April 19, 2014

Readme file for Regshot

-----------------
Introduction:
-----------------
To cut down on the number of changes I do, I have decided to keep
the name Regshot rather than change it to Primo.
Regshot is part of my Program Installation Monitoring system.
This version is based on Regshot 1.9.1 beta from Sourceforge.
You can put the files in to the same folder as the old Primo files
as they have different names. 
See "regshot.txt" for more details.


The system contains several programs:
1 - Regshot-x64-ANSI.exe, the 64-bit version, and 
    Regshot-x86-ANSI.exe, the 32-bit version, used to monitor changes.
2 - chkunin-x86-ANSI.exe and chkunin-x64-ANSI.exe,
    which is used to check for left-over registy entries and
    files/folders if you un-install a system. 
    It produces a .REG file to delete registry entries, 
    a .MODS.REG file to modify changed registry entries,and
    a .BAT file to delete folders and files.
    If certain errors occur, a .ERRORS.TXT file is also produced.
3 - A .VBS file called "Clean_Registry.vbs" that can be used instead
    of running the .REG file with regedit.
    See "Clean Registry.txt".
4 - A .VBS file called "Clean_Disk.vbs" that can be used instead
    of running the .BAT file.
    See "Clean Disk.txt".

Regshot is a small, free, registry and folder/file compare utility that 
allows you to take a snapshot of your system and then compare 
it with a second one, done after doing system changes or installing a 
new software product. The changes report can be produced in TEXT or HTML 
format and contains a list of all modifications that have taken place 
between snapshot 1 and snapshot 2.
To use CHKUNIN to check changes, Regshot's output file must be in English  
and a .TXT file, not an html file.
 
My system is based on Regshot 1.9.1 from Sourceforge.
I have made many changes and tailored it for Windows 7 
and Windows 8.

Regshot monitors the registry and the partitions/drives you specify.

Regshot gives you the ability to ignore up to 99 folders if you want to.
On my 64-bit Windows 8,Regshot takes 1 to 5 minutes to take the images
of the registry and folders I want to monitor.

-----------------
Usage:
-----------------
You can use Regshot a couple of different ways:
1 - Just monitor registry changes
2 - Monitor registry changes and changes to specific folders
3 - Just monitor folders changes

When you take a snapshot of your system and save it, a file called 
"Image1.log" is created in the "Installed" folder, and is deleted when 
you "Quit" Regshot.
If you "X" out of Regshot or reboot, this file is not deleted. 
This file is used to automatically start Regshot after a reboot 
if you use a batch file in the "Startup" folder to check for it. 
See "start_Regshot.bat" for an example.
By doing this, you are reminded to finish the monitoring process for
the program you just installed.

1 - to use CHKUNIN, you must save the logs as Plain TXT and English laguage.
  - set the max ammount of data you want to see.
  - To see ALL files changed, turn off "Don't show files with same old.new size".
  - To just monitor folder/file changes, turn off "Don't process registry, only dirs".
  - To monitor registry entries in HKEY_CURRENT_USER, not HKEY_USERS,
    turn off "Monitor HKCU, not HKU registry".
  - To just monitor registry changes, turn off the 
    Scan dir1[, dir2, etc.] option.
  - Change the "Default Compare extension" if you do not want to use ".TXT".
  - If you do not specify a "Compare filename in Output path:", the default 
    will be used.

2 - To use Regshot:
    (1)CLICK "1st Shot" BUTTON
       It pops up a menu which contains several items:
      (A)"Shot"  to take a snapshot only, and it will not be kept if 
         you exit Regshot program;
      (B)"Shot and save..." to take a snapshot of your registry and 
         save the image to a ".hiv" file that you can keep on your 
         harddisk for future use; 
      (C)"Load..." to load a ".hiv" file previously saved.
    If you want to monitor your file system also,just check the 
    "Scan Dir [dir..]" checkbox and input the folder names below it. 
    Or, click on the 3 dots to browse for a folder to monitor.
    Note: Regshot has the ability to scan multiple folders: just separate 
    them with ";". Regshot will also scan the subfolders of the  
    folders you entered. File information is also saved in the ".hiv" file. 

    (2)INSTALL/RUN SOME PROGRAMS which may change your windows registry,
       or the file system.

    (3)CLICK "2nd Shot" BUTTON and select an option. "Shot" is enough.

    (4)Select your output LOG file type, "TEXT" or "HTML". 
       The default is "TEXT".
       Note that if you want to use CHKUNIN, the log must be "TEXT" format.

    (5)Change the amount of registry data you want to see.
       The default is 256 bytes. If more data is available, the message..
       "Too much data..xx bytes" will be displayed instead.
       If you want to show all registry data, set this to 0.

    (6)Add a file name for the Compare output file. This is also used as 
       a comment in the output file. For example, you could specify 
       "Changes made after winzip started". 
       This will be saved into the "Output path" folder, 
       not into the ".hiv" files.

    (7)CLICK the "Compare" BUTTON.
       To save the output, which you need for CHKUNIN, select "Output and save".
       Regshot will do the compare job now and auto detect which image is 
       newer. When it is finished, Regshot will automatically load the 
       compare LOG as you defined above. The log files are saved in the 
       directory specified in "Output path" .
       The default is your Windows Temp Path. If you don't specify a 
       filename/comment, or if it is invalid, the LOG will be named 
       "~resxxxx.txt" or "~resxxxx.htm", where "xxxx" is 0000-9999.

