How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 7, vista, XP,

How to disable the keyboard Windows key

You can disable the Windows key that is now available on many new computer keyboards. This key usually provides shortcut access to the Start button or other Windows functions.  

To have us disable or enable the Windows key for you, go to the "Fix it for me" section.

Fix it for me

To fix this problem automatically, click the Fix it button or link. Click Run in the File Download dialog box, and follow the steps in the Fix it wizard.

 To disable the Windows key, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedt32, and then click OK.
2. On the Windows menu, click HKEY_LOCAL_ MACHINE on Local Machine.
3. Double-click the System\CurrentControlSet\Control folder, and then click the Keyboard Layout folder.
4. On the Edit menu, click Add Value, type in Scancode Map, click REG_BINARY as the Data Type, and then click OK.
5. Type 00000000000000000300000000005BE000005CE000000000 in the Data field, and then click OK.
6. Close Registry Editor and restart the computer.

To enable the Windows key, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedt32, and then click OK.
2. On the Windows menu, click HKEY_LOCAL_ MACHINE on Local Machine.
3. Double-click the System\CurrentControlSet\Control folder, and then click the Keyboard Layout folder.
4. Right-click the Scancode Map registry entry, and then click Delete. Click Yes.
5. Close Registry Editor and restart the computer.

Notes

• This wizard may be in English only. However, the automatic fix also works for other language versions of Windows.
• If you are not on the computer that has the problem, save the Fix it solution to a flash drive or a CD and then run it on the computer that has the problem.

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry

How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP

This article describes how to back up the registry in Windows XP.

Back up the registry

Guided Help to export registry keys and to back up the registry in Windows XP

Guided Help is available to export registry keys and to back up the registry. Guided Help can automatically perform the steps for you. The actions that this Guided Help performs cannot be undone after Guided Help is finished. Requirements to install and to use this Guided Help You must be logged on to Windows by using a computer administrator account to install and to use this Guided Help. You must be running an English version of Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Media Center Edition, or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition to install and to use this Guided Help. You must first download Guided Help. To start, click the following link: Download Guided Help

Manual steps to back up the registry in in Windows XP

1. Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe, and then click OK.
2. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Create a restore point, and then click Next .
3. On the Create a Restore Point page, type a name for the restore point and then click Create
4. After the restore point has been created, click Close.

Note If System Restore is turned off, you receive a message that asks whether you want to turn on System Restore now. Click Yes. Then, in the System Properties dialog box, click to clear the Turn off System Restore check box, click OK, and then repeat this step.

Restore the registry

Manual steps to restore the registry in Windows XP

Use System Restore to undo registry changes in in Windows XP

1. Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\System32\Restore\Rstrui.exe, and then click OK.
2. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer to an earlier time (if it is not already selected), and then click Next .
3. On the Select a Restore Point page, click the system checkpoint. In the On this list select the restore point area, click an entry that is named "Guided Help (Registry Backup)," and then click Next. If a System Restore message appears that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make, click OK.
4. On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration and then restarts the computer.
5. Log on to the computer. When the System Restore confirmation page appears, click OK..

Properties

APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Windows 7 Enterprise
• Windows 7 Home Basic
• Windows 7 Professional
• Windows 7 Ultimate
• Windows Vista Enterprise
• Windows Vista Home Basic
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
• Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
• Windows Server 2008 Standard