Microsoft Backup, Backing Up Windows 98 Step By Step

How To Restore Previously Backed Up Files

The Microsoft Backup utility provides you with the ability to recover one file or the contents of your entire system, presuming of course, that you haven’t taken any shortcuts either in selecting a backup media, testing the integrity of the files after the backup or safeguarding your data backup afterwards.

Restoring a Full Backup

As we mentioned earlier in this segment, hard drive failures and severe system crashes are among the most frustrating problems computer users face. Hard drive (disk media) degradation, power surges, brown-outs and simple human error can cause complete system failures. Even some minor, but persistent, system crashes can be just as vexing to diagnose and troubleshoot, and they too cause data lose.

Regardless of the reason, it is sometimes necessary to completely restore your system, and the Microsoft Backup utility provides a solution for these headaches.

Restoring Previously Backed Up Files to Their Original Locations

To restore files to their original locations, follow these steps:

1. If you are using tape backup media, then insert the tape that contains the backup you want to restore, or access the locations of your previously backed up files if they are on a hard drive or networked drive.
2. Click Start, then Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools, and then click Backup. This will open the “Welcome to Microsoft Backup” menu as well as the Wizard. Now you can select how to do the restore in two ways:
   • When the “Welcome to Microsoft Backup” window pops up, select Restore backed up files, and let the Wizard will walk you through the entire process. Or.. 

   • Just close the Welcome menu and then select the Restore tab from the Backup utility’s main program window, then click the Refresh button. (Click “Show Me” and note the Red Arrows).

     Show Me

3. In the dialog box that appears, select the backup set that you want to restore, then check the box next to the one you want and click OK.
4. In the What to Restore section, select the files you want to restore by checking the appropriate boxes.
5. In the Where to Restore drop-down box, select Original Location.
6. Click the Start button.
7. A window will appear that will update you on the status of the restore procedure. When the process is finished, another dialog box will appear with the message Operation Completed. Click OK to finish.

Restoring Previously Backed Up Files to a New Location

To restore files to a new location follow these steps:

1. If you are using tape backup media, then insert the tape that contains the backup you want to restore, or access the locations of your previously backed up files if they are on a hard drive or networked drive.
2. Select the Restore tab from the Backup utility’s Wizard program window, then click the Refresh button.
3. In the dialog box that appears, select the backup set that you want to restore, then check the box next to the one you want and click OK.
4. In the What to Restore section, select the files you want to restore by checking the appropriate boxes.
5. In the Where to Restore drop-down box, select Alternate Location.
6. The next menu item you see will be the Where to Restore drop-down box. Select the alternate location to which you want to restore your files.
7. Click the Start button.
8. A window will then appear that will provide you with the status of the restore procedure. When the restore process is finished, another dialog box will appear with the message “Operation Completed. Click OK to finish.

How to Change Your Restore Settings and Options

To change the restore options, select the Restore tab from the Microsoft Backup Wizard’s main program window and then select the Options button. In the Restore Options dialog box, the General tab defines the options Microsoft Backup will use when restoring files. As an example, these options resolve such issues as what to do if the files being restored have the same names as files that already exist at the restore location.

If you plan on restoring your Registry from your backups, make sure that you have the Restore Windows Registry box selected on the Advanced tab of the Restore Options dialog box.

In our final segment of Backing Up Windows 98 with Microsoft’s Backup utility, we will show you how to recover from a major crash and restore everything, including the Windows Registry. The key issues in using Microsoft’s Backup utility is strategy and consistency. Plan you backups and follow the procedures we have outlined. Choose carefully the backup media you decide to use so that it fits your strategy. And most important, be thorough and consistent in performing your backups.

Now lets make sure that your system operates as it should! Using System Recovery to ensure a successful restoration.

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This page updated: 8/15/2000