There are so many users who back up their data using the NTBackup Tool in Windows XP, then clean install/upgrade to Windows 7 or Windows Vista and later realize that Windows 7/Vista do not include the NTBackup Tool to restore data from the .BKF archive. If you have critical data contained in a NTBackup file (.BKF) and want to restore it in Windows 7, then this article is for you.
Method 1 (Recommended): Microsoft has now released the Windows NT Backup Restore Utility for Windows 7 to restore data from .BKF archive. See article How to Restore .BKF Files Using Windows NT Backup Restore Utility for Windows 7 for a walkthrough.
Method 2: Using Windows XP’s NTBackup Tool to restore data
Windows XP’s NTBackup executable runs just fine in Windows Vista and Windows 7, provided that the supporting DLLs (given below) are available in the same folder where NTBackup.exe is present. The two DLL files are:
- ntmsapi.dll
- vssapi.dll
If you run NTBackup.exe without these two modules, these errors would pop-up.
After searching the web, I came across the NTBackup files which were packaged within a .cab file meant for use as Bart PE Plugin.
Restoring a .BKF File Using NTBackup
1. Download nt5backup.cab from Plugins by STSanford.
2. Extract the files inside the cabinet file to a folder of your choice.
3. Run the file NTBackup.exe from the folder.
4. NTBackup will indicate that Removable Storage service (removed in Windows Vista & Windows 7). Never mind! This is only required for tape backups. Click OK.
5. In the Welcome to Backup or Restore Wizard page, click Next
6. Select Restore files and settings, and click Next
7. Click Browse. Locate the .BKF file that you want to restore, and click OK.
8. Expand the catalog, select the files/folders you want to restore, and click Next.
9. Click the Advanced button
10. Select Alternate location from the dropdown, and mention the destination path.
Configure the restore options accordingly.
Click Next, and then click Finish.
Whew! You’ve now restored the contents of NTBackup .BKF file in Windows 7.
This procedure should work in Windows Vista, as well.
Related Posts
- How to Restore .BKF Files Using Windows NT Backup Restore Utility for Windows 7
- Windows NT Backup Restore Utility for Windows 7 Is Now Available
- How to Schedule a System State Backup in Windows XP Using NTBackup
- How to Update the Repair Folder in Windows XP Using NTBackup
- Restore Previous Versions of Registry Hives From System Restore Snapshots in Windows 7/Vista
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That was very useful for me thanks a lot and more!!!!
Awesome – this is the best – why does MS make it so hard? :-(
Fantaistic – works a treat and I was just starting to worry that I had lost my backup. Thanks again
Much better than all those useless reg fix tools that tell you that you have 100′s of reg errors. I am still in the process of loaing a brand new laptop, with only data and yet I had 577 errors !!
You have saved me from a world of pain! Thank you, thank you for being altruistic enough to post this solution – I was one of the many who thought my XP backup would just work, but for course…
If you’re reading this to see if it’s the right solution – it works!
Many thanks, Andy
You, you rock. Worked perfectly on an 8 year old backup! Thanks a lot.
thank you. you save me a lot of time, it’ will take a while to restore it but works.
gracias again
Thanks so much for your workaround. It worked for me, ending several daze of angst! Walt
thank you from the bottom of my bruised brain…fabulous
Thanks plenty man – you saved me hours – Howcome MS cannot do this – I wonder
Thank you. Like so many people, I backed up my files before upgrading as per instructed only to find I couldn’t access my backed up files.