Restore Windows NT Backup (ntbackup) .bkf in Windows 7 / Vista / Server 2008
Windows NT Backup or ntbackup.exe is a backup utility software built-in in most version of Windows operating system before Windows Vista. NTBackup is the standard feature in Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows 2003 Server. NT Backup software is pretty limited in functionality, but do a decent job to backup and restore. Furthermore, it’s free. So there may be people who uses NTBackup to safeguard their data.
Unfortunately, Windows NT Backup has been discontinued and no longer included beginning from Windows Vista, and also since Windows Server 2008 (aka Longhorn) for Windows Server OS. NTBackup backup file in .bkf format or in a backup tape is a proprietary format that can be read by NTBackup.exe itself only. So once you have upgraded to Windows Vista or Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2, these backup tapes and files are pretty much useless if you unable to restore them. For this purpose, Microsoft offers Windows NT Backup – Restore Utility, a supplemental utility for restoring backups made on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 to computers running Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2.
The Restore Utility requires Removable Storage Management feature to be installed and turned on in Windows Vista and Server 2008, which are disabled by default. Removable Storage Manager (RSM) is no longer included in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2, and is not required. But if you want to restore a backup from a tape device, you have to perform the restore on one of the following operating systems: Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008.
Here’s the way to enable to enable the feature in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008:
To turn on Removable Storage Management in Windows Vista
Click the “Start” button, click “Control Panel”, click “Programs”, and then click “Turn Windows Features on or off”. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. Select the check box next to “Removable Storage Management” to turn the feature on, and then click “OK”.
To install Removable Storage Management on Windows Server 2008 “Longhorn”
Click “Control Panel” and then click “Administrative Tools”. Open “Server Manager”, navigate to the “Features Summary” section, and click “Add features”. Select the check box next to “Removable Storage Manager”, click “Next”, and then click “Install”.
Once install, Ntbackup-RestoreUtility can be accessed from Start menu -> All Programs.
LK is a technology writer for Tech Journey with background of system and network administrator. He has be documenting his experiences in digital and technology world for over 15 years.Connect with LK through Tech Journey on Facebook, Twitter or Google+.
