XP Backup - Doesn't Fully Restore

[Jane White]

I have created two full backup files of all my documents
and settings, following the installation of a new larger
hard drive, which I have configured as Master. All my
old hard drive content is on the Slave hard drive now,
and I have now tried to restore the backup files, but
although the restoration is apparently complete, no files
have been restored. Unfortunately I deleted most of my
files from the new hard drive by accident - and yes, I
emptied the Recycle Bin - but thought that as I had two
backup copies, plus the originals on the (now) slave
drive, I would be able to restore them. However, the
Backup Restore is not giving me back my files, and the
original files on the original disc are coming back
as 'Not Available'. How can I restore or access anything
urgently? Please help before I panic! Thanks very much.

 

[Roger Abell [MVP]]

Jane,

Are you using ntbackup that comes with XP or another
backup product ?
If ntbackup, there is an option within the settings when
you restore to control whether the restore is to the original
location or a different one. You have used this appropriately?

Let us get the situation clear. New disk, old as slave.
As far as you know, the old is all still there intact by you
are not allowed to access it ? If so, this may only be a
permissions issue.

However, rather than adjusting the permissions, you might
also be able to still boot the old system (there may be drive
letter issues for the partition) if you add a line like

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Old Sys" /fastdetect

into your c:\boot.ini file and then selecting Old Sys at the
prompt during boot. If it fails miserably it is likely a drive letter
problem, and even if it does boot, it may still be mixed up as to
what is the boot partition (i.e. Old may be at D: but as the new is
at C: the boot of the Old that believes it should be C: still works
because it can find minimal essentials on C So check as soon
as boot as running long in this mixed up scenario can be unhealthy.

I only mention that in case your backup file itself is what is
incomplete.