Backup says successful but nothing in backup file

[Guest]

I know this is long post but wanted to be as thorough as possible.

Running Vista Home Premium and trying to use Mircosoft Vista backup program.

It is a new computer so I am trying to setup the backup program to run on a
set schedule and to first do a complete backup of my files - except for
program files.

I want to backup to an external Maxtor hard drive which on my computer is
designated as the M drive HAROLD-PC is the default file name designated by
the Microsoft Vista Back-Up program as the location of my backup files.

This morning I tried to run a full back-up.

Accessories
Systems Tools
Back Up Status and Configuration
Change Back Up Settings
Save Back up to Maxtor (M) Drive
Designate to save C Drive
Unclick to not save D drive
Click all default files to back up
Create new full back-up

The back up program then ran for about 45 minutes and concluded with notice
back up was successful.

I then clicked on Computer

Left double clicked on M drive

Found HAROLD-PC - which was not there before running back up.

Right clicked on HAROLD-PC

Right clicked on Properties

Window said:

Type File Folder
Location: M;\
Size: 0 bytes
Size on disk: 0 bytes
Contains: 0 files 1 folder
Created Today, May 15, 2007 1 hour ago
Attributes: Read-only
Hidden

Neither attribute had check mark.

I then went back & left clicked on HAROLD-PC
Then right clicked on Backup Set 2007-05-15
Right clicked on Properties and got same Type File Folder as listed just
above that contained same information listed above.

NOW --- note this:

My backup file should be just over 7 gigs. The last backup that was done on
my old computer had just over 7 gigs

Now on the Maxtor (M) before running my backup this morning it had just over
123 gigs of free space. After running the backup this morning it had 116
gigs of free space.

So it would seem to me that somewhere, somehow the backup resides on the
Maxtor drive but the backup files indicates it is empty.

When I go to the Retore function and click on Restore Files the next screen
asks "What do you want to restore?" I click Files from latest backup and the
Next button.

The next screen says Select the files and folders to restore.

No files are listed

So, I don't know what to do. Obviously I want to be certain my files are
backed up and I want to be certain they can be accessed for restore if
necessary.

After running the backup program the M drive indicates it has 7 gigs less
fee space but the default backup location set by the Microsoft Vista programs
list the file but indicates the file is empty - no bytes of data.

Any help on this?

 

[Jill Zoeller [MSFT]]

Have you tried browsing the folder where your backup is stored? I mean,
actually opened it up instead of viewing the properties of the top-level
folder? The backed up files are contained within zip file. They are easily
browsed. Please explore your backup folder (named HAROLD-PC) to see the
files there.

Also, you are only going halfway through the restore process. When you get
to the screen that says "Select the files and folders to restore," no files
are listed yet because you haven't selected any (this is confusing, I
agree). In the space where no files are listed yet, there is text that says
"Click Add Files, Add Folders, or click Search to add files to this list."
So, you have to click to browse for the files you want to restore. This
browse process mimics the file system structure on your computer. So it's as
if you are browsing your computer to select files to restore.


--
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Want to learn more about Windows file and storage technologies? Visit our
team blog at http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/default.aspx.

 

[Lang Murphy]

Also, you are only going halfway through the restore process. When you get
to the screen that says "Select the files and folders to restore," no
files are listed yet because you haven't selected any (this is confusing,
I agree). In the space where no files are listed yet, there is text that
says

<snip>

Jill,

Fully appreciate your involvement in this ng. (For real.) Any plans to make
things less confusing?

Thanks!

Lang

 

[Jill Zoeller [MSFT]]

We're working on making the process less confusing. When I see feedback like
this, I send it to the Backup team to review. They are giving this a lot of
though for upcoming releases. As you might guess, I can't divulge any
details though

 

[Lang Murphy]

Good news. Thanks for the reply.

Lang

We're working on making the process less confusing. When I see feedback
like this, I send it to the Backup team to review. They are giving this a
lot of though for upcoming releases. As you might guess, I can't divulge
any details though

--
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

Want to learn more about Windows file and storage technologies? Visit our
team blog at http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/default.aspx.