How to Restore Registry Files

The Windows Registry is a crucially important part of any Windows operating system. It contains special instructions for most computer functions and if poorly planned changes are made to the Windows Registry, the system may crash or certain functions may not work properly. In such an event, you may need to restore the registry files to their factory settings or at least to the last known working configuration.

Instructions

In Windows XP

1. Click the "Start" button in Windows and select "Run" from the Start Menu. In the Run dialog box, type "%SystemRoot%\System32\Restore\Rstrui.exe" and click the "OK" button. This will open the System Restore utility.

2. Click the bubble next to the phrase "Restore my Computer to an Earlier Time" and click the "Next" button.

3. Click "System Checkpoint" in the "Select a Restore Point" section. This will open a list of various restore points. Click the "Guided Help (Registry backup)" option and then click the "Next" button. You may see a summary of the changes this restoration will entail. If you do, review the changes and click the "OK" button on the window.

4. Click the "Next" button on the "Confirm Restore Point Selection" page. Wait as the computer restores to the earlier registry configuration and reboots. This will likely take several minutes.

5. Click the "OK" button on the confirmation screen when Windows boots up. This screen should confirm that your system and registry have been restored to their original settings. When you see this notification, the process is complete.

In Windows Vista

1. Click the "Start" button in Windows and type "systempropertiesprotection" into the "Start Search" box, then press "Enter." You may be prompted for an administrator password at this time, depending on your system settings. If so, enter the password and press "Enter."

2. Click the "System Protection" tab, then click "System Restore."

3. Click "Choose a Different Restore Point," then click the "Next" button.

4. Select any restore point from the calendar. If you want to restore the registry to the original factory settings, just click the back arrow next to the calendar until it goes back as far as it will go, then click the earliest bold date on the calendar. If you want to restore your computer to an earlier time that isn't quite so far back, just use the back arrow to navigate backward through the calendar as far as you like. You can select any bold date on the calendar as the restore point by clicking it. Click the "Next" button when you're finished.

5. Click the "Finish" button on the confirmation screen, then wait as your computer restores itself to the earlier restore point and reboots.

6. Click the "OK" button on the system restore confirmation screen when it pops up. When you see this confirmation, the registry restoration process is complete.

References

• Windows XP For Dummies, Andy Rathbone, 2004
• Windows Vista For Dummies, Andy Rathbone, 2006
• Support.microsoft.com