Vista backup

[hdtv?]

I used Vista's built in back up to back up to an external hdd.
Vista restore will not open the backup, reports file not found.

The backup file properties indicates 137GB of data, but I cannot open
it.The backup is a "windowsimage". The backup indicates it's created
with a VHD format (virtual hard drive). I installed virtual server and
that will not open the file.

btw I have read others have had issues with Vista back up and restore.

Suggestions?

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

Please see my article on backing up and restoring your computer using
Windows Vista Complete PC Backup
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E8E5CC039D51E3DB!16507.entry

 

[Michael Palumbo]

I used Vista's built in back up to back up to an external hdd.
Vista restore will not open the backup, reports file not found.

The backup file properties indicates 137GB of data, but I cannot open
it.The backup is a "windowsimage". The backup indicates it's created
with a VHD format (virtual hard drive). I installed virtual server and
that will not open the file.

btw I have read others have had issues with Vista back up and restore.

Suggestions?

I'll assume you used the Complete PC Backup.

This is an image of the total disk in the state it was in at the time of
backup.
This is not intended for individual file restoration, this is only for a
full disk restore.
This is why you can't open the backup using the Restore Files option in
Backup.

Download Microsoft Virtual PC, create a virtual PC, load an OS on the
virtual PC then in the settings for the VPC point the secondary drive to the
VHD created by the backup. Start the VPC again and the drive should be
available as a read-only volume. If you have the 'extras' installed in the
VPC you will be able to copy individual files from the backup to your
'actual' hard drive.

However, since you already have Virtual Server installed, you can install an
OS using that in a new virtual pc and do the same thing . . . you however
can't use the backup image as the sole disk, it doesn't have a boot-strap on
the image, therefore; will not boot in any virtual environment. You can,
however, mount the image as a secondary drive in a VPC.

If you want a backup that you can simply restore files from using Windows
Backup, simply use the Backup Files option instead of the Complete PC Backup
option. You will then be able to open the backup using Restore Files in
Windows Backup.



Mic