Restoring XP backups in Vista

Here's how to download, install, and use the Windows NT Backup - Restore utility to restore an XP backup in Vista.

{mos_ri:windows,vista,xp} 

While Windows Vista provides you with the Windows Easy

Transfer tool for moving your data files from your old Windows XP computer to

your new Windows Vista computer, there is another route to take -- restoring

from a backup. However, Windows Vista's Backup and Restore tools are completely

different from the Backup program that came with Windows XP and so the backup

files are incompatible. What do you do if you need/want to restore a Windows XP

backup in Windows Vista?

{mosgoogle right}Fortunately, Microsoft took this scenario into account and

provided a supplemental utility called the Windows NT Backup - Restore Utility

that you can download and install in Vista. You can then use it to restore a

backup made in Windows XP from within Windows Vista.

In this edition of the Windows Vista Report, I'll show you

how to download, install, and use this supplemental utility to restore an XP

backup in Vista. As I do, I'll pass along some tips and tricks that will help

you get the most out of this type of restore operation.

Getting the supplemental utility

You can download the Windows NT Backup - Restore Utility

from the Microsoft Download Center.

When you access the site, simply type Windows NT Backup in the Search box at

the top of the page and click the Go button. Once you locate the Windows NT

Backup - Restore Utility page, as shown in Figure A, just click the Continue

button to begin the Windows validation procedure and confirm that you are

running a genuine version of Windows Vista.

Figure A

By searching for Windows NT Backup on the main Download Center page, you’ll find the Windows NT Backup - Restore utility.

 

Once the validation is complete, you can download the

appropriate version of the utility -- either 32-bit or 64-bit. Make sure that

you click the Save button and not the Install button in the File Download

dialog box since you must complete some prep work before you can actually install

the utility.

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The prep work

{mosgoogle left}Before you actually install and run the Windows NT Backup -

Restore Utility, you must enable the Removable Storage Management feature. (If

you don’t, you may receive an NTSMAPI.DLL error.) To do so, access the Control

Panel from the Start menu and click the Programs item. Once the Programs window

appears, locate and select the Turn Windows Features

On or Off command under the Programs and Features heading, as shown in Figure

B. When you do, you'll encounter a User Account Control (UAC) dialog box and

will need to respond accordingly.

Figure B

You’ll find the Turn Windows Features On or Off command under the Programs and Features heading.

When you see the Windows Features dialog box, locate and

select the check box next to Removable Storage Management option to turn the

feature on, as shown in Figure C. Then, click OK. When you do, you’ll see a

progress dialog box and it may take a minute or two to turn on the Removable

Storage Management feature.

Figure C

In Windows Vista you can turn many Windows features, such as Removable Storage Management on and off without having to install or uninstall them.

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Installing the Windows NT Backup - Restore Utility

{mosgoogle left}Once you’ve enabled the Removable Storage Management

feature, you can install the utility. First, locate the MSI file you downloaded

and double-click it. Once the Windows NT Backup - Restore Utility Setup Wizard

appears, as shown in Figure D, just follow the steps the wizard presents. Along

the way, you'll encounter a UAC dialog box and will need to respond

accordingly.

Figure D

The Setup Wizard will walk you through the installation procedure.

Restoring a backup

Once the Windows NT Backup - Restore Utility is installed,

you can launch it from the Start menu. Oddly enough, Vista doesn’t recognize

the utility at all and displays a UAC that calls it an unidentified program. To

continue, just click the Allow button.

You’ll then see the main Windows NT Backup - Restore

Utility, as shown in Figure E. As you can see, this window contains two tabs

allowing you to either use the Restore Wizard on the Welcome tab or to perform

a manual restore operation on the Restore and Manage Media tab.

Figure E

The Windows NT Backup - Restore Utility window provides you with two ways to launch a restore operation.

In this case, I prefer to use the manual method; however,

the Restore Wizard will work fine should you prefer that route. Once you select

the Restore and Manage Media tab, you’ll use the Catalog a Backup File command

on the Tools menu to locate and open the backup file. You’ll then use the

Restore Files To control at the bottom of the window

to select where you want to restore the files. Once you’ve configure the

restore operation, as shown in Figure F, click the Start Restore button.

Figure F

You can use the features on the Restore and Manage Media tab to manually configure the restore operation.

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{mosgoogle right}The utility will then prompt you to set the Advanced options. Clicking the Advanced button displays the Advanced

Restore Options dialog box, as shown in Figure G. In order to have full access

in Windows Vista to the files that you are restoring from Windows XP, make sure

that you clear the Restore Security check box. If you don’t, you’ll have to

manually take ownership of all the files once you restore them in Vista!

Figure G

You’ll be prompted to set Advanced Restore options, before the restore operation commences.

After you click OK to set Advanced

options and click OK to confirm the restore operation, you’ll see the Restore

Progress dialog box, as shown in Figure H.

Figure H

The Restore Progress will keep you apprised of the restore operation.

 

To complete the operation, you can close the Restore

Progress dialog box and the Windows NT Backup - Restore Utility window. Once

you complete the restore operation, you can then access the files from your

Windows XP backup in Windows Vista.

{tipsource}TechRepublice{/tipsource}