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Checklist: Recover the Operating System

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008

On a computer running Windows Server 2008, you can use the following to perform recovery tasks:

  • Recovery Wizard. This wizard helps you recover files and folders, applications, and volumes.

  • Catalog Recovery Wizard. This wizard helps you recover the backup catalog. This wizard is only available if your backup catalog has become corrupted.

  • A Windows Setup disc and a backup created with Windows Server Backup. 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=93131).

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; https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=93012

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

Installing Windows Server Backup Tools

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

Recover Files and Folders; 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 Applications and Data; Recover Volumes

This checklist describes how to recover data using a Windows Setup disc 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 you want to recover.

  • 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 perform an operating system recovery or full server recovery.

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

Perform the recovery.

Recover the Operating System

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. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure.

  • 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=93107).

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