16 replies to this topic

[HiRez00]

Greetings all,

 

I want to do a complete backup of pretty much everything I have currently running in my visual pinball cab. Visual Pinball, PinMame, PinballX, roms, tables, backglass, etc.

 

Last time I did a complete backup to do a new re-install on a better computer, when I moved all the tables, roms, backglass, PinballX databases and everything ... somehow I LOST all my settings for each table, ie: individual table settings, b2s settings, and the PinMame settings so when I started each table for the first time, I had to click the "I Agree" page for each table when I started it for the first time, and re-do all the settings for the "Use External DMD" settings when you press the F1 page.

 

I guess what I am asking is: Where are all those specific config and settings kept so if I need to do a fresh install again, I am able to pull the specific folders and settings from my backup so I don't have to go through and do a complete reconfigure for the backglasses, table settings, and rom settings, etc.

 

Please advise.

 

Thanks.

[MajorFrenchy]

The position settings for your VPX are found in the registry. 

 

start cmd > type in regedit

Expand out the tree

HKEY_CURRENT_USER->Software->Freeware->Visual Pinmame

 

You can backup that Hive and store it somewhere on your external hard drive. 

 

When re-installing windows you can re-import the registry hive.

[BrandonLaw]

Just gonna leave a thanks here....this is a +1 on the knowlege.

[Thalamus]

You are probably best off making a "backup.cmd" - putting the shortcut on the desktop or somewhere convenient - containing something like this. This I stole from Rob. Just change c:\util to you're d:\backup or where ever on your external drive.

 

reg export "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Freeware\Visual PinMame" C:\Util\VPM.reg /y
reg export "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Visual Pinball" C:\util\VP.reg /y

[naeromagus]

Why not just clone the drive. Last time I was fortunate enough to have a backup. All I had to do was plug in the clone I was back up and running in less than 5 minutes. Macrium is what I use free and very straightforward gui.

[Thalamus]

Of course a clone is great too. Backup is backup. But, lets say you want to go from Win7 to Win10 - well, then you still kind of need to extract the same registry hive from the old install in order to transfer ALL the settings from the old install to the new. Taking care of the registry in this way - you are clean, in that you can install any computer from bottom up fixing things that maybe you where not aware was a problem in the cloned copy at the time you took the clone. Windows has a tendency to give you bluescreen if you change too much hardware. So, lets say you decide to buy a new base computer, the clone might end up as a dud, not booting. A simple registry export and a simple copy of the folders where VP is installed will never fail. That is why I recommend this over a clone.

[goofything]

@Thalamus   -  Just found this and wanted to give a big thank you. This was extremely helpful!!!

[ItchyRobot]

You are probably best off making a "backup.cmd" - putting the shortcut on the desktop or somewhere convenient - containing something like this. This I stole from Rob. Just change c:\util to you're d:\backup or where ever on your external drive.

 

reg export "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Freeware\Visual PinMame" C:\Util\VPM.reg /y
reg export "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Visual Pinball" C:\util\VP.reg /y

@Thalamus ...  can you further explain this for a non-tech guy. I mean, I am pretty good with computers, but I have no idea what you were saying here. Much appreciated

[cv2065]

Thanks for this. I am getting ready to do a full backup and never would have thought of this!

[wiesshund]

To be honest, i personally recommend for backing up a pincab

buy a spare HDD, mechanical is just fine
and NEVER EVER leave it installed in the Cab

 

Now Clone your running HDD (The one the cab is running from)

 

If your cab dies, you clone the backup HDD back the the cabs HDD
reboot the cab
and DONE

 

nothing to reinstall etc.

 

Many options available to do the cloning
and most of them are bootable from a flash drive

[DBrown67]

I'm about to do a full cab backup in the next day or so. I've already done one but I've changed and installed that much since it needs updating. I'm going to do a clone and what Thalamus suggested. Belt and braces... get both done. The clone should only really be needed in a full HD fail.

 

Are they the only two paths in the registry where VPin stuff is saved? What about DOF, frontends, or any other pinball related stuff? Is it enough just to save their file structures?

[stressed]

I also don't do full drive backups, and only know these both registry paths.

