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Checklist: Recover Files, Folders, Applications, Volumes, or the Operating System

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012

You can use the following tools to perform recovery tasks:

  • Recovery Wizard in Windows Server Backup. This wizard helps you recover files and folders, applications, volumes, and the system state.

  • Catalog Recovery Wizard in Windows Server Backup. This wizard helps you recover the backup catalog, a file that stores details about your backups. This wizard is only available if your backup catalog has become corrupted.

  • Windows Recovery Environment and a backup created with Windows Server Backup. Windows Recovery Environment can be accessed from a computer running Windows Server 2008 R2 or a Windows Setup disc. This method helps you recover your operating system or full server.

You can also perform recoveries using the Wbadmin start recovery , Wbadmin start systemstaterecovery , and Wbadmin restore catalog commands. For syntax and examples, see the Command Reference (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=140216).

This checklist describes how to recover data using the Windows Server Backup user interface.

Task References

Before you begin, review concepts and requirements, and then determine the following:

  • What you want to recover.

  • What backup you will use to recover from.

  • Where you want to recover to.

Windows Server Backup; Recovering Your Server; Backing Up Your Server; https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=93012

If you have not already done so, install Windows Server Backup.

Install Windows Server Backup Tools

If needed, attach any drives or make sure any remote shared folders that you need are available and that you have access to them. Also, make sure that you understand the limitations of different storage and recovery types.

Recovering Your Server; Backing Up Your Server

Run the Recovery Wizard and follow the instructions in the wizard that are specific to what you want to recover.

Recover Files and Folders; Recover Applications and Data; Recover Volumes; Recover the System State

This checklist describes how to recover data using the Windows Recovery Environment and a backup that you created using Windows Server Backup.

Task References

Before you begin, make sure you have a Windows Setup disc or that the Windows Recovery Environment is installed on a separate partition on your server, review concepts and requirements, and then determine the following:

  • What backup you will use to recover from.

  • Where you want to recover to (the same computer or another computer) and whether it has enough space for what you are recovering.

  • Whether you want to recover all critical volumes (volumes containing operating system components—you can exclude non-critical volumes during the recovery) or the full server (all volumes).

Windows Server Backup; Recovering Your Server; https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=93012; https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=94458; Recover the Operating System or Full Server

Perform the recovery and follow the instructions in the user interface.

Recover the Operating System or Full Server

This checklist describes how to recover the backup catalog using the Windows Server Backup user interface.

Task References

Before you begin, review concepts and requirements, and then determine what backup you will use to recover from. Or, if you do not have a backup to recover from, determine whether you want to just delete the catalog and start over with your backups.

Windows Server Backup; Recovering Your Server; https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=93012

Run the Catalog Recovery Wizard and follow the instructions.

Note
The Catalog Recovery Wizard will not appear in Windows Server Backup unless you have a corrupted catalog.

After you run the wizard, close and then reopen Windows Server Backup to refresh the status.

Recover a Backup Catalog; Catalog Recovery Wizard

Additional considerations

  • To install and use Windows Server Backup, you must be a member of the Backup Operators or Administrators group, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

  • If you are using BitLocker Drive Encryption to protect your server and you need to perform a system recovery, make sure to reapply BitLocker Drive Encryption. This will not happen automatically—it must be enabled explicitly. For instructions, see the Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption Step-by-Step Guide (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=143722).

Additional resources