Move registry contents to second registry?

[mchahn]

I am trying to set up a scenario where I have a main Windows XP PC and a second backup PC. I would have the latest versions of all my folders and files from my main PC, even system files like the registry, backed up frequently to my backup PC.

If my main PC dies, I would like to switch to using the backup PC with minimal time and effort. Unfortunately the scenario requires that the two PCs can have totally different hardware, so I cannot just start using the registry from my main PC on my backup PC.

I would have the latest versions of both registries stored on my backup PC. The registry of the backup PC could be fresh from an XP install. If I was willing to have any software needed written, no matter how difficult, would it be possible for me to merge the two registries so that I can immediately run all the apps on my second PC?

Does software to do this already exist by any chance?

[mattjw916]

um, yeah... it's called active-passive clustering and you can't do it with wimpy PCs...

Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, why not just do an image backup with the likes of Norton or a good old fashioned full backup on (insert favorite removeable media type here).

[jenkins]

Agreed. The easiest thing is just use ghost. That will get every single thing. You can even just do disk to disk if you want. (if it exceeds over 4.7 or 9.4 gbs.)

-jenkins

[mchahn]

I'm not looking for alternatives, although they are appreciated. I really want to know if it is possible or not.

[mattjw916]

This isn't Burger King, you can't have it your way.

It always amazes me the length people will go to in order to make a relatively simple thing like a backup into a complete and utter IT nightmare. Perhaps if the PCs were exactly the same it would be more feasible. Plus since all your files are on the main PC, if the HDD fails what good is the other one going to do you?

[mchahn]

I'm sorry if I didn't make it clear. All the files from the main PC are already backed up on the second PC. If the drive or anything else dies on the main PC I have everything backed up.

I'm just asking if there is any way to merge the contents of the backed up registry from the first PC into the second PC's almost-empty registry so that I can run all the apps immediately on the second PC without having to run all the installers.

[DougLite]

If the drives have the exact same mappings/drive letters, you can export the keys that the programs install to the other comp, as long as they are installed in the exact same directory on both systems. If you install a new app on one system, copy the files to the exact same location on the other system, export the registry keys, then add them to the other system's registry. this requires you to invest the time in keeping hte installed base in sync on both systems as you go along.

You can also have a thrid server (doesn't need to be anything special) store a roaming profile and a redirected My Documents folder. That requires investment in a server product though, but would ensure that your desktop environment was consistent across both boxes, and that your My Documents folder has the same contents on both systems.

Ghost will NOT work for imaging two systems that will be online at the same time, as duplicate SIDs, NetBIOS names, etc will be present. A Ghost Image will also most likely not boot on a system with a different mobo/chipset.

However, I am inclined to agree with MattJW that this is all too much effort - backup data and deal with the inevitable reinstall. That will take less time than having poor mans fail over clustering.

[rcolbert]

Use NTbackup to backup the system state. Restore it to the new PC when you want to failover. Reboot. Run sysprep on the new PC. Reboot. Mini-setup should handle the hardware differences. You'll be up and running with a good chance of success. It's not a perfect solution, but it'll work in most cases. Make sure you have a XP CD with SP2 slipstreamed and all the drivers you need for your failover PC available.

It ain't clean, and it ain't pretty, but will work most of the time.

[mchahn]

DougLite> If the drives have the exact same mappings/drive letters, you can export the keys that the programs install to the other comp, as long as they are installed in the exact same directory on both systems.

That sounds doable, if not dangerous. I don't have to worry about keeping them in sync. The second backup PC will stay in a virgin state until the failover.

If I understand you correctly, there are two issues:

1) Copying only the keys necessary for the apps. I don't have a list of apps or the keys, so this will have to be figured out at fail-over time.

2) Getting the drive letters to match.

Am I missing an issue?

As far as picking the registry keys to copy, do you think it would be safe to copy all the keys from the original PC to the backup PC wherever those keys don't already exist in the backup registry? This would make sure to not overwrite any existing keys in the backup, especially ones need for the backup hardware.

Does anyone know if it is possible for software to arrange the drive letters? I know which volumes on the backup match the drive letters on the original PC. I just need to change the backup drive letters to match the original ones.

DougLite> That will take less time than having poor mans fail over clustering.

But a poor mans fail-over clustering is exactly what I am trying to accomplish. I want to have software that does all this automatically and install it so the client can be an idiot. Right now I am just trying to figure out if this software is possible or not. Later I'll worry about getting the software implemented.