This is a documentation of my batch files - from the win3.0 - win-95, win-98 to 2000 and xp times. From the Nineties to xp times. This was related to me having frequent crashes in my system, due to both windows problems and my installing any and many software for testing on machines of varied configuration from 286 to Now.
This is just an archive, do not use it for doing any testing or troubleshooting. This is a documentation not a how-to or faq.
Interesting Phenomena happened after i put the nocrash batch files in geocities or other free services. This was in late nineties-2001, it could be coincidence or just a fascination. After a year IBM came with a Software for windows on its laptops (before lenovo), that makesl make it crash-free. Then MS came up with system-restore in the xp windows. Both related to registry.
My nocrash batch files were used by some people in those days europe/us and i even got feedback. So send me a developer badge or something. All the Batch Files as text will be attachments in zip format. This should be used by only System Admins with 12 Years Hands on Experience!!
nocrash for Win 9x -
This is a pair of simple batch *.bat files
that will help restore the registry and some *.ini files. These files
are run in the dos prompt. It recovers from system crashes and if used
properly it is very safe. It can work from your boot floppy. Win 9x can
be revived even from the dead.
The registry contains most of your
preferences, many times the passwords of some internet programs like
ftp, mail and much more, it is prone to crashes and virus attacks, this
makes you install win 9x all over again, and one more thing this
registry keeps growing in size which slows the system.
Use this
program to backup and restore registry from the dos prompt. You can
make a backup when your system is fine and maintain that to use after a
crash. I have also added some old simple utilities in this zip. Backup
best done after start-shutdown-restart in ms-dos mode.
use this
only if you are a expert !!!
See Attachments zips below
The Windows XP Registry.
A way to prevent xp crashes by backup and restore of registry The Windows XP Registry.attempt these at your own risk, you should be an expert ! ! ! When your XP system crashes, a way to get back to normal is to restore the registry, also if some setting or some installed program is malfunctioning or sometimes even the blue screen of death problem can be solved.
First: You should know a bit of msdos, make a boot disk in XP put a 1.44mb floppy in your floppy drive, right click the floppy drive (a:) in my computer and format selecting create a 'msdos start up disk', the computer will now make a 'windows -Me' msdos bootable disk.
Second: Know where the registry is, it is in c:\windows\system32\config\*.* now insert boot floppy in drive and start the system.(the boot selection should be proper in the bios). Now system will boot in the dos mode in a: . Make a folder in c: called "config-1", in c:\config-1 type this and press enter.
copy c:\windows\system32\config\*.* .
or
copy c:\windows\system32\config\*.* c:\config-1
now your registry is backed up. Do the backup when all your system settings are fine and computer is working normal.
Third: Assume your PC crashes or some settings are not ok or you installed a new software and are having problems.
- Use system restore in 'accessories'.
- Try all other means you know including uninstalling the bad software.
- Restore the registry as shown below.
To restore the registry start the PC with your XP boot floppy, Then go to the folder c:\config-1 and type this and press enter
copy *.* c:\windows\system32\config
say yes to all overwrites,
wait till above operation complete-remove boot disk restart the computer. now the computer will start the way it was when you had last backed up registry.
Fourth: After you install new software and system is ok back up the registry in other folders like config-2, config-3, maintain at least 3 latest copies, and restore as you choose. do above work very carefully as mistakes can leave you worse than before. be systematic and meticulous.
Fifth: rarely some drivers and software involving core drivers can crash system, for this the above method of 'registry restore' may not work. Hence be very cautious while installing and uninstalling. a better method can be using 'norton ghost' but takes a lot of space. also using xcopy the entire windows folder can be backed up, how this can be done will be given later.
MS-DOS Commands
type ms-dos command and press enter
- dir - directory listing
- help - help listing if...avail
- dir/a - show file attributes
- dir/p - show dir page by page
- cd xxx - change to directory xxx
- cd\ - goes to root of drive
- md xxx - make directory xxx
- rd xxx - remove dir xxx if empty
- ren - rename
- c: - go to c: drive
- cd.. - go back one directory
- a: - go to a: drive
copy source destn - give full path for source and destination like c:\config-1\*.*
- del file - deletes the file
- *.* - all files in that folder
- . - ..dot..period... means present location or folder
in msdos keep folders and files 8 characters long with 3 characters extension. eg. thatisit.txt, folders need not have extensions.
More on the Windows XP Registry
attempt these at your own risk, you should be an expert ! ! ! even after restoring registry the computer does not work !
safe start or any other xp roll back does not help ! then the only way is to use "norton ghost" to make a compressed mirror of the disk.
then there is one more way i used to use in win95 it must work in xp, in win95/98 it saved me a lot. in xp so far i have backed up system using this but a fatal crash has not yet occured. but they say "hope for the best but prepare for the worst" hence this attempt.
do this after you know system is perfect and all major programs like office etc are installed configured.
BACKUP METHOD a.
dumpwin.txt
rename this to dumpwin.bat, run this under xp, this will copy the c:\windows folder-files-subfolders into c:\buffwin. this will take some time as c:\windows will be 1Gb +. do this in the msdos prompt within xp only as this will preserve long file names. note for this xp should be running.
b.
registry.txt
make a xp boot floppy, put a new floppy in a: then format it with system files, right click a: in my computer and select format, check create a msdos start up disk.
rename this registry.bat and run it only after you boot your computer with your xp boot floppy in raw msdos. sometimes a: bootseek must be enabled in bios, take care.
this action will transfer your registry into buffwin.
c.
dumpuser.txt
this saves user settings, IE favorites, outlook mail etc. for all users, this may not be needed, but who knows. rename to dumpuser.bat and run from xp itself in a msdos window to preserve long filenames.
RESTORE METHOD f.
swapwin.txt
this is done only after a total crash and all other methods to revive the system fails. this was only tested in win95/98 as my xp has not yet crashed totally.
boot with xp dos floppy, rename this to swapwin.bat, run this only once ! . this will swap the folders, the corrupted windows will become buffwin and you can start the system. if system starts and is ok delete buffwin corrupted and make new buffwin using BACKUP METHOD.
to restore user profiles you can copy and paste user folders in windows explorer from c:\buffuser to c:\documents and settings, only make a new user xxx and log in as xxx and do this. This operation both backup and restore can be done in windows explorer itself but log in as xxx and NEVER delete a user folder you may lose all mail settings and favorites. Think and do or do not do it at all,
do all this only if you know what you are doing
See Attachments zips below 
