Tip: How to Restore Data to Windows 7 that you Backed Up on Windows XP
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.
Follow Our Daily Tips
Tell Us Your Tips
Share your Windows 7 tips and tweaks.
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.
Looking for More Tips?
For more tips on Windows 7 and other Microsoft technologies, visit the TechNet Magazine Tips library.