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31.08.2014 Technology

How to Restore .BKF Files Using NTBackup in Windows 7 & Windows Vista?

By Raj Malhotra
How to Restore .BKF Files Using NTBackup in Windows 7  Windows Vista?
31.08.2014 LISTEN

Backup creation is an important strategy to make the data files safe from any mishap. But choosing right technique is very much important for backup creation. Many users opt for Windows XP NTBackup utility and create backup with it as BKF file. But unfortunately advance versions like Windows Vista, Windows 7/8, etc. do not have this ntbackup.exe application and thus creation or even restoration is not possible. But there is some work-around which can be done for this.

In case you have a Windows XP backup file and you want to restore it in Windows 7 or Windows Vista or even Windows 8. Then you are at right place as this article will guide you how to restore .bkf files using

NTBackup in Windows 7 & Windows Vista. In fact it is also possible to create the backup file in advance versions Windows 7/8 and Vista. Article will also focus on how to create the backup file in these advance versions. Both restoration and backup creation will require following setup;

Setup Required:
- Download nt5backup.cab from internet which is also available here;

http://www.stsanford.com/pebuilder/
- Extract the files from the Zip folder. You can extract these files in desired folder separately.

- You will get three files here;
• Ntbackup.exe
• Ntmsapi.dll
• Vssapi.dll
Note:
- Executable file is enough to run the application but the associated .dll files are also necessary and must be stored in same folder where .exe file is saved.

- You can also fetch these files from a Windows XP system from path C:\Windows\System32

- Setup applies for both creation and restoration of BKF file in advance versions.

How to Create Backup In Windows 7/8/Vista?
Method:
- Double click the ntbackup.exe file which you extracted from download .cab files.

- A message will pop-up showing “Removable Storage Not Running” (as it is removed in advance versions), click OK ignoring this message.

- This will follow up with opening of “Welcome to Backup or Restore Wizard” page. Click Next.

- Here you will see two options, choose “Backup Files and Settings” and click Next.

- Now you get four options choose the relevant one as per your need. In case you want to create backup of particular data then choose 4th option “Let me choose” and click Next.

- Here in the right pane you will be able to see tree like structure from which you can choose the particular data/folder/drive which you want to backup. Once selected click Next.

- Now provide the location to save your backup by clicking Browse. Also provide a name for backup and then click Next, then click Finish.

- Soon a name.bkf file will be saved in the location provided which can be restored when needed.

How to Restore Backup In Windows 7/8/Vista?
Method:
- Go to ntbackup.exe file and double-click it, ignore the message pop-up by clicking OK.

- Another welcome wizard will open up, click Next on it.

- Here choose second option “Restore Files and Settings” as you need to restore the backup file and click Next.

- Here click on Browse and provide the location of the .bkf file, then click OK. BKF file must be located on the same system where the backup has to be made.

- Once file is loaded, you can also check the content inside it by expanding the file. Select the checkbox of folder/file/drive you want to restore and click Next.

- Go to Advanced option and here you can provide an alternate location to let the backup file restored and select Next. (By default the backup will be restored to original location)

- After selecting the suitable advance restore options as per you choice click Finish.

Conclusion:
In this way you can;
- Create backup (BKF) file in Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows 8.

- Restore already created .bkf file in advance Windows OS.

The work-around mentioned above however has some limitations. All the features provided by the NTBackup application in Windows XP will not be available here and it is not recommended to run programs which do not belong to the native OS. Moreover the procedure mentioned above can be complicated for novice user and in that situation you can take help of a third party solution like SysTools BKF Recovery which deals with the restoration of backup file.

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