Shoutbox

Hey,

I just upgraded to windows 7 and forgot to export my messenger plus files. I have access to my old files because I saved an image of my harddrive before I formatted. However, I can't actually run messenger plus without re-writing the image (a long process!)

Is there any way I can grab the setting files manually?

Thanks,

Flaviu

Scripts: "C:\Program Files\Messenger Plus! Live\Scripts"
Skins: "C:\Program Files\Messenger Plus! Live\Skins"
Preferences: A bit more complicated, since this is saved in the registry. Take a look at CookieRevised's reply to location/ source of MP!L settings for instructions.

How will I add the registry information into windows 7? I had no skins or scripts lol..

Also, how do I open up the registry without windows xp actually running?

Yes, as long as you can access individual fines from your backup you should be able to access the registry via the windows 7 registry editor. I'm writing these steps from Win XP, I'm hoping the registry editor hasn't changed much/at all.

Open the windows registry editor (regedit in the search box on start menu)
Before doing anything in the registry, make a backup. Right-click My Computer at the top of the list on the left, and select export. save 'backup.reg' to the desktop or somewhere else convenient.
Navigate to the folder HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Go to File > Load Hive
the file you want to locate is ntuser.dat located in the user folder (XP: X:\documents and settings\user\ ; Vista: X:\users\user\ )
It will ask for a key name next, fill in something random (foobar works well)
Within the loaded hive, navigate to Software\Patchou\Messenger Plus! Live
Right-click this folder, and export it somewhere convenient
Highlight your created key again, and go to File > Unload Hive

Open your saved file for your Plus settings from the registry editor in a text editor, and do NOT double click the file yet to open it, you want to EDIT it first.
Do a search and replace in this file, and replace all instances of "foobar/" with nothing.
Save the file.
NOW you can double-click and merge the file with the registry. This should restore all your Messenger Plus settings back to the way you had it before.


EDIT: just noticed I already wrote nearly the exact same thing in the link from Andrey's post

As I said, CookieRevised's reply to location/ source of MP!L settings has instructions on how to get the registry settings from the backup.
If you followed the instructions closely, opening the .reg files will import them into the registry and get your settings back.
I'm not sure if there will be any problems when you're importing them from a XP/Vista install though. Make sure Plus! is installed before importing the registry settings.

Thanks guys. Sorry I jumped the gun with the questions

If you remember the settings somewhat from before, it is better to simply set them back like you would configure Plus! in the normal way (Plus! > Preferences & Options).
I say this because you said you don't have any scripts or skins.

Extracting the other standard registry options from the backup can be a daunting task and is prone to errors. You also CAN NOT simply import them since many registry settings include path names (which are different from OS to OS), and other settings might depend on other OS stuff...

So, if you don't have scripts or skins you realy shouldn't bother tampering with those registry settings and instead simply configure Plus! again via the normal way, via its configuration panel...

In that way you come across all its options again and learn or be reminded what they do (you would be surprised how many people don't know that some options even exist because they never bothered to look in all the panels).

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PS: In case you had custom sounds, they were (by default) stored in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Messenger Plus!\Custom Sounds...

Simply back up all the files (.DATs) you'll find there and put them again in the current Custom Sounds directory on your new OS.

After that you can run the Sound Library Fixer to add the information of those sounds again to the Plus! Library.

Alright guys, I tried this. However it seems the registry is set up a lil differently in Windows 7. The SOFTWARE folder is not directly under the HKEY_USERS and I think this is why it isn't working. Here's a snapshot of where I'm stuck. Also, there's patchou settings in other folders under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and HKEY_CURRENT_USER ... do I have to grab anything from there?

quote:

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Originally posted by Flyview
The SOFTWARE folder is not directly under the HKEY_USERS

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SOFTWARE has never been under HKEY_USERS! your old install was very screwed up

Really eh? So should I put it where the Patchou folder sits now? Also what about my other question about the Patchou folder in the other Registry parts?