    (8)If you want to monitor another install, CLICK the "Clear" BUTTON.
       You  can clear one or both snapshots made previously and begin a 
       new job.
       Note:"Clear" does not erase the log files!

    (9)To QUIT Regshot,just click the "Quit" button.

   (10)You can change the language of Regshot at the main window. All words 
       are saved in the file "language.ini". View it for details!

   (11)The file "Regshot.ini" controls what Regshot does. Sections are 
       [Setup], [SkipRegKey], and [SkipDir].
       You can edit this file and change any of the defaults
       or add folders or registry keys you want to skip.
       You can have up to 100 entries.
       Use the "UseLongRegHead" option in Regshot.ini to be compatible with
       undoReg(1.46)
       "UseLongRegHead=1" means using "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" instead of 
       "HKLM". The default=0.
       Do not compare images saved with different "UseLongRegHead" options!

3 - To use Regshot the best way:
    1 - Edit Regshot.ini and set ExtDir=C:\; or whatever drive your
        operating system is on.

    2 - Run Regshot:
    (1)CLICK "1st Shot" BUTTON
       It pops up a menu which contains several items:
      (A)"Shot"  to take a snapshot only, and it will not be kept if 
         you exit Regshot program;
      (B)"Shot and save..." to take a snapshot of your registry and 
         save the Shot to a "hive" file that you can keep on your 
         harddisk for future use; 
      (C)"Load..." to load a "hive" file previous saved.
    If you want to monitor your file system ,just check the 
    "Scan Dir [dir..]" checkbox and input the folder names below it. 
    Note: Regshot has the ability to scan multiple folders; just separate 
    them with ";". Regshot will also scan the subfolders of the 
    folders you entered. The "not_monitored_list.txt" file will also
    determine which folders to monitor.
    File information is also saved in the hive file. 

    (2)INSTALL/RUN SOME PROGRAMS which may change your windows registry,
       or the file system.

    (3)CLICK "2nd Shot" BUTTON

    (4)Select your output LOG file type, "TEXT" or "HTML". 
       The default is "text".
       Note that if you want to use CHKUNIN, the log must be "text" format.

    (5)Change the amount of registry data you want to see.
       The default is 256 bytes. If more data is available, the message..
       "Too much data..xx bytes" will be displayed instead.
       If you want to show all registry data, set this to 0.

    (6)Add a file name for the Compare output file. This is also used as 
       a comment in the output file. For example, you could specify 
       "Changes made after winzip started". This will only be saved in
       the compare log files not in the "hive" files.

    (7)CLICK the "Compare" BUTTON.
       Select "Output and save" to save the output for CHKUNIN.
       Regshot will do the compare job now and auto detect which Shot is 
       newer. When it is finished, Regshot will automatically load the 
       compare LOG as you defined above. The log files are saved  in the 
       directory specified in "Output path" .
       The default is your Windows Temp Path. If you don't specify a 
       filename/comment, or if it is invalid, the LOG will be named 
       "~resxxxx.txt" or "~resxxxx.htm", where "xxxx" is 0000-9999.

    (8)If you want to monitor another install, CLICK the "Clear" BUTTON.
       You  can clear one or both snapshots made previously and begin a
       new job.
       Note:"Clear" does not erase the log files!

    (9)TO QUIT Regshot,just click the "Quit" button.

   (10)You can change the language of Regshot at main window. All words are
       saved in the file "language.ini". View it for details!

   (11)The file "Regshot.ini" controls what Regshot does. Sections are 
       [Setup], [SkipRegKey], and [SkipDir]. 
       You can edit this file and change any of the defaults
       or add folders or registry keys you want to skip.
       You can have up to 100 entries.
       Use the "UseLongRegHead" option in Regshot.ini to be compatible
       with undoReg(1.46)
       "UseLongRegHead=1" means using "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" instead of 
       "HKLM". The default=0.
       Do not compare Shots saved with different "UseLongRegHead" options!

    You now have a file that can be used by Chkunin to make sure all 
    changes made when you installed a program are removed if you 
    subsequently un-install the program.

    The best way to use Chkunin is to create a "Send To" entry for it,
    and then you can right-click on a .TXT file to send it to Chkunin:
    - Right-click on CHKUNIN.EXE and create a shortcut.
    - Move the shortcut to C:\Users\your_userid\SendTo for Vista, or 
      to C:\Documents and Settings\your_userid\SendTo for XP and 
      Windows 2000.
    - Right-click on a .TXT file..eg..
      "Changes made after winzip started.txt" and send it to
      Chkunin, which will produce a .REG file and a .BAT file you can
      use to remove any registry entries or folders/files not deleted
      by the un-install.
    - Note... you may have to run Chkunin several times to get rid of
      all registry entries.
      I have also found that a registry entry will not be deleted if it
      has sub entries or is "accessed denied". You will have to delete
      these entries manually.
      A file will not be deleted if it is in use.

-----------------
Thanks:
-----------------
See "Regshot acknowledgements.txt" 

-----------------
LICENSE:
-----------------
Copyright 2008-2015 by Randy Hall


Regshot is free and is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
GNU General Public License for more details.

-----------------
Contact:
-----------------
bitron@islandnet.com

http://www.islandnet.com/~bitron
