Automatic registry backup at first boot not working

Win 98 is supposed to make an automatic registry backup file at first bootup. Mine does not do that. It works manually through 'ScanRegistry' though. Below is my 'Scanreg.ini' file. The only changes I have made is the directory in which Windows places the file. Could there be a certain file missing in 'Startup'???
Anyone out there who can offer a solution, please?
Here is my 'Scanreg.ini' file:

Scanreg.ini for making system backups.
;

;Registry backup is skipped altogether if this is set to 0
Backup=1

;Registry automatic optimization is skipped if this is set to 0
Optimize=1

ScanregVersion=0.0001
MaxBackupCopies=5

;Backup directory where the cabs are stored is
; <windir>\sysbckup by default. Value below overrides it.
; It must be a full path. ex. c:\tmp\backup
;
BackupDirectory=C:\My Documents\My Data\Registry Backup

; Additional system files to backup into cab as follows:
; Filenames are separated by ','
; dir code can be:
; 10 : windir (ex. c:\windows)
; 11 : system dir (ex. c:\windows\system)
; 30 : boot dir (ex. c:\)
; 31 : boot host dir (ex. c:\)
;
;Files=[dir code,]file1,file2,file3
;Files=[dir code,]file1,file2,file3

 

Do Start > Run > MSCONFIG > Startup Tab

Do you have a Scanregistry entry?

 

I think it unlikely that your StartUp entry has gone walkabout.

Just a wild guess but try this:

BackupDirectory= "C:\My Documents\My Data\Registry Backup "

 

It's not that it has gone walkabout.

What frequently happens is that people as they try to reduce their startups in order to reduce their resource consumption, eliminate almost everything in startup includeing ScanRegistry, thinking that it is Windows on it's own that does the backup and all that this task does is a "Scan Registry ".

 

WhitPhil

I didn't say it had gone walkabout - I said it was unlikely to have gone walkabout.

22212344 also said "The only changes I have made ..." and whilst this may be false I have deemed it as probably true.

Its worth noting that if it transpires that the registry entry has been removed my statement still holds.

 

MsConfig shows 'ScanRegistry' in the Startup. The registry entry for it is under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\
CURRENTVERSION\RUN and reads "ScanRegistry "= "C:\Windows\scanregw.exe/autorun "
I thought this entry would do the trick however, it still does not automatically back up every morning when I boot up the machine.
My change of the directory, where the cab file is supposed to go should not influence the outcome, but I will now change it back to the Sysbckup directory and see if it works with that one.

 

Yes, in a way it might. It has to do with 8.3 filenames and long filenames.
In your 'Scanreg.ini' file, you have;

BackupDirectory=C:\My Documents\My Data\Registry Backup

If edited according to Gammaepsilon, all you would add is the quotation marks;

BackupDirectory= "C:\My Documents\My Data\Registry Backup "

This may allow Scanregw.Exe to find the folder, and insert the registry backups. Else;
c:\mydocu~1\mydata~1\regist~1

 

markp62

Yeah, I think we are on the right track here. Scanregw uses some of the routines in Scanreg; the former being only half the size of the latter. If scanreg.ini is parsed by a routine in Scanreg then it will fall foul of long filenames.

 

I tried the quotation marks in scanreg.ini. It does not work. Will now try the suggested version: c:\mydocu~1\mydata~1\regist~1
Thanks guys for all your help. I am sure we will get there eventually.

 

In win98 Scanregw is the Manual version of Scanregistry that runs at boot up only ONCE per calander day only.

Scanrew is exactly the same and backs up the same four files but it can be run anytime

The one difference being is that the .cab files made by Scanregw are labled " NOT STARTED BY WINDOWS " if you elect to do a scanreg /restore.

The default folder for the rb00x.cab file is C:\Windows\Sysbckup and should be left there.

Not only does scanreg /restore use them but Windows itself may use them.

BillyBob

 

22212344

I thought I had scanreg pretty well sussed. I stopped using the default location years ago but I have no spaces in the path! The path then is being used by a real mode routine whether we use the real or protected mode version of scanreg ie scanreg or scanregw respectively.

BillyBob

There is no such thing as a manual version of scanregw only a manual implementation.

scanregw, if placed in the Run key as is by default, runs at each and every boot. The /autorun switch causes a check for the existence of a cab file with today's timestamp on it and, if not found, makes a backup silently. If we changed the location of the backups and that location did not have a cab file with today's timestamp then on a restart another, so called, 'first boot of the day' backup would be created in the changed location.

If we sailed past midnight and run scanregw.exe /autorun via Run... then a silent backup would be made. The authors did not envisage anyone doing this and the backup is designated "Started" which, of course, is false. On the other hand if we sailed past midnight and ran scanregw without a switch we'd be advised that a backup hasn't been made today and would we like one. On Yes, a backup is made but this time it is designated "Not Started" which is true.

