds. But I'd rather use Regedit because I heard it saves the registry better, or as a "whole" compared to CCleaner.

1. How can I backup my entire registry with Regedit in case of failure after using CCleaner?

2. How safe/reliable is CCleaner when it comes to cleaning/fixing the registry?

3. Doesn't Windows System Restore safe the entire registry? [meaning it would be useless to make a backup using Regedit]


Thank You

1) Regedit is a very dangerous program if you do not know what you are doing, and as it's Windows based if an issue does occur with the registry you will not be able to use it anyway.

2) It isn't. Registry Cleaners are dangerous and can cause more problems than they actually solve. Therefore please do not use them, the most that can go wrong is you have to wipe the system and lose all your programs.

3) System Restore doesn't back the registry up as such, it only rolls it back to the state it was in at the restore. Therefore if you install Program X, it screws everything else up, you can roll back to before Program X. While it is possible to use System Restore checkpoints to recover the registry, this can itself cause more complicated issues.

[rshaffer61]

Further information for Registry cleaners.

A registry cleaner will not increase your system's speed or performance, and has the potential to break your registry to the point that your PC is no longer bootable. We strongly advise that people stay away from any of the registry cleaners out there. Go HERE to get more information about why registry cleaners aren't needed.


Thanks to Sari for the explanation


ERUNT (Emergency Recovery Utility NT) allows you to keep a complete backup of your registry and restore it when needed.
The standard registry backup options that come with Windows back up most of the registry but not all of it. ERUNT however creates a complete backup set, including the Security hive and user related sections. ERUNT is easy to use and since it creates a full backup, There are no options or choices other than to select the location of the backup files. The backup set includes a small executable that will launch the registry restore if needed.