Is XP different?

[jayjr]

I told a neighbor to export the registry to the desktop before making some changes he was contemplating. He says typing in regedit brings up the box but it quickly disappears before he can get to export. Is this a XP thing or is there something wrong with his pc?

[DocEvi1]

that sounds like a virus to me. Get him to download AVG 6.0 (free edition) from www.grisoft.com, update it and run it.

It isn't a generic Windows XP thing.

[rmanet]

You can back up and restore the following system components using Backup:

Registry
COM+ Class Registration database
Boot files, including the system files
Certificate Services database
Active Directory directory service
SYSVOL directory
Cluster service information
IIS Metadirectory
System files that are under Windows File Protection
Backup refers to these system components as the System State data. The exact system components that make up your computer's System State data depend on the computer's operating system and configuration.

Windows XP Professional
The System State data comprises only the registry, COM+ Class Registration database, files under Windows File Protection, and boot files.

can you clarify what's really happening here? can he run regedit from the run command or are you saying he opens it and it won't let him export the *.reg file from the pulldown menu? Is he logged on as the administrator?

xp is diffferent from the wxx OS in that if you're messing around with the registry, easiest way is to back up your systems files, create a restore point, rather than just save the registry file itself

[mpacey]

Originally posted by jayjr
I told a neighbor to export the registry to the desktop before making some changes he was contemplating. He says typing in regedit brings up the box but it quickly disappears before he can get to export. Is this a XP thing or is there something wrong with his pc?

XP works exactly the same as ME on my rig:

Start > Run > Type "regedit" > OK > File > Export

The registry will export to "My Documents".

Then you just click "Save".

If something is disappearing along the line, it definitely means something is wrong.