The Windows registry is used to store information about the Windows computer. Its contents covers the hardware installed in the computer, the programs and user configuration.
As always prior to making changes to a critical configuration file its best to make a backup. the Windows Registry is no exception.
Unlike Linux where a corrupted configuration file is likely to only affect that program, or user, a corrupted Windows registry can take down the whole computer.
Before making changes to the registry, for example to change the remote desktop RDP port or to turn off the notification balloons in Windows XP, it is always recommended that a backup of the registry is made.
To make a backup of the registry:
- Click on Start
- Choose Run
- Type in “%SystemRoot%/system32\restore/rstrui.exe”
- Click OK
- On the page Welcome to System Restore, click to Create a restore point.
- On the next page, Create a Restore Point, type in a name for the restore point and click on create.
- After the restore point has been created click on close.
Where %SystemRoot% is as it says the system root. You may find you can leave this parameter blank, making the reference to the rstrui.exe program: /system32/restore/rstrui.exe
In Windows 7 it is sufficient to type rstrui.exe (or part thereof) in the search box, at the bottom of the start button popup menu.
