Having trouble restoring after backup in XP

Jivesinger

I'm a bit late to this thread, but just in case you're still having problems here are my thoughts:

• Windows XP Home edition does indeed not include the Backup utility by default so I assume you added it using something like this process?: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308422
  
  
• If you use the simple wizard in Backup, the default options are
  
  1. My Documents and Settings
  2. Everyone's Documents and Settings
  3. All information on the Computer
  4. Let me choose.
  I'll assume you picked one of the first two of these?
  
  
• If you reformatted the C: drive and reinstalled Windows XP Pro (which does have Backup so I assume this is what you did), then I'm wondering if you/ Windows used a different same User name to your original XP Home setup?
  
  If so, this might explain why you can't see anything; you perhaps did restore it, but it's gone into the Documents and Settings folder which is labelled for a different user, and you can't see them? If so, then when you reran the restore for which you posted the log at 08:52 on 28/8, it wouldn't change any files because they were already there.
  
  
• Start by enabling the options to show Hidden files, as it will help us to see what's going on. In Windows Explorer, select Tools | Folder Options. Then select the View tab, and select the option to Show Hidden Files and Folders (if it isn't already). You may wish to change it back later but personally I leave it that way all the time.
  
  
• Have a look in the "C:\Documents and Settings" folder and see what other folders it contains. If you could post it here that would help.
  
  
• Windows Backup keeps its log files in this folder
  C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data
  
  It would also be good if you could look here at the oldest backup log (probably backup01.log) and post this back, as it would be useful to know how many bytes it restored the first time you tried it.
  
  
• As others have mentioned, you can restore the backup to another location. Assuming the .BKF files are not corrupt, this is what I'd suggest, as follows:
  
  
• First create a new folder to hold your new Restore - perhaps C:\Restore31Aug13
  
  
• Start up the Backup utility, select the option to Restore Files and Settings, and then hit Next
  
  
• In the 'What to restore' dialog box, select everything in your bkf file (Note at this point you can also see what's in the backup by double-clicking on drives and folders to expand them out). Make sure everything's ticked at the top level and hit Next
  
  
• The next screen says "Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard" but it will probably say "Restore to: Original Locations". We don't want to do that, so hit the "Advanced" button.
  
  
• On the next screen change Original Locations to Alternate Location in the dropdown and enter the Alternate location as the folder you created - eg. C:\Restore31Aug13
  Then hit Next
  
  
• On the next screen it asks you what to do if files already exist. We're using a blank new folder so they won't - stick with the default here and hit Next.
  
  
• On the next screen there's an option to "Restore Security Settings". I suggest you untick this box, because you've rebuilt your operating system and the files could be 'owned' by users who might not t exist any more as far as Windows is concerned. Leave "Restore Junction Points" unticked and leave "Preserve existing volume mount points" ticked. Then hit Next.
  
  
• This then takes you back to the main Backup Wizard, which should now say Alternate Locations rather than Original Location and you can hit Finish.
  
  
• This should restore the files.
  
  
• At the end, click on Report to view the Backup log; it's worth doing a Save As and putting it in a folder that's easy to access. This should have more files restored with any luck.
  
  
• There should now be some new folders under C:\Restore31Aug13 (or whatever you used).
  Have a look in
  C:\Restore31Aug13\Documents and Settings\{Your Old User Name}\My Documents
  to see what's there.
  
  
• There should be other folders under C:\Restore31Aug13\Documents and Settings\{Your Old User Name}
  which you can check too.
  
  
• Your old favourites should (with any luck) be in
  C:\Restore31Aug13\Documents and Settings\{Your Old User Name}\Favourites
  
  
• Also worth checking these folders which may contain some files. However these files may have been put back by your original restore:
  C:\Restore31Aug13\Documents and Settings\All Users
  
  
• Copy files across as necessary into your new folder setup.
  
  
• Finally, one of the things that has caused me pain with the Windows XP backup is that Windows 8 doesn't have anything built-in which can read the Windows XP Backup BKF files back in.
  So if you're considering upgrading from XP before it goes out of support in April 2014, I would consider this or something like it:

  closed wrote: »

  use macrium reflect free in future

Edit: This link is also quite useful for seeing how XP Backup settings work:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb123757(v=exchg.65).aspx

Ader1

Thank you all very much for your help. In fact, I downloaded the software 'System Tools Software Recovery' which NiftyDigits linked to. They couldn't sort it out on Saturday and asked me to be on-line today at 10 am when a more experienced guy would be available. He couldn't sort it out either and has asked be to up-load my backup file to them to he can take a look at it in their environment. They see pretty helpful. We'll see what happens. I'm still in the process of uploading as it happens. Will let you know what happens.

Jivesinger

Did you get a chance to look at the log file from the first time you tried to restore it?:

Me wrote:

Windows Backup keeps its log files in this folder
C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data

It would also be good if you could look here at the oldest backup log (probably backup01.log) and post this back, as it would be useful to know how many bytes it restored the first time you tried it.

Ader1

Jivesinger wrote: »

Did you get a chance to look at the log file from the first time you tried to restore it?:

Those files would have been lost because I did a complete re=install of Windows XP on my drive C: :shocked:. I had copied many documents and videos onto an additional HDD and a removable drive. But my desktop and Favourites I thought I'd be able to retrieve through backup.

Jivesinger

Ader1 wrote: »

Those files would have been lost because I did a complete re=install of Windows XP on my drive C: :shocked:. I had copied many documents and videos onto an additional HDD and a removable drive. But my desktop and Favourites I thought I'd be able to retrieve through backup.

I was thinking about the log from the first time you tried a restore after you'd re-installed Windows XP. It'll be called backup01.log or similar, even though you ran a restore rather than a backup. There might be useful info in there...

NiftyDigits

Ader1 wrote: »

Thank you all very much for your help. In fact, I downloaded the software 'System Tools Software Recovery' which NiftyDigits linked to. They couldn't sort it out on Saturday and asked me to be on-line today at 10 am when a more experienced guy would be available. He couldn't sort it out either and has asked be to up-load my backup file to them to he can take a look at it in their environment. They see pretty helpful. We'll see what happens. I'm still in the process of uploading as it happens. Will let you know what happens.

Who is they? It should be a simple job with the right software. Could you not see the files with the SysTools software?

Ader1

'They'....the people on their 'help desk' at SysTools Software. They even took over my PC via some remote assistance software. The software you linked to was unable to scan the files at all. They're looking into it. I tried to do it and so did they. Hopefully, they'll be able to help.

Ader1

Jivesinger wrote: »

I was thinking about the log from the first time you tried a restore after you'd re-installed Windows XP. It'll be called backup01.log or similar, even though you ran a restore rather than a backup. There might be useful info in there...

Here it is:

Catalog Status

---

Restore Status
Operation: Restore

Backup of "C:", Restored to"C: "
Backup set #1 on media #1
Backup description: "Set created 14/08/2013 at 23:18"

Restore started on 15/08/2013 at 09:04.
Restore completed on 15/08/2013 at 10:43.
Directories: 2437
Files: 6663
Bytes: 4,974,674,287
Time: 1 hour, 38 minutes, and 42 seconds

NiftyDigits

So it's been restored.... Have you looked in the alternate directory as suggested?

Jivesinger

As Nifty says... it's been restored somewhere when you first ran it back on 15 August... we just need to find where it went.

(Or run it again to an alternative directory)

I think the next step is to go into My Computer, look in the "C:\Documents and Settings" folder and see what sub folders it contains?