There are so many idiosyncracies in scanreg I came to the conclusion that they were knocked out rather quickly one Friday afternoon by two teams who were not on speaking terms, with the protected mode crew making the occasional sortie to pinch addresses of some of the real mode routines to save time as they were meeting in the bar after work; perhaps TFI Fridays [ TGI Friday in the UK where G stands for Goodness, shortly after our lot found out what F stood for].

 

scanregw, if placed in the Run key as is by default, runs at each and every boot.

Something different here. Or something to clear up. I checked and scanregw /autorun is in the run section of the registry. But it does not make a new backup at each and every boot. It may run but only makes one backup per calendar day. I restarted three times just to check. And unless I deleted the existing .cab files it would not make a new one.

There are so many idiosyncracies in scanreg

I disagree there. The idiosyncracies are in how it is used and differences as to how it works.

Also the rb00x.cab files are just like any other type of backup.

1--If the system is troubled and repairs are made.

2--If the system has a Virus which is cleaned out. ( Or even before the Virus is cleaned ) If any Virus cleaner does get into the backups files and makes changes then they are useless ( and even may be little dangerous ) anyway. The same goes for the Restore Points in ME & XP.

3--Software is added, removed or upgraded.

4--New hardware and/or drivers have been added/changed and all is well.

I think it then to be a good idea that the old backups are deleted and a new one made that reflects the system as it is and not the way it was.

BillyBob

 

But it does not make a new backup at each and every boot.

If anyone else sees the slightest inference to the above from "scanregw, if placed in the Run key as is by default, runs at each and every boot. The /autorun switch causes a check for the existence of a cab file with today's timestamp on it and, if not found, makes a backup silently." then please let me know.

Breaking News: Gammaepsilon and BillyBob disagree on scanreg's idiosyncratic behaviour. Stay tuned for hourly bulletins as there will be a prize for anyone who manages to stay glued to this enthralling debate. Erm, I'll pass on this one BillyBob if it's all the same to you.

 

That was for clarification only. Directed directly at MIS-LEADING info directly from some of Microsofts own info pages where it does infer that a backup is made at every boot.

With which you and I both agree ( in different words ) is not true.

I know some users the insist that I am wrong and thereby would also make you wrong. Which you are not.

I will se if I can find the proper site and come back with a link.

BB

 

Never mind. I had a Win95 page not 98

 

You're both right, or at least I agree with you both.

 

markp62

I tried the 8.3 version for the path. It does not work either. Interestingly though, when manually using scanregw for a backup pointing to the backup directory under the 8.3 version c:\mydocu~1\mydata~1\regist~1 Windows places the cab file into the Windows directory!!
I have now changed my scanreg.ini file back to the dafault and will see tomorrow what surprises scanreg will dish up for me next.

Gammaepsilon & Billy Bob

I thought scanreg.exe is the DOS version and scanregw.exe the one which only will work under Windows. Which of the 2 files should be in the Registry? Does it make any difference if the /autorun switch has a space in front of the "/" i.e
scanrew.exe /autorun or scanregw.exe/autorun?

Final question: in scanreg.ini why is MS giving us the possibillity of an alternative backup directory when it does not work???

 

BackupDirectory works fine on my box with long file names.
The key is that the folder must exist. In your case, does My Data\Registry Backup exist in My Documents??

If not, then If Registry Checker cannot save a backup in the location you specify, the backup is saved in the Windows folder

 

22212344

You are correct.

Scanreg is the DOS version and the file resides in the C:\Windows\Command ( DOS ) folder.

Scanregw is the Windows version and resides in the C:\Windows folder.

Scanregistry which runs at startup is actually starting scanregw.

Scanreg or scanregw can both be run from the start run line in Windows.

But a registry restore must be done from DOS using scanreg /restore.

And the reason for having to use DOS to do a scanreg restore is due to the fact that Windows will not allow inuse files to be overwritten.

As of yet I have no actual proof but I believe that restoring a restore point in XP actually shuts down Windows and switches to DOS to do it for the same reason.

Which of the 2 files should be in the Registry?

SCANREGW.

Does it make any difference if the /autorun switch has a space in front of the "/"

I believe it does. I checked both of my 98 machines and there is a space before the "/" I checked by editing the line in the registry and hit delete and the space closed up. Then I hit the spacebar to put it back. And then hit cancel.

BillyBob

 

22212344

I would be a little cautious about saving something as important as the item being discussed in the My Documents folder.

They can be too easily wiped out if you ( or someone else ) starts house cleaning in the folder.

Or if you ever decided to move My Docs and forget to change the path to the backups files. Need I say more ?

As important as they are I myself see no reason to place them any place other than the default folder of C:\Windows\sysbckup.

BillyBob