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Why do you need to backup the registry?
The registry is the heart of Windows [1]. In a Windows based
computer system, the registry is a database that stores critical
system
information and settings. Configuration data for a user’s
hardware, software, and user preferences are contained in the
registry. Furthermore, the registry is actually two or more
files that are stored as hidden files in the Windows folder.
The data in the registry can be lost through hard-drive crashes,
data corruption, human error, and a host of other reasons.
If a user loses his registry for whatever reason, his Windows
system may not boot at all. Obviously, a Windows system being
unable to boot would be a major problem for a business depending
on Windows based computers for operations.
Sometimes a registry
error exhibits more subtle behavior, such as the loss of
certain Windows components or functionality. Such
loss can be difficult to repair, short of completely reinstalling
Windows – unless there is a good, current, registry backup.
Without
a registry backup, the user who experiences a hard drive
crash may have to reinstall all of the software programs
on his
computer (e.g. MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook). For a normal
business, this type of full-scale reinstallation may take
hours or days
to complete. However, if the user has a quality backup of
his registry, then he can quickly and accurately restore his
registry,
and he can be back in business in a matter of minutes instead
of hours.
Do all backup programs protect the registry?
There are a variety of methods of backing up the registry
in Windows. The majority of these methods involve the user
physically
making a copy of the registry files onto a disk or other
removable device. Then the user must make sure that the
removable device
is stored in a secure, offsite location. While this may
be an easy operation for computer savvy individuals, the
average
user
may not want to make copies of registry files for fear
of causing irreparable computer damage. Furthermore the user
must have
the knowledge to be able to successfully restore the registry
in
the event of a hard drive crash.
In addition there are a
variety of programs that market themselves as registry backup
systems. Most of these programs
will assist
a user in backing up the registry onto a removable device.
Again, the user must secure the removable device in an
offsite location
to guard against data loss due to fire, theft, and/or natural
disaster.
How does Arshco Stockade backup the registry?
On machines, running Windows 95, 98 or ME, Arshco Stockade
exports the registry to a text file, which can be restored
at any time.
In fact, in addition to including the exported file in
the backup set transmitted to Arshco Stockade servers,
the exported
file is
left on disk in the \Arshco Stockade\reg folder - so a
spare copy of the registry is always close at hand!
On machines,
running NT, 2000, or XP, backing up the registry is not that
easy. Each key has to be opened,
read and written
to a special registry type file. Arshco Stockade uses Microsoft-developed
techniques plus its own scheme of saving the different
registry sections. A copy of these keys is also left
on disk so that
the registry or selected keys can be restored even without
recovering
the remote copies from our servers.
Why does Arshco Stockade
backup the registry?
The registry is a vital part of a Windows based computer
system. Because of the importance of the registry,
Heritage believes that
a registry backup is an essential part of quality data
protection.
Furthermore, Arshco Stockade offers the safest,
most efficient means of registry backup to Windows based
computer users.
First of all, the Arshco Stockade customer does not
have to remember
to initiate his backup. Upon installation of Arshco Stockade, the customer will set his preferred time, and then
the Arshco Stockade
system will automatically backup at that time every
day or night. This feature ensures that the daily
backup of documents,
emails,
and the registry will not be forgotten.
In addition
to being automatic, the Arshco Stockade registry backup system
is remote. The Arshco Stockade
system is
designed to automatically
backup critical registry information to redundant
secure offsite locations. The Arshco Stockade server
facilities
are professionally
managed, and they are monitored 24 hours per day
7 days per week. With Arshco Stockade, the user’s
registry information is absolutely protected against
any type of data loss.
Furthermore, Arshco Stockade
Remote Backup ensures data security by encrypting
the registry data using
168-bit
Triple DES
encryption. Also, the Arshco Stockade customer uses
a private 24-48-character
password to secure his data. Arshco Stockade personnel
never know the customer’s password. In addition
the customer must input this password to be able
to restore his registry information.
Arshco Stockade
also enables the Windows computer user to quickly
and easily recover his vital registry
information. Arshco Stockade
customers do not have to worry about locating
the correct removable device. In addition Arshco Stockade
technical
support
is available
on a 24/7 basis to lend assistance to a customer
who needs to recover information.
© 2005,
Arshco Stockade
Microsoft, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook, Windows 95, 98,
NT, 2000, & XP are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.
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[1] Martin Sargent, “Backing Up the Registry” January
26, 2001
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