How to use Backup to restore files and folders on your computer in Windows XP (309340)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
This article was previously published under Q309340

IN THIS TASK

INTRODUCTION

This step-by-step article describes how to use the Backup program in Microsoft Windows XP to restore files and folders on your computer. The Backup utility in Windows XP helps you protect your data if your hard disk stops working or your files are accidentally erased. With Backup, you can create a copy of all the data on your hard disk, and then archive it on another storage device, such as a hard disk or a tape.

If the original data on your hard disk is accidentally erased, overwritten, or becomes inaccessible because of a hard disk malfunction, you can restore the data from the disk or the archived copy by using the Restore Wizard or the Automated System Recovery Wizard.

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MORE INFORMATION

How to restore files and folders

Note You must have administrative or backup operator credentials on your computer to restore files and folders. Backup operators and administrators can back up and restore encrypted files and folders without decrypting the files or folders.

To restore files and folders, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup. The Backup or Restore Wizard starts.
  2. Click Advanced Mode.
  3. Click the Restore and Manage Media tab.
  4. Use one of the following steps:
    • If you want to restore from a backup file, expand File, and then expand the backup file that you want. For example, expand Backup.bkf created 01/01/2002 at 1:15 PM. By default, backup includes the date and time of the backup as part of the file name.
    • If you want to restore from a tape backup, expand the tape device that you want, and then expand the media name that you want. For example, expand Travan, and then expand Media created 01/01/2002 1:15 PM.
  5. Select the check boxes for the folders that you want to restore. If you want to be more specific in your selections, double-click the folder that you want, and then select the check boxes for the files or folders that you want to restore.
  6. If you are restoring the whole operating system, select the System State check box.

    Note If you want to restore the operating system and your data files, you must restore the System State data. The System State data includes such things as the registry, the COM+ class registration database, files under Windows File Protection, and startup files.

    Important Make sure your current Windows installation has the same service pack level as your operating system backup before you restore a full backup. For example, if you restore a full backup that includes Service Pack 1 (SP1), make sure that SP1 is installed for your current Windows installation.

    For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    328035 STOP error occurs when you restore Backup Windows XP S files

  7. In the Restore files to box, use one of the following methods:
    • Click Original location if you want to restore the files to the location where you backed them up. Use this selection when you restore the whole computer.
    • Click Alternate location if you want to restore a file or files to another location on the hard disk. Type the location that you want in the Alternate location box. Use this selection to prevent the restore operation from overwriting existing files on your computer.
    • Click Single folder if you want to restore a file or files to a single folder on the hard disk. Type the location that you want in the Alternate location box. Use this selection to separate the restored files or folders from the rest of the files on the hard disk.
  8. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  9. Click the method that you want Backup to use when it restores a file that is already on the computer, and then click OK. Backup uses this selection to determine whether to overwrite an existing file only when it restores a file in a folder that contains the existing file.

    Note If you are restoring the operating system, click Always replace the file on my computer.
  10. Click Start Restore.
  11. If you receive the following message, click OK if you want to restore the System State information with the selected backup: Warning

    Restoring System State will always overwrite current System State unless restoring to an alternative location.
  12. In the Confirm Restore prompt, click OK. A Restore Progress dialog box appears, and the restore operation starts.
  13. When the restore operation is completed, click Close. If you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.
To view a video of how to back up your files and folders, click the Play button ( ) on the following Windows Media Player viewer:



Note To view this video, you must have Windows Media Player 7.0 or later installed on your computer. To obtain the latest version of Windows Media player, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/windowsmediaplayer/default.mspx

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REFERENCES

For additional information about using Backup to back up files and folders, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

308422 How to use Backup to back up files and folders on your computer in Windows XP

Microsoft Backup is not automatically installed when you install Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition.

For additional information about how to install Microsoft Backup from the Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

302894 How to install Backup from the CD-ROM in Windows XP Home Edition

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Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/2/2006
Keywords:kbhowto kbenv kbArtTypeSHOWME kbHOWTOmaster KB309340 kbAudITPro kbAudEndUser
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