Vista's Backup Utility Failed to Restore Backup

I backed up onto an external hard drive using Vista's Backup and Restore
Center and it worked flawlessly. I then did a systems recovery as directed
by an HP service tech (that is another story) which hopefully would resolve a
non-functioning DVD problem, which it didn't do. Then I attempted (numerous
times) to restore the backed up files have only to meet with failure each
time. I can see the files on the external drive so I know they are there.
When attempting to restore the backed up files I'm only given the option of
restoring from another computer. I can select the drive the backup was done
on, but then receive a message which states "Backup Location Not Available".

My question: What must I do to restore the files to the computer???
--
Jens

Jens - Probably HP was referring to a system restore via HPs recovery
partition or disks - if so Vista's backup was "messed" up.

You do not state if the backup was a "Complete PC backup" or "Files" backup.
File backups are zipped files which can be unzipped by any of the popular
programs such as Winzip.

Complete PC backup is a "vhd" (virtual HD) file. this file can be accessed
by a utilitiy (Windows server/2000 Resouce Kit) available from Microsoft
support site

The utility "mounts" the VHD as a drive (Sorry I do not recall the name of
the utility).




"Jens" <> wrote in message
news:ABE44649-4635-49F4-B27E-...
>I backed up onto an external hard drive using Vista's Backup and Restore
> Center and it worked flawlessly. I then did a systems recovery as
> directed
> by an HP service tech (that is another story) which hopefully would
> resolve a
> non-functioning DVD problem, which it didn't do. Then I attempted
> (numerous
> times) to restore the backed up files have only to meet with failure each
> time. I can see the files on the external drive so I know they are there.
> When attempting to restore the backed up files I'm only given the option
> of
> restoring from another computer. I can select the drive the backup was
> done
> on, but then receive a message which states "Backup Location Not
> Available".
>
> My question: What must I do to restore the files to the computer???
> --
> Jens

Please take a look at this tutorial on Complete PC Backup:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...DB!16507.entry
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"Jens" <> wrote in message
news:ABE44649-4635-49F4-B27E-...
>I backed up onto an external hard drive using Vista's Backup and Restore
> Center and it worked flawlessly. I then did a systems recovery as
> directed
> by an HP service tech (that is another story) which hopefully would
> resolve a
> non-functioning DVD problem, which it didn't do. Then I attempted
> (numerous
> times) to restore the backed up files have only to meet with failure each
> time. I can see the files on the external drive so I know they are there.
> When attempting to restore the backed up files I'm only given the option
> of
> restoring from another computer. I can select the drive the backup was
> done
> on, but then receive a message which states "Backup Location Not
> Available".
>
> My question: What must I do to restore the files to the computer???
> --
> Jens

Hi Jens.

Did you ever manage to resolve this? I have the same problem with my
files backup. Formatted my system drive and it now seems like Windows
backup and Restore can't determine where my backup files are. Hoping you
might have managed to sort this.

Brett


--
BrettP
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

I'm also having this problem. I was having a BSOD error on my computer, and
HP said to try repair, and if that didn't work, then to do a Recovery, which
I did, but I did back up all my information before I did it.

I did both the back up of my information, and also, before I did Recovery,
it suggested doing a backup, and I thought why not, I have plenty of room on
my external drive, and it turned out it did pretty much a total backup.

However, after the computer was recovered to the original state, and I
started reinstalling my programs, when I went to restore the backups of my
information (for example, my Outlook files), if I click on 'restore files',
and pick 'files from an older backup' (I did another backup after the
Recovery, thinking it would just add any new info to the backup I'd made
before-it didn't-made a whole new backup), all it shows is the latest backup,
made after the Recovery.

So then I decided to try clicking on 'Advance Restore'. That brings up the
backup done before the Recovery, but under backup location, it says: 'backup
location is not available'. Yet I can see the back up, and all the files on
my external drive! It's so frustrating!! I'm thinking of trying to see if I
can copy/move folders individually, to restore them... but even if that
works, what a PITA...

And what's really weird... is I just realized that the backup done after the
Recovery, that shows when I just click 'restore files' (5/26/08)... it says
it's on my external drive, yet when I view the folders/files on the external,
I see both of the backups from before the Recovery (5/23/08 & 5/24/08), but
not the one after the Recovery (5/26/08)...

Any suggestions?

I think I figured my problem out... It says the backup location isn't
available, but if I just go ahead and ignore that, and click 'next', I get to
a place where I can choose to restore files or folders, or even to search for
a file (which didn't work to well in my opinion...). When I click either
files or folders, it opens up another window that shows storage areas. What
got me confused, was I thought I was looking at my computer NOW... but it was
the backup, and it was making it easier to find things, by showing them where
they were on my computer BEFORE the Recovery!

So all I had to do was open the 'C Drive', then choose what I wanted to
restore. This process hasn't been easy with this revelation, but at least I
know I can GET to the files... I'm starting with restoring my 'user' file,
and we'll see what else I need as I reinstall my programs...

I think I' having the same problem as the last poster

I'm not able to restore Vista backups, and have run into severa
different problems. First of all, the hardware and software

(1) Acer 5420 w/ Vista Home Premium fully updated
(2) Acer Aspire 4730Z w/ Vista Home Premium fully updated

Machine (1) made the backup sets automatically. Everything was fin
until a week ago Sunday when Vista updates came down the wire an
trashed the Windows partition of machine (1) completely. A complet
reload of Machine was done, and Vista updates were applie
automatically. The backup sets were made to a WD 1TB "Home Edition) US
drive without problem

The problem is that when Vista Restore attempts to read the WD drive
the error message: "There was an unexpected error: The data area passe
to a system call is too small. (0x8007007A
Backup will now close.

So, I tried copying the backup sets to the Aspire 4730Z. Using th
"restore backup set from other computer option", I get all the way t
being able to navigate the backup set with the GUI. Then I got
"The restore did not complete successfully, Restore did not finis
successfully. Error code: The backup file could not be found. Check you
hardware configuration or restore from a different backup. (0x8100001A

Yes, it actually said ...did not finish... twice, once in blue headlin
and once in black text. Duh

Anyway, how is Windows able to screw up so well with something as basi
as doing a restore
that other operating systems don't have such problems with? How can
restore my files without having to unzip them directory-by-director
manually from the backup sets

Thanks, Mincka :-

Cathie Olson;845661 Wrote:
> I think I figured my problem out... It says the backup location isn'
> available, but if I just go ahead and ignore that, and click 'next',
> get t
> a place where I can choose to restore files or folders, or even t
> search fo
> a file (which didn't work to well in my opinion...). When I clic
> eithe
> files or folders, it opens up another window that shows storage areas
> Wha
> got me confused, was I thought I was looking at my computer NOW... bu
> it wa
> the backup, and it was making it easier to find things, by showing the
> wher
> they were on my computer BEFORE the Recovery
>
> So all I had to do was open the 'C Drive', then choose what I wanted t
> restore. This process hasn't been easy with this revelation, but a
> least
> know I can GET to the files... I'm starting with restoring my 'user
> file
> and we'll see what else I need as I reinstall my programs..

--
Minck
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.co