Windows Registry is a hierarchical database that contains configuration settings and options on Windows operating systems. When you install/uninstall some software, drivers you make some changes in the registry. Also some viruses or other malware can make changes in the registry. Sometimes it can cause many problems beginning from slow performance to broken file associations. These problems can be fixed but in this case you need to edit registry entries. Every time you attempt to make changes in the registry you should firstly back up the registry. That’s why you need to know how back up the registry and how to restore it back. There are the step-by-step instructions below.

To open Registry Editor:

1. Click the Start  button, click Run.

type regedit in the Open string and click Ok.

2. If you don’t have Run command in the Start menu you can open registry editor in next way: click Start  button and type regedit in the search string.

Click on regedit.exe.

3. After performing the actions above the Registry Editor window will be opened.

To back up registry:

1. Press File menu and choose Export....

2. In the Save in: drop down list choose the folder where you want to save your backup file. Type the name of the backup file into File name: text box and press Save.

3. Exit Registry Editor.

To restore registry:

1. Press File menu and choose Import....

2. Navigate to folder that contains your backup file. Click on backup file and press Open.

You will see the process of registry import:

Also you can easily restore registry by right-clicking on backup file and choosing Merge.

or by double-clicking on it.

In the window that will appear press Yes.

NOTE: During restore process only registry entries that are contained in backup file will be replaced. The new entries that don’t exist in backup file won’t be deleted.

3. Exit Registry Editor.

4. Restart your computer to changes take effect. Click on Start button , click Shut down, choose Restart.