Unable to Restore Files and Folders from TI 10 Backup Image

To Whom it may Concern -

First of all, please accept my apologies if I have not conformed to the rules and regulations of this forum. I'm new to forum postings.

Nevertheless, I'm having serious problems restoring files and folders from a validated TI 10 Full C drive Backup Image. I've read through the user guide on creating a full disk image and restoring partitions or file/folders from a disk image. But I must be doing something wrong and, therefore, am in need of help.

I just recently reinstalled Windows XP Pro on my Dell Precision M70 workstation laptop and wanted to restore some files from the previous disk images I had made.

I had made several full backup images of my C drive to an external hard drive(My Book - 320 gig) before the XP reinstallation. Every disk image backup was successfully validated.

I use Recovery Wizard to restore files and folder's from a disk image and follow all the instructions to restore a single folder with one excel file to my new My Documents and Settings folder.

During the Recovery Wizard setup, I perform the following:

1. Select the last Hard Drive Backup Image Archive where I'm restoring data from. I select the last Image Archive from my external hard drive.

2. Restoration Type Selection - Restore Specified Files and Folders.

3. Restore Destination Selection - Restore to a New Place.

4. I make sure to only check the one folder and file from my image archive to restore.

5. I use the default restore options and overwrite existing file.

6. I click proceed and the after a few minutes, I get a message saying the operation completed successfully.

However, when I look into Explorer for my restored file, I see that a new folder created under "My Documents" on my laptop with my hard drive letter "Drive(C)" as the folder name with subsequent sub folders names "Documents and Setting" and "Mark Bennett" respectively.

The excel file is no where to be found on my computer and I'm unable to delete these new folders.

I've attached a screenshot of the what was restored to my hard drive. All I wanted to do was restore a Folder Name Finance with two files in it named Budget1.xls and Budget2.xls. Instead the following was restored to my hard drive under Documents C:\Documents and Settings\msbennettadmin\My Documents:

Drive(C)\Documents and Settings\Mark Bennett

The Mark Bennett folder is inaccessible and I cannot delete it.

I hope I have given enough information for someone to inform what I did wrong and what steps need to be done to actually restore a folder and file from a Hard Drive Disk Image Backup Archive. I was thinking about restoring my computer back to it's previous state using the last Disk Image Backup I created. However, I'm very nervous abut this, since I cannot even restore a single file.

I will provide any additional information that's need to assist me with this.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

 

This seems to be a "bug" in how TI restores files (it doesn't happen with disk and partition restores). Sometimes you end up with not being able to delete created directories. There are other posts on this, where users had to resort to third-party tools (and/or Linux tools) to delete the files.

See these threads for examples: Restore problem: Drive(C)? and Boot Mode Files & Folders Restore: PDF file corrupt and unreadable

When you just want to restore several files (or even folders), it a lot easier to Explore or Mount the image file and just copy out the files you want.

 

beno4433,
When posting an image of your desktop, it is always a good practice to edit the image before uploading and "crop" as much of the un-necessary as possible. This removal of excess make the image easier to see and identify any problem areas. Also, smaller files load much quicker for those still on dial-up connections.

Definitely try the suggestion by MudCrab and Mount the image. Then you can copy or drag and drop the files you need.

To mount, simple way is to locate one of your tib backup files and Right Click and choose the Mount option. Also, the mount option is on the main menu of TI.

 

Is this bug one that only appears when a File and Folder restore is attempted from an image backup with TI?

It surprises me that TI even allows a Files and Folder type restore when the backup isn't of that type.

 

It's been a while since I've read through this, but I think the problem happens when you restore files/folders from an image when booted into the Full mode of TI (something to do with Linux not setting the FAT entry correctly or something). I don't know if the OP did the restore from the CD or from Windows. I have not tested this out in either scenario. (Perhaps the Safe mode version works correctly??)

I'm not sure if this problem can happen when restoring from a "files & folders" backup. If TI uses the same "file creation methods" then I would assume it could.

Because of how TI restores (using the "Drive(C)\" folder method, etc.) and the potential problems associated with it, I would only restore this way to a partition I didn't care about. That way I could get the files out and then just reformat if it was screwed up.

Mounting the image or Exploring it are much better ways to recover files than using the Restore Specified Files and Folders Wizard, in my opinion.

 

MudCrab -

Thanks for you response and suggestions. I should have read the documentation closer. I now see where it's directs you to the "Exploring Archives and Mounting" section.

I looked at the links you gave me, but couldn't find any third party solutions to delete the false folders put on my machine. And I spent over two hours with support.com and they could not get these folders removed.

Do you have any solutions or suggestions of possible software that could remove these folders?

I've tried to contact Acronis technical support on this issue, but doubt I'll get any help.

 

beno4433:

Here is a link to the suggested fix from Acronis Tech Support:

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=826805&postcount=3

Note that in order to see the Permissions tab you have to turn off "Simple File Sharing" in Windows. Then you can take ownership of the file and after that, delete it.

 

Here are the direct links to the posts in the Boot Mode Files & Folders Restore: PDF file corrupt and unreadable thread:
Post 14 - Trinity Rescue Kit
Post 37 - Unlocker
Post 42 - MS Permissions
Post 60 - Roadkil's Sector Editor
Post 68 & Post 76 - Knoppix

If taking over permissions doesn't work, I think I would try the latest version of Knoppix next.

 

Hi MubCrab -

It took my awhile, but I finally was able to delete all the false restored folders.

Thanks so much for your help. From here I will be sure to use the mount process to restore selected files and folders.

Now, though, I have one more big decision. I reinstalled windows xp pro last week with the help of Dell. In hindsight, I think I rushed the re-installation, thinking I could restore my system to the status before the reinstall if things didn't go right. It was a hard lesson which I've been told many times, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". I wasn't prepared for the reinstallation and now I need to decide to either keep the new installation or try and restore it using my last TI Home 10 full image I took before the reinstall.

Anyway, I'm very hesitant about restoring my system using the disk/partition image. I'm worried that Dell has something on my system that will conflict with the restore.

Have you had successful image restorations in the past?

 

Would you mind posting what method finally worked for you? It might help the next person.

I have not had any failed restores (and I've restored a lot), but I don't have a newer Dell. Some of those can cause some problems, though if you're restoring the image to the same drive I think you'll be okay. Most of the problems were related to restoring to a larger hard drive or when cloning.

You might try a forum search. If you post your computer model, maybe someone with the same one (or a similar one) will post if they had any problems.