AND FOR YOU DIE-HARD WINDOWS 95 USERS
Unfortunately none of this will work in Windows 95, unless you use Registry Backup & Restore Upgrade Tool Kit for Windows 95. We've assembled all the files needed to enable you to use Windows 98 tools for backup and restoration of your Windows 95 Registry. Actually it's very simple, just a matter of copying some files and then running one REG file, so there's no reason not to do it. There are just six easy steps:

1. Download the Registry Backup & Restore Upgrade Tool Kit for Windows 95 to an empty temporary directory.
   
   Get the Registry Backup & Restore Upgrade Tool Kit for Windows 95  
   
   
2. Unzip the contents of the archive into the same temporary directory.
3. Copy SCANREG.INI and SCANREGW.EXE to your Windows directory (usually C:\WINDOWS).
4. Copy SCANREG.EXE to your C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND directory.
5. Copy CABREST.BAT to your root directory.
6. Double-click SCANREGW.REG to merge the required information into your Registry. You may now delete the temporary directory along with all the files contained within.

The next time you reboot, SCANREGW will run invisibly in the background when your desktop appears; it will backup your Registry and then disappear. It will continue to do this, invisibly, once each calendar day. Of course, you will be able to backup and restore your Windows 95 Registry files exactly as described in the article above for Windows 98.

Fortunately Microsoft saw fit to make the Registry backup/restore routine in Windows 2000 much easier. They've effectively made it even easier than this batch file makes it for Windows 98, so there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't backup your Windows 2000 Registry before installing any software or editing the Registry. This aspect of Windows clearly points out the distinct progression Microsoft has made with each new operating system. There is always room for improvement though, so let's hope they keep working at it.

Note: If you downloaded the Special PC911 Registry Backup & Restore Upgrade Tool Kit for Windows 95 anytime prior to October 3rd, 2000 please note that it has been updated. Please download this updated version and replace your old copy of CABREST.BAT with the current version enclosed in the kit. You only need to replace that one file. Thank you.

SUMMARY
As you've seen, this whole process is much more difficult to explain than it is to use. Once you understand how to backup and then restore your Registry you can do it in a flash. The batch file provided should make it even easier. The versatility that this knowledge allows you should help you avoid problems or repair them quickly rather than end up stressing out because you have to reinstall Windows 98.

Enjoy!
;~* ... Scotterpops
Special thanks to PC911 for their help in creating this article.

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