Registry Checker Tool Displays Only Some Backups with Time Stamp (184043)

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if either of the following conditions exists:

You use the Windows version of the Registry Checker (Scanregw.exe) tool to create backup copies of your registry. The Windows version of the Registry Checker tool does not add a time stamp to backup copies of your registry.
You use the "/comment=<text>" command-line switch when you create backup copies of your registry.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, create all registry backups using the MS-DOS version of the Registry Checker tool without the "/comment=<text>" command- line switch. To do so, type scanreg /backup at a command prompt, and then press ENTER.

To work around this issue and view the time a registry backup was created, use either of the following methods:

Method 1

At a command prompt, view the list of Rb0<nn>.cab files located in the <drive>:\<windows>\sysbckup folder, where <nn> is a number between 00 and 99, <drive> is the drive letter on which the Windows folder is located, and <windows> is the name of the folder in which Windows is installed. To do so, type the following commands at a command prompt, pressing ENTER after each command:

cd <windows>\sysbckup dir rb0*

Method 2

In Windows, use the Find utility to locate and view the time a registry backup was created. To do so, follow these steps:

Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.
In the Named box, type rb0* and then click Find Now.

NOTE: If no files are displayed in the Find window, follow these steps:
1. In My Computer or Windows Explorer, click Folder Options on the View menu.
2. Click the View tab.
3. Under Hidden Files, click Show All Files.
4. Click OK.
5. Repeat steps 1-2.

NOTE: The time the registry backup was created is displayed in the Modified column in the Find window.

MORE INFORMATION

The lowest numbered Rb0<nn>.cab file may not be the earliest registry backup. To determine the earliest registry backup, you must check the dates of the Rb0<nn>.cab files.

For additional information about the Registry Checker tool, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: 183887
TITLE : Description of the Windows Registry Checker Tool (Scanreg.exe)

For additional information about using command-line switches with the Registry Checker tool, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: 184023
TITLE : Command-Line Switches for the Registry Checker Tool

For additional information about how to use the Registry Checker tool, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type registry, and then double-click the "Registry Checker" topic.