Classic Shell: Forum

My primary drive crashed the other day. I can access the HDD and view the files but am unable to boot it. I am wondering if there is a way to retrieve the Classic Start Menu settings from this HDD. After I installed Classic Shell on the new HDD, I noticed the import settings option. Unfortunately, I did not know this option existed, thus, I do not have a backup of the settings on the old HDD.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

If you did not take an XML backup, only users with advanced knowledge of Windows can recover the settings.

Classic Shell settings are stored in the Registry, most of them at HKCU\Software\IvoSoft\ClassicShell so the file they would be in %userprofile%\NTUSER.DAT. (C:\Users\<username>\NTUSER.DAT). It is a hidden file.

If you know how to use Regedit.exe, open Registry Editor, select HKLM branch and use "Load hive..." command from the File Menu of Regedit to load the NTUSER.DAT file. Give it any name. Once you load it, under it, there will be Software\IvoSoft\ClassicShell subkey. You can export the IvoSoft key to a REG file, then edit the REG file using Notepad to replace all instances with the appropriate current new path i.e. HKCU\Software\IvoSoft\ClassicShell and merge it. Be sure to Unload the hive you loaded earlier.

If this is too advanced then I don't think there is a way to recover the Settings.

_________________
Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

Thank you Gaurav. I have recovered the NTUSER.DAT file; now I need to find a PC that can load it. My current laptop has the "Load hive..." button disabled.

Load hive... will only be enabled if HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_USERS branch is selected.

_________________
Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.