Back up on Windows Vista Home Premium

B

BluePeter

Member
Hello forum,
I recently had a Hard Drive replacement and,of course, a full clean install to factory level.
Prior to this I completed a FULL files back-up to a Maxtor external Hard Drive (250gb).
To my horror a transfer of these files back to the computer fails with the message "back up location is not available" appearing. When I did this back-up it stated that it had completed successfully.
Is there any advice out there about how to resolve this matter. Otherwise I may be faced with expensive data retrieval procedure from either the extracted Hard Drive
or the External Maxtor (if possible). I always thought Back up was foolproof but this is yet another nightmare:mad: with the numerous problems I have had with this wretched HP Laptop.
 

My Computer

System One

Is the back up device recognized.
Left
Click on my computer to see what is recognized

If recognized use the back up drive as little as possbile and then download and try recuva, to see if the documents can be found
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
How are you trying to restore? Is the external HDD connected to your computer? When given the choice, I assume you're trying this computer and putting in the drive letter for the external HDD. Instead, try choosing from a different computer and then follow the prompts to try to locate the external HDD and if you find it, select it and see if that works.

Here's some additional information on how to restore backups (I'm assuming you used Vista's backup tool and not some other product - if so, what did you use?).

Here's an article on the restore procedure: http://www.vista4beginners.com/How-to-restore-files just to make sure you're doing it right. It's a selective restore of a full or selective backup (not a complete restore of a complete backup) - but since you did a full backup it matches your process closer than a complete restore would.

Here's an article on how to use Advanced Restore (when normal restore doesn't work): http://www.mayankraichura.com/post/2009/08/06/Avdvanced-Restore-via-Windows-Vista-Backup-and-Restore-Center.aspx.

Restore files from a backup
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Restore-files-from-a-backup

Back up and restore: frequently asked questions
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Back-up-and-restore-frequently-asked-questions

I also found the following (but don't know if it's true or not - I've never tried it myself but if all else fails it seems like it might be at least worth a shot):

1. After starting "Backup and Restore Center"
2. I selected "Advanced Restore"
3. I wasn't asked for an Administrator password....maybe because my account is an administrator account.
4. Selected "Files from a backup made on a different computer"
5. In the Dialog stating "Select the location of the backup to restore", select "Hard disk, CD or DVD......"
6. Under the drop-down box, select your drive/partition and continue
7. If there are any backups on your drive, it will show a list of them.
8. In my case, it did show a backup but in backup location, it will show "Backup location is not available."
9. I was frustrated but then I somehow just selected that backup(yes....even though it said that the Backup location is not available"
10. and pressed "Next"
11. Guess what....not error!!!!!
12. A window showed up asking me whether I wanted to perform complete restore or I would like to select specific folders/files.
13. I selected the folders I wanted to restore and bingo...it restored them smoothly.
14. So next time see an error, try to continue with it..;)

I don't know if this will help you, but it does provide a lot of information about the process (when it works). Hopefully you will find some error or discrepancy in your procedure and this will clear it up and allow you to restore.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. MP061 Inspiron E1705
    CPU
    2.00 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo 64 kilobyte primary memory
    Motherboard
    Board: Dell Inc. 0YD479 Bus Clock: 166 megahertz
    Memory
    2046 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) [Di
    Sound Card
    SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor (17.2"vis)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HTS541616J9SA00 [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, s/n SB2411SJGLLRMB, rev SB4OC74P, SMART Status: Healthy
    Case
    Chassis Serial Number: 5YK95C1
    Mouse
    Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Internet Speed
    1958 Kbps download ; 754.8 Kbps upload
    Other Info
    Optiarc DVD+-RW AD-5540A ATA Device [CD-ROM drive] Dell AIO Printer A940 Conexant HDA D110 MDC V.92 Modem 6TO4 Adapter Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter Microsoft ISATAP Adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface Router Linksys / WRT54G -01
Hello Lorien and Richard,
Matters have been resolved the unit is back to oerating at 100%.
My technician, without charge, was able to free the external Maxtor HD drive
and restore all my files to my unit.:D
Richard, I also restored the 70 or so items to the Registry that I had deleted with cCleaner and unticked all the boxes. I was lucky I had made a back up of this.
Now I am done with all "tweaking" of the unit ...."fools rush in where angels fear to tread" and apart from Disc Cleanup and an occasional Defrag, this is as far as
I shall delve. Many thanks for your excellent usual advice.
 

My Computer

System One

Glad that we could be here for you. Good Luck
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Hi Blue Peter,

Excellent news. Well done. While perhaps you went a bit far this one time and got burned, don't let that discourage you or make you phobic of using your computer. Proper maintenance is important and involves more than just disk cleanup and an occasional defrag. But you can do it. Here's a tutorial that though written for Windows 7, applies equally to Vista: Suggestions for Proper Maintenance - Windows 7 Forums. If you follow it closely and step-by-step, you should be fine.

It was our pleasure - I'm glad we were able to be of some help.

Thanks for the feedback and the nice comments - they are much appreciated.

Good luck and Best Wishes!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. MP061 Inspiron E1705
    CPU
    2.00 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo 64 kilobyte primary memory
    Motherboard
    Board: Dell Inc. 0YD479 Bus Clock: 166 megahertz
    Memory
    2046 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) [Di
    Sound Card
    SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor (17.2"vis)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HTS541616J9SA00 [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, s/n SB2411SJGLLRMB, rev SB4OC74P, SMART Status: Healthy
    Case
    Chassis Serial Number: 5YK95C1
    Mouse
    Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Internet Speed
    1958 Kbps download ; 754.8 Kbps upload
    Other Info
    Optiarc DVD+-RW AD-5540A ATA Device [CD-ROM drive] Dell AIO Printer A940 Conexant HDA D110 MDC V.92 Modem 6TO4 Adapter Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter Microsoft ISATAP Adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface Router Linksys / WRT54G -01
Hello Rich,
In a posting of yours you suggest 10 ways to improve performance of Windows.
One of the suggestions is "never use a Registry Cleaner or Optimizer"

There is a link just above these recommendations "Improving Win 7 " and in this it recommends using RegVac or Registry Mechanic occasionally.

I am a little confused. Maybe you could clear up the matter for me.

Peter
 

My Computer

System One

Dont use, it. I have solved many, many problems caused by Reg Cleaners. They are adverstised to make money. Not even needed on Vista. Trust me on this one.
Dont fool with Registry.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Very welcome
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
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