Here is a Powershell script I have in task scheduler triggered whenever I start the cab. It stores pinmame and visual pinball registry rolling over 10 files to an archive folder. 

$backupFolder = "C:\Archiv\Registry\"
$regKey1 = "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Freeware\Visual PinMame"
$regKey2 = "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Visual Pinball"
$maxNrOfBackupFiles = 10

$counterFile = $backupFolder+"counter"
$counter = 0

if (test-path $counterFile)
{	
	[int32]::TryParse($(get-content $counterFile), [ref]$counter) | out-null
}
$counter = $counter + 1
if ($counter -gt $maxNrOfBackupFiles) 
{
	$counter = 1
}

set-content $counterFile $counter

$backupFile1 = $backupFolder+"registry_pinmame."+$counter+".reg"
$backupFile2 = $backupFolder+"registry_vpinball."+$counter+".reg"
reg export $regKey1 $backupFile1 /y
reg export $regKey2 $backupFile2 /y

In task scheduler there is an action on every login. program: powershell; argument: -file C:\Archiv\Registry\registry_backup.ps1; working directory: C:\Archiv\Registry\

 

So there is always the last 10 states of registry in the archive.

The real backup is done with FreeFileSync to a nas. I Sync the folders C:\Archiv; C:\Visual Pinball; C:\PinVol; C:\PinUPSystem; C:\PinAffinity64-2020-02-22; 

 

Paranoid, yes, but from time to time I additionally sync to an usb drive.

 

If anyone knows some other stuff what should be in an backup please post here.

[wiesshund]

 

 

If anyone knows some other stuff what should be in an backup please post here.

visual pinball\vpinmame\dmddevice.ini

visual pinball\vpinmame\nvram\*.*

visual pinball\vpinmame\cfg\*.*

visual pinball\tables\screenres.txt

visual pinball\tables\B2StableSettings.xml

 

if you are looking for a quick restoration of settings after say a scrub and reinstall etc

Edited by wiesshund, 08 May 2021 - 08:21 PM.

[lukpcn]

You are probably best off making a "backup.cmd" - putting the shortcut on the desktop or somewhere convenient - containing something like this. This I stole from Rob. Just change c:\util to you're d:\backup or where ever on your external drive.

 

reg export "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Freeware\Visual PinMame" C:\Util\VPM.reg /y
reg export "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Visual Pinball" C:\util\VP.reg /y

@Thalamus, after having those reg files, in order to put them into the registry You just double click on them and it's done ?

[Thalamus]

Yes. But, let's play with a scenario. The export I'm talking about does only export those values at the time you ran that command. Let's say something got added to those registry hives since. Those values will still be there and the same. IF those values are creating you a problem (very unlikely - but, it is possible) - you should delete both registry hives before restoring (double clicking and answering yet). Only then are you truly back to the settings from the backup.

 

Oh, yeah - I should have added - it is important that you install VP to the exact same file path as before. These files contains a "database" of settings and values that the application used. IF the application - lets say vpx doesn't find it - it will create new ones, but, that MIGHT be not what you want. Good example, all highscores, dmd locations and settings for the roms are gone for pinmame, and the editor in vp comes up with default settings; not your preferred ones.

Edited by Thalamus, 03 February 2022 - 11:07 PM.

[Neil82591]

I certainly love stressed approach for sure as you always have a constant backup of your registry on each startup of the machine or in task scheduler. But what about other registry keys like for Dof Doflinx, Future Pinball, BAM, FX3 ect Are there truly more registry keys needed to backup?
For that matter I would expect you can do the same thing for the C:/vpinball directory and the Dof directory which isnt under vpinball right?

[Tiki]

There is a little Helper I use beside a backup on externals. Its called Gamesave Manager and normally it is used to save gamesaves of common games. The interesting thing is, that I can set my own Save Entrys,
Save a common path
Save a special filetype
Save registry entrys.

I made my own Entry which saves all the *ini, *.cfg and all the files controling something plus the reg entrys, just 4MB at the end. So I make my backup of the most important files twice a week. I can use a whole backup file for rescue or parts of it.

https://www.gamesave-manager.com/

Edited by Tiki, 21 April 2022 - 06:46 PM.