Step 1 - Launching NTBackup and Running the Restore Wizard

You can launch Windows Backup from the File->Options window in Enhanced Windows Backup or you can launch it directly from the Windows start button as shown in Fig 1.

Figure 1

If its the first time you have run NTBackup, it will come up in "wizard" mode as shown in Fig 2.

Figure 2

We recommend that you use wizard mode to perform RESTORE functions as it presents a nice simple approach and still provides all the options you need.

If NTBackup doesn't start in wizard mode, you can launch the wizard from the Tools menu as shown in Fig 3.

Figure 3

If necessary, select the restore wizard at the second step of the main wizard as shown in Fig 4.

Figure 4

Step 2 - Locating the catalog for the backup you wish to restore from

Now you must decide what you want to restore and from which backup file. The next dialog, as shown in Fig 5, can be complicated to understand. Assuming that you created the backup from the current computer, the backup will already be shown in the left hand panel. To show the backups that you have performed on this computer, double-click the "File" icon . The list is shown in alphabetical order. EWB backup files are called by their Job Name followed by an index number and the date/time in reverse format :-
    i.e.
         JOBNAME_0000INDEX_YEARMONTHDATE-HHMMSS.bkf
    e.g.
         MY WORK_00000002_20061224-152204.bkf
    meaning
         Job: MY WORK
         Index: 2
         Date: 24 December 2006
         Time: 3:22pm and 04 Seconds
NTBackup shows this filename followed by the date the backup was created.

If you are using the "automatic deletion" capabilities of EWB, it is possible that EWB may have deleted the backup files corresponding to some of the entries shown in this list. It is best to use Windows Explorer to separately verify that the backup file still exists for the backup you wish to use.

Figure 5

If you have successfully located the backup file you need in the left hand pane, go to step 4.

Step 3 - Retrieving a catalog from a the backup file (not always necessary)

If you wish to restore files to this computer that were backed up on a different computer, then you will need to perform this step.

In this step, NTBackup recovers the catalog from a backup file. Once complete, the catalog will appear alongside the other catalogs in the left hand pane at Step 1.

Figure 6

Make sure that the disk or CD/DVD that contains your backup file is available and then click Tools->Catalog a backup file. The box shown in Fig 7 will appear.

Figure 7

Click the browse button and navigate to the backup file (.BKF) you wish to restore from. Then click OK. NTBackup will open the file and add it to the list.

Step 4 - Selecting the files and folders you wish to restore

Once you have identified the backup catalog for the backup file you wish to restore from and made sure that you have the corresponding backup file, you need to select the files and folders you wish to restore. This is done from the window shown in Fig 5.

Double click the catalog name in the left hand pane. Beware that the sub-ordinate folders only appear when you double click a folder for the first time in the left hand pane. Double click down the tree until you find the folder you want to restore (or the folder containing the files you want to restore).

To select an entire folder and its sub-folders, tick the folder in the left hand pane. If you wish to exclude certain sub-folders and/or files, you can untick them from the left or right hand pane.

To select a file (or files), tick them individually in the right hand pane.

Once you have selected all the files and folders you wish to restore,  click NEXT->

Figure 8

This completes the basic steps required to prepare a restore. As you will see in Fig 8, the wizard asks you confirm your actions before proceeding. Please pay particular attention to the "Restore to:" and "Existing Files:" settings. Generally this will default to restoring files to their original locations but will not overwrite existing files if they exist there. If this is acceptable then you can click the FINISH button to start restoring. Jump to step 8.

If you wish to change these "Restore to" or "Existing Files" settings, or change other advanced options, you need to click the "Advanced" button, then read Step 5.

Step 5 - Advanced Restore Settings

The first advanced option, as shown in Fig 9, allows you to choose whether to backup to the original location, a different location or to a single folder i.e. ignore the folders known in the backup catalog and put all selected files in one place.

Figure 9
 

If you choose either "Alternate location" or "Single folder" then a separate box appears, together with a browse button to allow you to select the location. See fig 10.

Figure 10

Once you have selected the location, click the Next-> button.

You are now asked to decide what happens if files that are to be restored would overwrite an existing files. Make your choice appropriately as per Fig 11, then click Next->.

Figure 11

Next you are asked to decide about 3 things :-

• Restore Security Settings - tick this to restore access permissions, audit settings and ownership information. This is only relevant if you are restoring to an NTFS disk partition and if the users/groups on this system match the original system
• Restore Junction Points - this is a very advanced setting and should only be used by experts. In general this should NOT be ticked.
• Preserve existing volume mount points - this is an advanced setting and should only be changed by experts. In general this option shouldl be TICKED (default).

Figure 12

Once you have decided, press the Next-> button.

This completes the advanced options and you will again return to the Finish step of the wizard (see Fig 8).

Click the Finish button to proceed with the restore.

Step 6 - Restore Dialog

The restore operation now commences and performs a number of operations, as per Fig 13, prior to commencing restoring files.

Figure 13

During or before the restore operation, you may be asked to confirm the location of the backup file. This is the location where the backup output file was stored when you originally performed the backup. See Fig 14. The appearance of this box does not necessarily suggest that there is a problem. Very often it merely requires a click on the Ok button without needing to change the file location.

Figure 14

The restore job now restores the files and folders you selected. During the restore, you will see a progress dialog like the example shown in Fig 15.

Figure 15

Once complete you will see the final dialog as shown in Fig 16 providing useful information such as the number of files restored, the total size of the files restored and the total time elapsed.

Figure 16

For additional information about restoring, please refer to the NTBackup help file, which can be opened from the Help -> Help Topics menu in NTBackup.