Restore Wizard Doesn't Recognize Backup Set?

[NM]

Before sending off a Vista Home Premium for warranty repair, I did a Vista
backup of all the user files. I don't really remember the settings I uses,
except that it included all the user data, photos, docs, etc. I think I
excluded music files or the specific music directory. So I've got a 4GB
backup set in a network folder.

Now its been factory reimaged and so doesn't have any data on it. I copied
the backup folder to the desktop from the network location.

Now I need to run the restore, but the restore wizard won't let me select
the backup set. If I try to point it to the local desktop copy it won't let
me select and continue the wizard. If I point it to the network location
(an NTFS volume with Full Control granted to Everyone) it returns a
permissions error.

What am I missing?

Frankly I'm surprised that it is this difficult to restore...I've been
hearing raves and reading Technet magazine articles about the improved
backup and recovery of Vista...clearly I need to learn more so I hope
someone can point me to an article or procedure. I've searched the groups
and MS site but really all I have found is the basic steps...start the
wizard...etc. I assume there's a command line so I'll explore that unless
someone has a better idea...

Could it be a permissions issue? The user name and hostname are probably
different than before. Hell, I can't even really remember what they were
before...do I need to take ownership under the current account name? yech.

MW

 

[Guest]

Can you open what you have copied to your desktop?
If you can, just copy and paste into your account documents from the desktop.

 

[NM]

Thanks for the tip, but keep in mind there are (at least) dozens of zip
files with many dozens of directories inside each zip. I'm pretty sure the
restore process is going to be easier once I figure it out.

Any other ideas?