Vista - FBW extension WTF!!!

[Tim]

I recently restored a month old HP media PC (Desktop) beause it was a demo and wanted a clean slate. During the "restore to factory settings" process I was prompted to backup using already installed software. When all was said and done, the C:\ drive was reformatted and the my estenal hd had a folder named:

K:\MINWINPC\Backup Files 2007-03-18 092635\
- Backup.001
- Backup.002.fbw
through
- Backup.016.fbw

As hard as I try I cannot restore these files.
I didn't loose but a months worth of data biut it sure has me pissed.
So far, four attempts with different chatting techies at HP have all failed.
CRAZY!

[einsteinsboi]

The only thing I can think of is a program I used once called File Backup Watcher

http://www.dswsoft.com/fbw.php

I don't know if there's any connection and I can't remember if the file extensions were fbw but it's worth a look for doing the restoration.

Besides that... I'm stumped!!

[Staff]

Found this thread which might be of some help...

http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?t=712095

There are a few other unanswered threads elsewhere with a similar problem so it looks like one of the next upcoming "things". I'll look around a bit more and see what I can find as you don't appear to be alone. And, if you find something before I do please come back and post the answer so I can add it to the database for that file extension so others can have that answer.

Just based on the above thread, it looks like a problem where Vista is being selective in what device it will actually read during a restore but maybe not so selective in what device it will actually write to during a backup. Reminds me of the transition to XP where the installer made a backup using a backup program there was no restore program for! You'd have thought MS would have learned from that fiasco. Sighhhh.

[manuel1104]

The solution to this problem is:

add another "0" infront of all the files from 10 on...
backup.010.fbw - becomes - backup.0010.fbw
backup.011.fbw - becomes - backup.0011.fbw
backup.012.fbw - becomes - backup.0012.fbw
and so on. Then run the .exe file that is in the folder and the recovery manager should start the recovery process. A big thanks to troy at the tech republic forums!

[Fleur]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

This has just saved my life. I was ready to throw out my HP-Vista-continually freezing-never cooperating-Backup swallowing PC out of the window!

I can't believe this. What in the world are the guys at HP thinking. I'm never going to buy one of their products again. From now on it's the 1:1 copy to external hard drive backup for me.

Thanks again for mentioning this, manuel.

[nwabunnia]

Originally Posted by manuel1104

The solution to this problem is:

add another "0" infront of all the files from 10 on...
backup.010.fbw - becomes - backup.0010.fbw
backup.011.fbw - becomes - backup.0011.fbw
backup.012.fbw - becomes - backup.0012.fbw
and so on. Then run the .exe file that is in the folder and the recovery manager should start the recovery process. A big thanks to troy at the tech republic forums!

I've being searching the net for a while for a forum with this thread. The .exe file does nothing (well, except to hang my PC making it impossible for me to do anyother thing.

Anyhow, my files are 9 in #. That is, backup.001.exe, backup.002.fbw.......backup.008.fbw. Now do I still need to rename them in the format u highlighted (i.e. by putting a zero in front of every zero?).

Plz help me cos I dont want to lose the valuable data I backed up. Thanks.

[dclxvi]

hi all, I've fix this by deleting the C:\System Recovery Files folder and all is content... hope it help!
g

[alslush]

I found the solution! If you read the small print on the recovery disk instructions, you are supposed to back up your data on a CD or DVD. I didn't read this and backed mine up on an external hard drive. Bad move. I wasn't able to restore my files.

Now I have the fix. First, copy EACH of the files onto its own DVD. (don't try to fit 2 onto a DL dvd--it won't work--I tried that). Copying these huge backup files (~3.5GB each)is very time-consuming, but it's the only way to get your files restored. So now you have one disk for each of the files in your backup folder (I had nine disks-my files ranged from backup.001.fbw to .009)

Next, reboot your computer in Safe Mode (continually click on the f8 key until the menu appears so you can make that selection as your computer is rebooting). Once Windows has started in Safe Mode, put in the DVD containing the first file--the one called backup.001.exe. Open "my computer" and double click on the file to start it. The recovery manager panel appears, and your DVD is ejected. You're then asked to put in your last disk. (mine was backup.009.fbw. Yours may be different.) The "NEXT" button on the recovery manager panel will activate. Click it, and you're on your way! You'll be prompted for each of your disks in descending order.

I spent about 6 hours total with HP support, and no one was able to help me. I figured this out on my own, I hope it works for you!

[raj_gemini]

Hi,
Even iam facing the same problem, when i finished installling windows vista and checked for backed up files in the folder it had only two files one is backup.1.exe... other is backup.2.fbw. As per the solution i renamed them adding a zero at the begining. then it started asking to insert disk#1. Iam completely dumped because the back up has a lot of important data.I tried to chat with the HP technicians and found nothing other than stupid solutions not related to the issue atall.
I dont understand one thing i backed up around 30Gb of data and i found just 4 GB where are the other files?
If any one know an alternative solutions please let me know because its very impotant.

rajesh

[Staff]

I've not used the HP backup and so can't be certain but it sounds like you did not get a complete backup. Squishing 30GB into 4GB would be quite a compression chore. So, I'm afraid that I'd have to guess that the backup was somehow either corrupted or incomplete when made. Are you certain you got all the files? There should be more than just one.