Backup not restoring

[rumpledstiltscin]

I am running Vista business on a Toshiba Laptop and backed my files with
'Backup status and configuration' The files backed up to an External Maxtor
One Touch Mini 3 in the following files on the External drive;
E:\WindowsImageBackup\MiaNoi\Backup 2007-12-12 060436 (also a floder
'Catalog' and a file 'MediaId' in here too) but I can not restore these files.
I tried another backup after re-installing windows (as a test) and this
seems to work, but this is of no use as all my files are on the original
backup.
I have tried every way possible.
Can anyone help.?

 

[Christine [MSFT]]

Hi there,

Looking at the location of your first backup, you've done a Complete PC
(image) backup, is that right (i.e. Did you choose the "Back up Computer"
option)? An image backup is meant for disaster recovery in case your computer
runs into problem, and not intended for restoring individual files. To
protect personal files, choose the "back up files" option instead, which
would give you option to protect certain categories of files.

However, with that said, since the Complete PC backup is stored as a vhd
format, it's possible to mount it as a volume to extract the files you need.
Look here for more details:
http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/06/19/using-vhdmount-with-virtual-pc.aspx

Thanks,

 

[Twayne]

Hi there,

Looking at the location of your first backup, you've done a Complete
PC (image) backup, is that right (i.e. Did you choose the "Back up
Computer" option)?

An image backup is meant for disaster recovery in

case your computer runs into problem, and not intended for restoring
individual files.

An image can be any sort of backup from Full to Incremental and in
between, and individual file, folder (directory) or entire drives or the
entire computer can be backed up AND restored from Images. If this
isn't the case, then Vista is misusing the word and/or the application
in discussion is woefully inadequate.
So, if you meant "native image backup using Vista's software", that
could be anything. But that's not what you said.


To protect personal files, choose the "back up

files" option instead, which would give you option to protect certain
categories of files.

?? Protecting a file is not the same as backing it up.

However, with that said, since the Complete PC backup is stored as a
vhd format, it's possible to mount it as a volume to extract the
files you need. Look here for more details:
http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/06/19/using-vhdmount-with-virtual-pc.aspx

Why not instead recommend the horse's orfice so the wording and info are
accurate and not rechewed by someone else?

Thanks,

--
Twayne

Tired of MS Office and their shananigans?
Try this free replacement:
http://www.openoffice.org

 

[rumpledstiltscin]

Hi Christine,

Thanks for your reply.
On reflection after I had posted the descussion I realised/remembered that
it was a complete PC backup. I have looked at the website you suggested and
downloaded VHD Mount, but the problem is (excuse my ignorance) that I don't
know how to use it. This backup is everything I have collected for something
like 15 years, so I can't loose it.
I forgot to mention that the external drive is a USB, (and the backup file/s
are too large to fit on a DVD) so I'm pretty sure I can't use it to do a
system restore.

Thanks for any help,

Regards,

Neil McKenzie

 

[Christine [MSFT]]

Hi Neil,

Send me an email to christine.fok at microsoft.com and let me know which
part you got stuck.
I can walk you through doing the vhdmount.

Thanks,

 

[rumpledstiltscin]

Hi Christine,

Thanks. I have sent you an email. If you don't recieve anything let me know
here.

Thanks again,

Neil