Voodoo
08-13-2009, 08:33 PM
I had mentioned in another thread that I had developed a method to easily backup games and reinstall them doing just a registry importation. Here I will explain, without screenshots, on how this is accomplished. Take note that this ONLY works with retail copies of games. I also have no tested this on games that register themselves with a digital service (Steam, Impulse & Live). It will also not place shortcuts back into the start menu, any shortcuts will have to be done manually. This procedure has been tested successfully on Win98, WinXP and Vista32.
Game Backup
Step 1 - Install the game.
Step 2 - Run the following command via the Run command - regedt32
Step 3 - These steps are done within the Registry Editor
Step 3a - Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Step 3b - Expand Software
Step 3c - Locate the publisher of the game you are seeking to backup. In this example I'm going to be backing up Dead Space, so look for Electronic Arts.
Step 3d - Expand that publisher name, it will display subkeys referring to any games installed from that publisher. Dead Space will be seen within the key. You'll see a bunch of setting but none of these matter at this time...
Step 3e - Right click on the game name and press Export. This will prompt you for a save location, the desktop is usually my favorite. Give it the name of the game registry code you are saving. In my case I just typed dead_space which saved a file named dead_space.reg onto my desktop. That is the end of our need to use the registry editor so go ahead and exit it...
Step 4 - Now you can safely backup your game installation directory to a network share, onto another drive or where ever you like. Be sure to locate any savegames you'd like to keep to and take note of where they are stored, you'll have to restore them in the same directory structure and location.
Game Restore
Step 1 - Open the registry file using Notepad and verify where it wants the game to be installed. In the case of my dead_space.reg, there is a line called "Folder"="C:\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Electronic Arts\\Dead Space™\\". There are double \ because in registry files \\ = \. If you wish to restore your backup somewhere else, you can edit this line to where ever you like. Once you are done, save it and double click the .reg file to import it into your registry.
Step 2 - Restore your backed up game to the location defined in the registry file or in the location that you defined manually. Don't forget to restore your save games as well.
Special Uses
I personally use this method to install a game once and make it available on any of my 3 PCs at home. I have a central server which I initially install the game to on one machine. I'll then export the registry entry and import it to the other two PCs. Once done, I can then run the game from the other two PCs without ever having to install it on them. I share save game files between them by utilizing network shares.
I hope this helps the good lot of you.
Game Backup
Step 1 - Install the game.
Step 2 - Run the following command via the Run command - regedt32
Step 3 - These steps are done within the Registry Editor
Step 3a - Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Step 3b - Expand Software
Step 3c - Locate the publisher of the game you are seeking to backup. In this example I'm going to be backing up Dead Space, so look for Electronic Arts.
Step 3d - Expand that publisher name, it will display subkeys referring to any games installed from that publisher. Dead Space will be seen within the key. You'll see a bunch of setting but none of these matter at this time...
Step 3e - Right click on the game name and press Export. This will prompt you for a save location, the desktop is usually my favorite. Give it the name of the game registry code you are saving. In my case I just typed dead_space which saved a file named dead_space.reg onto my desktop. That is the end of our need to use the registry editor so go ahead and exit it...
Step 4 - Now you can safely backup your game installation directory to a network share, onto another drive or where ever you like. Be sure to locate any savegames you'd like to keep to and take note of where they are stored, you'll have to restore them in the same directory structure and location.
Game Restore
Step 1 - Open the registry file using Notepad and verify where it wants the game to be installed. In the case of my dead_space.reg, there is a line called "Folder"="C:\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Electronic Arts\\Dead Space™\\". There are double \ because in registry files \\ = \. If you wish to restore your backup somewhere else, you can edit this line to where ever you like. Once you are done, save it and double click the .reg file to import it into your registry.
Step 2 - Restore your backed up game to the location defined in the registry file or in the location that you defined manually. Don't forget to restore your save games as well.
Special Uses
I personally use this method to install a game once and make it available on any of my 3 PCs at home. I have a central server which I initially install the game to on one machine. I'll then export the registry entry and import it to the other two PCs. Once done, I can then run the game from the other two PCs without ever having to install it on them. I share save game files between them by utilizing network shares.
I hope this helps the good lot of you.