How to back up the Windows registry (or a branch of it)

Any time we edit the Windows registry, we should make a current registry backup just before editing it. The Windows Registry Editor has a built-in back up feature in the 'File' menu, named 'Export...'.

To open the Windows Registry Editor, search for 'reg' in Windows search.

Choose 'Registry Editor - App' in the results list to open the registry editor.

The registry has five main branches:

'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT'

'HKEY_CURRENT_USER'

'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE'

'HKEY_USERS'

'HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG'

When you choose to export the registry to create a backup, the Registry Editor remembers where you chose to store it. Here is what you have to do to back up the entire registry (or any branch you desire):

If you want to back up the entire registry (recommended) make sure 'Computer' is selected at the top of the left pane. If you prefer to back up a single branch, make sure that branch is selected.

Click 'File > Export...' to open the Registry Editor's Export dialog.

Note: The following steps are performed within the registry editor's Export dialog:

The 'Save In:' drop down list can be used to navigate to the location in your computer's file system where you want to store your backup.

Click the drop-down icon (˅) at the right end of the 'Save In:' drop down list to open it then navigate to where you want to put your registry backups folder.

In an empty part of the pane under the 'Save In:' drop down list, ALT+Click (If you are right-handed, press the right mouse button, otherwise press the left one) 'New > Folder' and name it 'RegistryBackups' (or whatever makes sense to you) and press the 'Enter' key on your keyboard to create the new folder then click it (your newly created folder) to make it where your registry backups will be saved.

Under the pane we just worked with, is a 'File Name:' drop down list in which you enter the filename for your new registry backup. I suggest you use the current date and time with the type of registry backup this will be.

For example:

To create a full registry backup on 06/20/2022 at 2:00 PM (1400 military time) use:

'06-20-2022-1400-FullRegistryBackup'.

To create a branch registry backup of the 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE' branch on the same date and time as above, use:

'06-20-2022-1400-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE-RegistryBackup'.

Near the bottom of the dialog, under 'Export range' select 'All' to save the entire Windows registry or choose 'Selected branch' to choose the branch you selected before opening the export dialog (if it is not already selected).

Double-check your choices in the dialog, and if everything is correct, click the 'Save' button to create your backup.

The Windows registry is very large, so it will take some time to export the entire thing (A single branch goes a bit faster). Be patient. When the export is complete, the 'busy' indicator on your mouse pointer will disappear.

If you have performed the steps I have described here, you have now created a backup of your entire Windows registry (or a branch of it).

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