Simple Registry Backup/Restore Utility
Copyright (c) 1997-99, WinAbility.Com. All rights reserved.
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This README.TXT file provides information on using the file 
REGISTRY.BAT, a simple MS-DOS batch command file, that can be used to
automate the process of backing up and restoring the Windows Registry.

IMPORTANT: By using this software you agree that:

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED AS IS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND!

WinAbility.com HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS
WITH REGARD TO THE SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES
AND CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE, TITLE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL 
WinAbility.com BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE,
DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE
OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH
THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
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This software is FREE, and may be freely copied and distributed,
as long as it is not modified in any way, and no fee is charged for
its distribution (small shipping and handling fee is acceptable).
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//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//  INTRODUCTION
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

This utility lets you quickly backup and restore the Windows Registry.

In case you didn't hear it yet, Registry is a very important part of 
Windows. It is a place where Windows stores information about hardware
and software installed on your computer.  Whenever you add or remove a
device, install a new software product, change a device settings, 
modify options for a program - all these changes (and others, too) are 
written by Windows into the Registry. 

Physically, the Registry consists of a number of files. To backup the 
Registry, you must backup its key files.  The following two files are 
the core components of the Registry; they are always present in the 
Windows folder (usually, C:\Windows):

System.dat 
	contains mostly information about the hardware configuration 
	of the computer. 
 
User.dat
	contains mostly information about the software installed on 
	the computer. 
 
In addition, if user profiles are enabled, the user-specific parts of 
the Registry are stored in separate User.dat files, one per user. These
files are usually located in folders C:\Windows\Profiles\<user_name>.
Whenever a user logs on the system, Windows restores the specific 
settings for this user by merging the user-specific User.dat file with
the generic c:\Windows\User.dat file.

For more information about the Registry, consult your Windows 
documentation.

It is important to backup the Registry before making any significant 
changes to your system.  You can backup the Registry by making copies 
of the files mentioned above.  If you need to restore the Registry, 
replace its existing files with the copies you have saved during 
backup.

You can manually perform these operations, or you may wish to use the
REGISTRY.BAT utility. There are other similar programs available, so
you may wish to use them as well.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//  INSTALLATION - Read this before using!
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

This software consists of the following files:

  REGISTRY.BAT : the command batch file
    BACKUP.PIF : shortcut to the REGISTRY BACKUP command 
   RESTORE.PIF : shortcut to the REGISTRY RESTROE command
    README.TXT : this file

Step 1. 

Create a new folder SREGBKUP on the drive C: and copy there all the 
files listed above. You may choose a different folder instead of 
C:\SREGBKUP, however in such a case you will also need to modify 
properties of the BACKUP.PIF and RESTORE.PIF shortcuts, to point to
the correct location of the REGISTRY.BAT file. Also note that since the 
REGISTRY.BAT file is used in the MS-DOS mode, the name of the folder 
should conform to the "8.3" file naming rules. (That is, it should be
no more than 8 characters long, otherwise it will not be found by the 
utility).

Step 2.

REGISTRY.BAT uses a number of variables listed below. If your version
of Windows is installed in a folder other than C:\Windows, you should
change the _WINDIR_ variable to contain the correct path to the Windows
folder on your system. You may also wish to change other variables 
lised below. To change the variables, open REGISTRY.BAT with any text 
editor such as Notepad. You may also use word processors such as Word, 
however be sure you save the file in the TEXT format. 

REGISTRY.BAT defines and uses the following variables:

_WINDIR_                Default: C:\WINDOWS

  This variable should contain the complete path to the folder in
  which Windows is installed.  When you run REGISTRY.BAT, it verifies
  that this variable contains a valid path before performing the work.
  This variable is used when locating the "generic" System.dat and 
  User.dat files.

_BACKUPDIR_             Default: C:\REGBKUP

  This variable should contain the complete path to the folder in which
  you want to create copies of the registry files.  If this folder does
  not exist when you back up the Registry, REGISTRY.BAT creates it.  
  If this folder does not exist when you restore the Registry, 
  REGISTRY.BAT displays an error message.

_USERLIST_           Default: (none)

  This variable should contain the list of user names whose User.dat
  files you want to backup/restore. This variable should be used only
  when you have enabled user profiles on your computer, and each user
  has his/her own profiles. If you don't use system profiles, or want
  to skip their processing, set the value of this variable to "(none)",
  without quotes. YOU SHOULD UPDATE THIS VARIABLE WHEN YOU ADD/REMOVE 
  USER ACCOUNTS ON YOUR SYSTEM!

_PROFILESDIR_           Default: %_WINDIR_%\Profiles

  This variable is used when locating the user-specific User.dat files,
  when the _USERLIST_ variable above is not set to (none). This 
  variable should contain the complete path to the root folder in 
  which you keep the user profiles.  If this variable points to a 
  folder that does not exist when you run REGISTRY.BAT, the 
  REGISTRY.BAT utility displays an error message. 

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//  REGISTRY.BAT SYNTAX
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

REGISTRY
	displays information on using the utility.

REGISTRY BACKUP
	backs up the Registry files.

REGISTRY RESTORE
	restores the Registry files.

The commands above should be entered at the MS-DOS command prompt, 
after rebooting Windows in the command prompt only mode.  
(This batch file will refuse to run if invoked from a MS-DOS window 
while Windows is running).

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//  USAGE NOTES
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

To simplify your work, this utility includes two shortcut files, which 
supply the required arguments to the REGISTRY.BAT file:

BACKUP.PIF
	switches Windows to the MS-DOS mode and invokes REGISTRY BACKUP.

RESTORE.PIF
	switches Windows to the MS-DOS mode and invokes REGISTRY RESTORE.

You may also wish to create copies of these shortcuts on the Start menu, 
for quick access.

Note: If you've installed the REGISTRY.BAT file in a folder other than 
C:\SREGBKUP, you MUST change the properties of the shortcuts above to 
contain the correct path to REGISTRY.BAT, otherwise they will not work!

When REGISTRY.BAT begins its execution, it displays information about its 
variables and prompts you to confirm or cancel the action.

Note: Sometimes after you have run BACKUP.PIF or RESTORE.PIF, Windows
displays a message that it was not shut down properly, and prompts you 
to reboot in the "safe" mode. Our tests show that this message may be 
ignored, and Windows may be boot up as usual. Your milage may vary :-)

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//  SUPPORT
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

If you have questions regarding this utility, visit our web site:

http://www.winability.com/

