Arguably almost every PC user out there some time heard about Windows registry and what it serves for. Much less people know how sensitive it is to any modifications and how crucial it is to guard it against awkward changes and protect from malicious intrusions. Finally, only few experienced computer users really know that there's a simple way to have peace of mind no matter what happens to the Windows registry. This way is called registry backup.
It is easy to understand how registry backup works if I tell you that registry consists of several files, and like any file, it can be copied to another location - much like you'd copy your favorite music to external hard drive or portable USB.
But let's look first what registry backup serves for and what it helps to avoid:
First, doing a backup means preserving the integral part of Windows operating system in its intact state when it was healthy and working. Any time something goes wrong, you can restore the ba ckup in a couple of clicks.
Second, if you like experimenting with new software, installing and uninstalling new programs or simply testing software, it is very easy to corrupt the registry.
Third, viruses and spyware, once they sneak into a computer, attack the registry aggressively, because their lifespan inside Windows depends on how quickly they are able to conceal their nasty modules and traces of their presence in the system. Malware coders know very well that using the features Microsoft implemented in registry design, it is possible to have their malicious programs get recovered or even regenerated should any security software remove them. All it takes is to put proper records into the registry, and tweak some settings like attributes to keep those entries deeply hidden in the core of the operating system. I bet you know that many antivirus products miss important parts of malware - because those parts are invisible to the eyes of scanning engines.
Fourth, if an unexpected restart or shutdown takes place, the registr y can be corrupted to the extent it becomes inoperable. Then, only a certified IT serviceman or knowledgeable user can repair it. For a home user, fixing problems in the badly corrupted registry usually turns a nightmare.
Luckily, there's a preventive measure called "registry backup and restore". Many software tools, both free and commercial, offer either stand-alone backup feature, or include it as part of system suites or large sets of utilities for PC maintenance. Starting with Windows XP, Microsoft included its own simple utility for registry backup, but it can be used to save other users' settings and data, too.
If you change your computer's software configuration a lot or like to install new versions of programs, it is a very good idea to backup registry once in a while.
Learn about Registry Backup and Cleanup Programs to prevent sudden computer crashes. Better safe than sorry!
Alberta Glamerheim is PC maintenance consultant who writes educational articles about computer maintenance, security and related topics.
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