IF00091
Edit The Registry Safely
In Windows XP!
Windows XP has a vast number of configuration dialogs, but some adjustments can
be performed only by directly editing the Registry. Frequently, tips involving
Registry tweaks include stern warnings to back up the Registry before making any
change. The Windows XP Backup applet can back up the Registry along with other
elements of the System State, but the resulting data file can occupy hundreds of
megabytes. You're better off saving a system restore point each time you're
about to edit the Registry. Better still, you can use Regedit to back up only
the Registry keys that will be changed.
Click on Start | Run and enter Regedit to launch the Registry editor. To back up
an individual key you plan to edit, navigate to the key and right-click on it.
Choose Export from the menu, and save the key to a REG file. Open the REG file
in Notepad and insert a few comment lines that describe the source and purpose
of the tweak. (To create a comment line, simply put a semicolon at the start of
the line.)
Now go ahead and make all
the changes to Registry keys and values specified by the tip you're applying.
Any time you add a new key or value, make a note of it with another comment line
in the REG file. When you're done, save the REG file and close Notepad.
If later you want to undo this Registry tweak, just double-click on the REG file
and confirm that you want to add it to the Registry. This will restore any
deleted keys or values and will restore the original data for any values whose
data was changed. Note that this will not remove new keys or values that were
added; that's why you need to make comments about such changes.
Right-click on the REG file and choose Edit, which will open it in Notepad.
Check for comments about keys or values that were added, and if you find any,
use Regedit to delete them. You can delete the REG file itself once you've
completed this process.
Caution Using the Registry Editor incorrectly can cause data loss or even
operating system failure. Be careful when directly editing the registry.
Go To The Following Address To Learn More About Backing Up The Registry!
http://internetfixes1.brinkster.net/registry_tips/registry.htm
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