: By default, Windows no longer populates the RegBack folder to reduce the overall disk footprint of the operating system.
If your system is currently broken and the RegBack folder is empty, you cannot use it to recover. Instead, try these alternatives: Regback not working : r/pchelp
Here is the direct truth: If you are running Windows 10 (version 1803 or newer) or Windows 11, those 0-byte files are not a glitch—it is a deliberate design change by Microsoft to save disk space.
Historically, Windows automatically backed up the registry hive files ( DEFAULT , SAM , SECURITY , SOFTWARE , and SYSTEM ) to C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack . regback copy not working
System Restore remains the best way to roll back registry changes when RegBack fails. In the Command Prompt window, type: rstrui.exe Use code with caution. Press to launch the System Restore wizard interface.
Once the registry key above is set, you can force a backup immediately:
If despite all efforts, the built-in RegBack mechanism refuses to work, do not leave yourself unprotected. Create a manual registry backup using these methods: : By default, Windows no longer populates the
Open and run:
Alex remembered a change Microsoft made starting with Windows 10 version 1803 and Windows Server 2016. For performance reasons, they disabled the legacy behavior that automatically saved full registry hive backups to RegBack. Instead, the system started using for registry backups.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator .
Why RegBack Copy Is Not Working in Windows (and How to Fix It)
If the task fails, check the History tab or Event Viewer for error codes.