Everyone should make a backup of windows registry before doing using any registry cleaning software just as a precaution. Its really not hard to do, in fact its very simple and im about to guide you through the process. First off lets get to the basics.

Why Should I Back Up My Windows Registry?

Well in basic terms your registry is like the central nervous system of your computer. It contains a lot of important information that controls the way your computer functions. Something like a common virus is capable of damaging your registry files and preventing you to be able to use your computer to full capacity. Then you have kids who play around on the computer who like to test their new viruses and you could be their next experiment. All of a sudden your computer is not working correctly, so now what do you do? That’s why its important to make a backup of your registry before doing any registry scans even. Although registry tools are great, its just important to be prepared for the worst, and that’s why im about to show you how to make a backup of your registry right quick.

Step 1- Make A Restore Point

The easiest way to back up your registry is to make a restore point. Windows XP already has this option available unless you disabled it.

1. Go to Start – All Programs – System Tools – System Restore

2. Select Create A Restore Point

3. Now Name Your Restore Point (any name will be fine)

4. Click Ok

That’s it! See how simple that was? Well we are not quite done, now for extra safety precautions we want to make a copy of our registry. You can do this by opening up Windows Registry Edit program that is already on everyones computer. We will now export a copy of our registry. Don’t worry, im going to show you now how to do this, its very simple.

Step 2: Creating A Export Copy Of The Registry

1. Go to Start – Run

2. Type in regedit and click OK

3. This opens windows own registry edit program (don’t touch anything except what I tell you to)

4. Go to File – Export

5. Choose a safe place file that you will remember later

6. Name the registry file, something with the date would be good, but anything will work.

7. Click Ok and your done! You just created a backup file of your registry in case anything should happen.

Now you are safe in case anything happens, if your computer works right now then it will work forever as long as you have this file saved. A lot of registry sites will not tell you to do this backup but I think its very important in case anything happens. Its better to be safe then sorry.