How to Use

There are two ways you can restore from a previous 'Regbak' backup.

Method 1

• Start Regbak. Click 'View Backups...' link at the bottom. 'Backup Explorer' box comes up.
  
• In the 'Backup Explorer, click 'Search'. A list of available backups are displayed. Choose the appropriate backup entry you want to use. Click 'Restore'.
  
• You will be prompted to confirm the restore action. Click 'Yes' if you want to continue.
  
• After the restoration process is complete, you will be prompted to reboot the pc. Click 'Ok'.
  

Method 2

• Go to the 'Regbak' backup folder. Typically the backup location is at '%SystemRoot%\Regbak' where %SystemRoot% is your Windows installation folder path. Inside the 'Regbak' folder, there will be subfolder(s) and they are named using the 'date' on which they are created. Pick a 'backup' that you wish to use, the recent one being the most suitable. Use the name of the folders to guide you. Go inside the appropriate folder.
  
  
• Inside the folder there will be an application file named 'REGRES.exe'. Double-click it. 'Registry Restore' box will come up. This box displays certain information regarding the backup you are using.
  
  
• Click 'Advanced Options...' link at the bottom. The various options are explained below:
  
  
  • # Hives to restore: Here you can select which all hives you want to restore.
    Note: Restoring only a certain hive can cause potential issues because software and hardware may have settings in multiple locations in the registry.
    
    
  • # Restoration Mode:
    There are two restoration modes available - 'Windows API', and 'Copy Files'.
    * 'Windows API' mode use various Windows Registry functions to restore the hives. This is the preferred and default mode while restoring registry from the same Windows operating system with which it was created.
    * 'Copy Files' mode replaces the various registry files in your Windows folder. Before replacing, a backup of the previous version is created. These backup files will have a '.bak' extension. In this mode, you can also select the Windows installation to which the backup registry is to be restored to.
     
• Click 'Ok' to save the selected options.
  Note: It is recommended to let 'Regbak' decide which restoration mode is required. Using a restoration mode other than the recommended one can cause problems for Windows and render it unable to boot.
  
  
• After setting the necessary options, Click 'Next'. This will take you to a confirmation page. Click 'Start' to begin the backup process. Clicking 'Show Progress' will show you the restore operation progress:  which file is being restored. After the restoration is complete, you will be prompted to reboot your PC.
  

Note: Rebooting the PC is a very important step after the restoration process and has to be done when prompted so.

Restoring Registry when Windows does not boot

• Step 1: If Windows does not boot due to corrupted registry, reboot Windows and press the 'F8' key immediately before the first Windows screen appears. You will be presented with a menu from which you have to select the 'Last Known Good Configuration' option. See if Windows boots up properly after applying this option.
  
  
• Step 2: If 'Step 1' fails, reboot Windows again, press F8 and select the 'Safe Mode' option. If Windows boots up in safe mode, restore registry just as you would if Windows is running in normal mode, as described above.
  
  

If both steps 1 and 2 fail, proceed as described below.

How to Restore Registry from Windows Recovery Console

This step assumes that you have access to your Windows installation disc and that you've configured your PC to boot from disc.

• Boot the PC from your Windows installation disc and start Windows Setup.
  
• Wait till you reach the screen where you'll be asked if you wish to go to the 'Recovery Console'.
  
• Press 'R' to access the 'Recovery Console'. 
• Select your Windows installation. 
• Type the administrator password. Press enter if you don't have one.
  
  Enter the following commands:
  (Assuming you have installed Windows on 'C:' and your 'Regbak' backup folder is 'C:\Windows\Regbak\')
  
  CD C:\
  CD “windows\regbak”
  DIR
  
  Pick a folder that you wish to use, the recent one being the most suitable. Use the name of the folders to guide you. Enter the commands:
  
  CD <folder name that you chose>
  BATCH regres.wrc
  
  'Regbak' will now being the backup process. Wait till the process is finished.
   
• Type 'exit' to close the 'Recovery Console', remove the disc and restart the computer.
  
  

How to restore registry from a multiple-boot environment

This method assumes that you have a multiple-boot Windows environment supported by 'Regbak'.

• Boot normally into the Windows edition which is working.
• Find the 'backup' folder for 'Regbak'. Select a backup you want to use, the recent one being the most suitable. Use the name of the folders to guide you.
• Run 'REGRES.exe' to start the restoration process. Details of this process are described in detail at the beginning of this article under the section 'How to Use' -> 'Method 2'. Make sure that 'Target Windows Root' section points to the correct Windows installation to which you want the restoration to be done. If not, select the appropriate entry from the list.
• After setting the necessary options, Click 'Next'. This will take you to a confirmation page. Click 'Start' to begin the backup process. Clicking 'Show Progress' will show you the restore operation progress:  which file is being restored. After the restoration is complete, you will be prompted to reboot your PC.