Weekly quickTIP
Vista Restore of NTBackup
Need backups from systems older than Vista? You can go back again.
- By Greg Shields
- 03/12/2007
Vista's updates to the old NTBackup utility include some really neat
new features. You now can back up all files on the system based on content
type or extension. Creating automated backups that kick off on a regular
schedule is much improved -- no more at jobs! Shadow copies, while
available in previous OSes as an add-on, are now native. You can
even create a full, sector-based image of your whole hard drive should
you ever need to restore from a hardware failure.
Where Vista's new backup features come up lacking is in their complete
and utter inability to restore from previous versions of NTBackup. Now
I can see where Vista's developers wanted to bootstrap its
users into this new and robust backup format, but a lot of us have old
NTBackup-style .BKF files out there that we'll someday need to restore.
If you're one of those types and found yourself out of luck with
Vista's native backup, check the Microsoft Web site again, and search for "ntbackup vista." You'll find among the list a download titled, "Windows NT Backup -- Restore Utility." This
tool allows you to restore -- and only restore -- your old .BKF files on a
Vista workstation. It's a neat throwback to the old NTBackup, even
sporting the same interface, but with only the Restore Wizard button now
available.
Tech Help—Just An
E-Mail Away |
|
Got a Windows, Exchange or virtualization question
or need troubleshooting help? Or maybe you want a better
explanation than provided in the manuals? Describe
your dilemma in an e-mail to the MCPmag.com editors
at [email protected];
the best questions get answered in this column and garner
the questioner with a nifty Redmond T-shirt.
When you send your questions, please include your
full first and last name, location, certifications (if
any) with your message. (If you prefer to remain anonymous,
specify this in your message, but submit the requested
information for verification purposes.)
|
|
|
To use the tool, you will need to enable the Removable Storage Management
feature first. Do this by navigating to Programs and Features in the Control
Panel and clicking the link for Turn Windows features on or off. At the
resulting screen tick the box next to Removable Storage Management and
click OK. Now you're back in business if you're in need of the old stuff.
About the Author
Greg Shields is Author Evangelist with PluralSight, and is a globally-recognized expert on systems management, virtualization, and cloud technologies. A multiple-year recipient of the Microsoft MVP, VMware vExpert, and Citrix CTP awards, Greg is a contributing editor for Redmond Magazine and Virtualization Review Magazine, and is a frequent speaker at IT conferences worldwide. Reach him on Twitter at @concentratedgreg.