Bill Artman 0 Report post Posted May 24, 2008 Hello; I am using am using the current 7.5 version of Retrospect Pro for Windows. My PC running XP Pro has a C drive with Windows and all my software programs only and a D drive with all of my data. Each night at 3 a.m. the C and D drive backs up to two separate external drives. Yesterday the C drive failed and must be replaced. After installing the new C drive I will install Windows XP Pro and I will install Retrospect. After installing Retrospect how can I restore all of my software programs from the backup drive so I won't have to reinstall all of the programs? I don't think just restoring the Program Files folder is enough because the "new Windows" won't have the software program registry entries, etc. Any help would really be appreciated. Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MRIS 0 Report post Posted May 24, 2008 had you been doing DUPLICATES or BACKUPS? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Artman 0 Report post Posted May 24, 2008 I don't know what a duplicate is. I believe I am doing incremental backups. I initially did a full backup along time ago and now each night I am doing a backup of only the new files or the changed files. After reading more on the forum, I think I need to to a Live Restore which will restore the entire volume. Can anyone tell me how to do a Live Restore. The user manual doesn't mention Live Restore. Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MRIS 0 Report post Posted May 24, 2008 (edited) The basic idea is as follows: 1. You start with a vanilla install of XP so that it is the same service pack level as you had before the incident. 2. You fresh-install retrospect normally. 3. You open the catalog file for the backups that you had been making. Since the default location for the catalog is on the C: drive many people don't have this, if this is the case simply rebuild the catalog. http://kb.dantz.com/article.asp?article=8350&p=2 4. Once retrospect has the catalog back simply restore the entire C drive (restore entire volume) by choosing it from within the backup set. Please refer to pages 207-->210 in the PDF manual Have you watched each of these excellent videos from Mayoff in full? http://video.emcinsignia.com/retrospect/immediate_restore/1.%20Immediate%20Restore%20part%201.wmv http://video.emcinsignia.com/retrospect/immediate_restore/2.%20Immediate%20Restore%20part%202.wmv http://video.emcinsignia.com/retrospect/immediate_restore/3.%20Immediate%20Restore%20part%203.wmv Edited May 24, 2008 by Guest mentioned videos Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Artman 0 Report post Posted May 24, 2008 MRIS; Thanks for your reply. I will do what you say today. Have a great weekend and holiday! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Artman 0 Report post Posted May 25, 2008 (edited) Since I will already have Windows installed when I do a new install of Retrospect, if I "restore the entire volume" will it leave the new install of Windows on the C drive and only restore the rest of drive C which only has my software programs, or will it restore the backed up version of Windows? Thanks for your help! Edited May 25, 2008 by Guest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MRIS 0 Report post Posted May 25, 2008 It will return the entire C drive to how it was when the backup was taken. This means the temporarily installed windows will be replaced by the one from the backup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rxlaw 0 Report post Posted June 23, 2008 It will return the entire C drive to how it was when the backup was taken. This means the temporarily installed windows will be replaced by the one from the backup. Which begs the question, why do you need the temporary version of Windows to be at the same service level as what you're restoring? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MRIS 0 Report post Posted June 24, 2008 "because it works better that way". (it also avoids issues when some people install using their Windows 98 CDs and then expect retrospect to be able to restore XP back into it) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites