Restoring Data

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If some unforeseen disaster should occur, you need to restore your data from the backups. As with backing up, you can either use a Wizard or restore by hand.

Using the Restore Wizard

Backup has another Wizard that takes you step-by-step through the process of restoring previously backed-up data. You start this Wizard using either of the following methods:

• In the startup Microsoft Backup dialog box, activate Restore backed up files and click OK.
• In the Microsoft Backup window, select Tools, Restore Wizard.

In the first of the Wizard's dialog boxes, use the Restore from list to select the source of the backup job and then click Next >.

The Wizard then displays a list of the backups found on the media. Activate the check boxes beside each backup job you want to restore and then click OK.

Now the Wizard creates a list of the drives, folders, and files in the chosen backup jobs. When it's done, it displays this list in a dialog box. Activate the check boxes beside the items you want to restore and then click Next >.

The Wizard next asks where you want the files restored. You can select either Original Location or Alternate Location. If you choose the latter, a new text box appears so that you can specify the new location. Click Next > when you're ready to proceed. Now the Wizard asks what it should do if a file with the same name already exists in the restore destination. Here are your choices:

Do not replace the file on my computer:
If you activate this option, Backup won't replace any files on the destination drive or folder with backed-up files that have the same name.

Replace the file on my computer only if the file is older:
If you activate this option, Backup replaces files on the destination drive or folder only with backed-up files of the same name that have a later date.

Always replace the file on my computer:
If you activate this option, Backup replaces any files on the destination drive or folder with backed-up files that have the same name.

Click Start to get the restore operation under way. Backup will prompt you to insert the media for the backup. Insert the media, if necessary and then click OK.

The Restore Progress window appears during the restore operation. When Backup is done, it displays a dialog box to let you know. Click OK and then click OK in the Restore Progress window. (Note that you can also click Report to see a summary report for the restore operation.)

Restoring Backed-Up Data by Hand

If you prefer the direct approach, you can bypass the Restore Wizard and opt to run the restore operation manually. Here are the required steps:

1. In the Microsoft Backup window, select the Restore tab.
2. Use the Restore from list to select a backup source.
3. Use the folder and file lists to activate the check boxes for the drives, folders, and files you want to include in the restore.
4. Use the Where to restore list to choose the destination (Original Location or Alternate Location).
5. Click Options to set the backup job options.
6. Select Job, Save to save your settings.
7. Click Start to perform the restore.

Working with the Restore Options

You can set a few options for the restore operation. To view these options, either click Options in the Restore tab or select Job, Options. Backup displays the Restore Options dialog box.

Restore uses a simpler set of options than does Backup, so I can run through the tabs quickly:

The General tab:
Use the options in the When restoring files that already exist group to set what Backup does if it comes across a file that already exists during the restore. The available options are identical to those you saw earlier with the Restore Wizard.

The Report tab:
The contents of the Restore report are determined by the check boxes you activate in the Report tab.

The Advanced tab:
Whether the Registry files are included in the restore is controlled by the Restore Windows registry check box.