How to Restore Data to Windows 7 that you Backed Up on Windows XP

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How to Restore Data to Windows 7 that you Backed Up on Windows XP

Windows 7 cannot open or restore files backed up in the format used by Windows XP Backup. But your data isn't lost. Here's a look at restoring from older backups.
 

If you use the Windows XP Backup program on an old computer or on the computer you plan to upgrade and save the data files to a network drive or another disk, be aware that the backup program in Windows 7 uses a different, incompatible format. Thus, Windows 7 cannot open or restore files backed up in the format used by Windows XP Backup.

Shortly after the launch of Windows Vista, Microsoft released a free program that can restore (but cannot create) backups in the format used by Windows XP. This utility, however, does not work in Windows 7. To restore files from a backup saved in the .bkf format, you’ll need to run Windows NT Backup on a computer running Windows XP.

As a workaround, you can use the free utility in Windows XP mode, which allows you to run a virtualized Windows XP environment. This is available for the Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions of Windows 7. (For more on this, see the Configure Your Windows 7 System to Run Legacy Apps in a Virtualized Windows XP Environment.)


From the Microsoft Press book Windows 7 Inside Out by Ed Bott, Carl Siechert, and Craig Stinson.


credit: technet.microsoft.com