Backup or Restore the Windows System Registry

You can IRREVOCABLY LOSE ALL DATA AND DESTROY YOUR COMPUTER if you screw up your System Registry.

Do NOT do this if...

• You are NOT tech savvy.
• You do NOT know what the System Registry is.
• You are prone to willy nilly make changes or delete things.
  

Back Up the Windows Registry

1. Click Start or Windows menu in lower left.
2. Type "regedit" (no quotes) in the search box.
   Press the Windows key + R, and type in "regedit.exe" (no quotes) in the "Run" dialog box.
3. Open the "Registry Editor" option.
   
4. Say  "Yes" at the User Account Control window asking if its okay if this app makes changes to this device.
5. From the "File" menu, click "Export."
6. Enter a file name you will remember, like "RegistryBackup" (no quotes).
7. Select a location where you want to save the Registration Entries (or .reg) file.
8. Click Save.

Only If You Need To... How to Restore the Windows Registry

YOU SHOULD ONLY NEED TO DO THIS IF YOU SCREWED UP SOMETHING.

1. Click Start or Windows menu in lower left.
2. Type "regedit" (no quotes) in the search box.
   Press the Windows key + R, and type in "regedit.exe" (no quotes) in the "Run" dialog box.
3. Open the "Registry Editor" option.
   
4. Say  "Yes" at the User Account Control window asking if its okay if this app makes changes to this device.
5. From the "File" menu, click "Import."
6. Select the registry backup file that you want to restore.
7. Click Open.
8. Reboot after changes are processed.