Long rambling about Register Editing

First off. Creating a folder named D:\Windows may not be a good idea. It can ( and has ) cause(ed) problems for software installs.

Cookies and the other things you mention I have never tried to move as there is nothing in them worth saving on a reinstall of Windows anyway.

But the Favorites I just created a folder on E: named Favorites. Moved by Draging-n-dropping the CONTENTS ONLY of the C:\Windows\Favorites into it.

Then did a regedit/find for favorites and used F3 to make sure I get them all, and made sure they pointed to the new loacation. Then deleted the C:\Windows\Favorites folder.

As far as the reg Keys go, just changing one key may not do the job as there are several for each.

I did the same with My Documents. This is another one that I only consider to contain anything worth saving.

I also consider the Start Menu worth at least keeping a copy of on another partition.

And if a Clean re-install of Windows is required all you need to do is run a quick regedit and change references for Favorites and My Doc and you are back in business.

BillyBob

 

I do not understand why you want to do this.
Are you having problems with the existing set-up ?
What advantages are you expecting from changing these folder locations ?
regards

 

Preservation Of Data is the advantage to moving My Documents and Favorites to another partiton so that they do not get lost if a format is required.

A good many programs store stuff in My Documents. Or a folder like My Pictures within same.

And Favorites saves a lot of searching and rebuilding. And the contents of Favorites can be copied back into any version of Windows.

I am not 100% sure but I think My Docs is the same.

Losing stuff on a re-format is the one MAIN reason I dumped Outlook Express and its dumb Windows address Book ( years ago ) and went to an e-mail that stores stuff all within its own folder(s) and is on another partition so it does not get lost either.

Of course if you only have one partiton then my ideas are useless unless you transfer the contents of said folders to a CD before formating. Which BTW. I do anyway.

BillyBob

 

I would just drag and drop the entire My Documents folder and the c:\windows favorites folder somewhere safe.
Get a hard copy of any seriously important email, and rid yourself of Outhouse Express.
If you do a search in the registry for c:\My Documents, you'll find a few keys that have "Default" for installation path, and/or download path. You can change those to whatever path you want. (I don't have a win98 machine handy to check with, sorry).

 

That is true. BUT, in turn it fragments the other partition.

The better way ( I think and have done and am working on again ) it to create a partiton of app 500meg.

Then put both the Swap File and the TIF and nothing else on it and then forget both.

As an added thought. That would also be a good place for My Documents and Favorites too.

I myself would not try any such thing with OE. Well actually I can't any way because it is not on my machine(s).

BillyBob

 

You have got me confused now

When I do a reg search I do not include any drive letter. ( for any search ) It may miss some that way.

I just make sure I am at the beginning of the reg, select find and enter " my doc. " ( without quotes of course ). That will find any and all references to My Documents. Whether it be for Windows use or any software that may use it for storage.

Using C:\My Doc will only find the entries that point to C:

If I were looking for some thing such as Favorites , that is the word I would type. Again leaving off the drive letter.

For TIF I would use " temporary int

And just make sure march whole string is NOT checked

Also something VERY important when reg searching.

When doing a reg search it is a MUST that you be at the BEGINNING of the reg. Otherwise it will only search forward from the point you are at.

Also if you find and modify the first key up you may find some later that are already changed. But you may also find some that are not.

I mentioned putting My Docs and Favorites and the extra drive just for safe keeping so they do not get lost on a loss of the OS.

BillyBob

PS
I hope you make sure that the RB00X.CAB ( reg backups ) are being made before messing with the reg. And when you do get the reg where you want it and all seems to be OK, make new ones.

BB

 

That is no where near as dependable as the RB00X.CAB files that Windows itself makes.

IF SCANREGISTRY is in the satartup sequence. AND Windows is restarted at least once per calendar day.

If need be then you can boot to the F8 Menu at boot up and type SCANREG /RESTORE.

Exporting/importing DOES NOT REMOVE any bad entries.

Scanreg /restore REPLACES all four files ( completely ) using one of the RB00X,CAB files that you may choose. Those are ZEROS not Os in the file name )

The four files are;

System.dat
User.dat
System.ini
Win.ini.

