Do i need to back up the registry to a usb/cd/something external??

[Rudyard]

When using crap cleaner, I always backup the registry. However it is saved on my C: and I was wondering what good is it there if something kills the registry and makes my computer die.

Does windows scan the HDD for any registry files if it dies or do I need it externally and using special software insert my backup as the replacement?

How does all this work if the computer dies due to registry problems? Or can it stil function without the registry working enough to replace it?

I had the program glary utilities recomended to me and it finds several hundred errors in the registry and this PC was only formatted and reinstalled a week and a bit ago.

Thought I better find out how to fix it incase something goes wrong in the cleaning of the registry.

[redwudz]

Most any time you check the registry for errors, you will find quite a few. But, it's fairly robust and removing errors shouldn't trash the system. It ran with the errors present, didn't it?

For backing up the registry, I would burn it to floppy or some off-site location. I've only had to restore it a few times. Usually at that point a total reinstall of the OS is a better option. After all, you would just be putting back the same problems that precipitated the registry cleaning.

Most registry errors are just links to non-existent programs that you have uninstalled and other similar broken links. These are normal as not all programs remove gracefully. They are normally not a major problem unless you are getting system errors.

On the other hand, if you use a program like regedit without any regard to what you are doing, you can do some major damage to the registry. Then a restore may be useful. But if you didn't personally break it, it's probably not a serious problem.

JMO, others may differ.

[TBoneit]

A registry checking utility will usually find errors in a newly installed XP. I don't even worry about it. Am I ostriching? No since the computer runs fine why fix it.

I get a computer in regularly for repairs that had no problems until the owner ran the Winfix program from Norton. He runs it regularly even though no problems are happening.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

If it worries you that running CCleaner will trash your registry then simple, don't run it.

[aedipuss]

i wouldn't bother backing up the registry to another drive. if the c: drive is so badly trashed that windows can't find the backup on it, then you need a new drive anyway. a much better solution is to back up the entire c: drive to an external hard drive.