Recovery/backup/restore issue Vista Bugs and Problems Discuss Recovery/backup/restore issue in the Windows Vista forums; Hello, I am new to this forum and hope you can help me please. I'll try to be brief and to the point. Just bought a new computer with ...

[becranfill]

Hello,

I am new to this forum and hope you can help me please. I'll try to be brief and to the point.

Just bought a new computer with Vista. It crashed yesterday and was advised to "start from scratch" and use recovery tool. Just before doing this it asked me if I wanted to backup my data. Of course I did on an external hard drive. Today I have successfully windows and running and it's new again. Now I'm ready to restore my back up files.

When I use the Vista back up file utility, it doesn't "see" the backup files on my external hard drive. When I go into explorer I can see the backup files on my external hard drive. When I click on the application file (it says it is a "restorewiz application"), it throws me into recovery manager and says, "the file restore wizard helps you restore files that you backed up earlier". So far so good. Then it says "insert the last disk. Please insert the latest disk and continue the restore wizard." There is no option to tell it to look on my external hard drive.

What am I missing? All I want to do is to restore these files which I can see on my external hard drive. They are in the folder "MINWINPC" with file extensions of .fpw. Thanks for any help.

Bruce

[Znod]

Welcome, and I am very sorry for your unfortunate circumstances. We will be happy to try to help. I will do some research and see what I can turn up. For now, have you tried restoring your files from both your control panel and from your DVD. As I recall, you also "should be" able to try to restore your files from the DVD too.

[felix8406]

Welcome Becranfill to our forum.

If understand correctly, you made a backup of your computer, before it crashed. You reinstalled Vista and can't get your system to recognize your previous back up.

Had you tried the following:

1. Open the Backup and Restore Center
2. Click Advanced restore, right/lower side
3. Select Advanced restore from the two options
4. Select Files from an older backup made on a different computer and click Next
5. Now select your hard drive from the drop-down menu

[becranfill]

Thank you for your response felix8406,

Yes, I did exactly as you suggested. When I tell to back up from the older backup, it does not show it. Yet, when I go to explorer, I can "see" it in the external hard drive, so I know it's there.

[becranfill]

Znod,

Yes I copied the backup files from the external hard drive onto a DVD. Tried to back it up from this DVD but got the same results.

[crabby]

You may have an ownership issue with the back up files. Try using the method explained here to take ownership and then try to restore again:

Spoolsv.exe on my Vista

Hope it helps

crabby

[felix8406]

If the suggestion by Crabby does not work, try turning on Removable Storage Management.

• Click the Start button, and type Programs and Features in the Search box and press Enter.
• In the left pane, click Turn Windows features on or off.
• Place a check mark in the box next to Removable Storage Management, and then click OK.

Good luck.

[Znod]

Originally Posted by becranfill

Znod,

Yes I copied the backup files from the external hard drive onto a DVD. Tried to back it up from this DVD but got the same results.

I see. I meant did you try restoring from both you Vista DVD and your control panel. Sorry if I was not clear before.

[becranfill]

Thank you all for your suggestions. Unfortunately, I haven't had any luck.

Crabby - when I followed your instructions, it said I didn't have the privilege to changing the ownership. I'm the only user of this computer and the administrator so don't know what is going on there.

felix 8406 - Tried the removable storage management suggestions. Didn't solve the issue.
Also, tried files from an older backup. The files do not show up.

Znod - not sure I follow that. I did not restore from Vista CD as I don't have one (it came preloaded).

I called Microsoft and they would not help me since Vista came preloaded on this HP computer. Called HP and they were useless. On hold once for 1 hour with no response. Other times, no luck with them.

Again, thanks for trying and open to other suggestions.

[Znod]

Oh, I'm sorry I did not realize that you don't have a Vista DVD. Maybe you could borrow one.