All four files must be kept syncronized. You may not realize it but changes you make to the reg * MAY * be reflected in the System.ini. I know for a fact that it works the other way around.

Also some software may put stuff in the system or win.ini.

Scanreg /restore can also be run for a SUD bootup.

At the A:\ prompt type C:\Windows\Command\Scanreg /restore.

I myself have scanreg.exe on the SUD.

BillyBob

 

The "My Documents" folder is there, and there are numerous references to it in the registry.
Look in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
To restore that bit of registry (your 030415-1.reg) you will have to be in windows, even Safe Mode will work though, then just double click it.

 

I do no think you will find that in the reg.

SUD= Startup Disk.

Alias Windows Startup Disk.

DOS Boot Disk.

Or in Me I guess they did not like SUD so they changed it to Emergency Boot Disk or some other stupid thing.

I gotta finish cooking dinner right now but will be back later on a way to handle the RB00X.cab files.

BillyBob

 

Handling the Reg backup RB00X.CAB files.

If scanregisrty is loading at boot up there should be 5 rb00x.cab files in the C:\Windows\Sysbckup folder. That is if at least Windows has been restarted at least once per day. Only one per day will be made.


Running scanregw from within Windows will allow you to make one also.But this is not the one you want. It will come up with A message NOT STARTED ( has not been used to boot windows )when scanreg /restore is run.

Now you wish to make changes ( edit, modify or whatever ) to the registry.

Make sure that scanregistry is shown as loading in msconfig.

Go to the C:\windows\sysbckup folder and DELETE all RB00X.CAB files.

Restart Windows.

Recheck the folder mentioned and make sure there is a new file there. If not then find out why not before going any further.

If one is there then great.

Now go do your reg work. Your work turns out bad. Either boot to the F8 menu or the SUD ( startup disk ) and run Scanreg /restore.

You will only have one selection and you will know that it is a good one because Windows was using it. And your reg ( all four files ) are back where you started.

I will suggest here that you test this before depending on it fully. I have not had it fail. But there is always a first time.

Scanregistry and scanreg /restore are the best thing Microsoft ever did for Win98.

No need to go to the DOS Prompt. Just type scanregw in the Start/run line.

BillyBob

 

Christer
Go here and get the Windows Registry Guide 2002 download for free. It has a lot of info about what you are trying to do.

 

The below mis-leading info is taken from the Registry Guide that markp62 ponted to.

And this is in no way saying that markp62 is in any way at fault for the bad info.

And yes, I deliberately went looking for it as I was almost sure I had seen this before.

Microsoft Windows 98 automatically creates a backup copy of the registry every time Windows starts, in addition to this you can manually create a backup using the Registry Checker utility by running SCANREGW.EXE from Start | Run menu

That is as far from the truth as anything could be. It only makes ONE backup per Calander Day on a Windows restart. And by default it will make five and then start replacing the oldest.

And it will only do this IF we have not stopped scanregistry from Loading at startup.

Unless ( as I stated before ) you delete all of the RB00X.cab files. Then it will make a new one.

If I am wrong, then I have been wrong ever since two days after Win98 came onto the Retail Market. Due to the help from a Friend.

If I am wrong then how come I only have four files dated 4-12 thru 4-15. and I have restarted windows at least SIX ( 6 ) times today alone. ( removing and/or adding software or updates )

However the scanregw part is OK. But as I said in an earlier reply it will give you a message about Not Started when scanreg /restore is used. Then the users has to guess whether it is OK to use or not.

And I also saw no mention anywhere of the Win.ini which is also a configuration file used by Windows. I believe the Win.ini is mostly for compatability. But it is needed.

I believe markp62 somewhat agreed with same in another post.

Win.ini was the thread I believe.

BillyBob

 

BillyBob is absolutely correct on that. I checked my installed Winguides, and it is exactly as he posted.
Hmm, making me wonder if I should check more on that chm file.
If Win98 did make a backup every time it booted, we just as well have the old 95 registry restore method. Most of us know just how reliable that was, like a $2 adjustable wrench. Maybe it'll do you some good, but a busted knuckle was almost guaranteed.