Backitup 4 help needed

[wrecker69]

Hello Raymond and everyone else.

This is my first post and I am in somewhat of a desparate situation. Isn't that usually the way? Necessity breeds participation?

I found this site by accident. On the main Raymond.cc site you are giving away a copy of Backitup 4. I have downloaded and used this sotware to back up my files and now I cannot restore them. I am assuming that by the glowing comments you made regarding Backitup 4 you have some experience with it. Here is my story...

I needed to a complete re-install of windows and a friend suggested that I use Nero to back up my files. More than 120 gigs. I downloaded, installed and ran Backitup 4 and saved the files to a separate HD as I do not have a dvd burner and burning to cd would take both a lot of discs and time. Everything seemed to go ok and the backed up files were saved.

After re-installing windows I went to restore the files and ran into problems. I realized that I had backed up the Backitup 4 software along with everything else so I went and downloaded another copy. I figured out that I needed to create a disc of some sort and after restarting my system with the disc in the tray it booted the program from the disc.

I located the file folders and tried to restore them. I tried the folder itself, and individual files with no luck. I kept getting a message that I was supposed to try the last file. I tried that as well and no go.

I contacted Nero support on Sunday. I know it is only Monday but I have not heard back from them yet. I have also posted a request for help at Neros forum and although there have been over 90 views there has not yet been a reply posted. I am getting desparate and panic is starting to set in. These files are very important to me as I am venturing into the internet marketing field and they are all business related.

I sure hope that someone here can help.

Thanks in advance, Richard.

[Mark]

I found this site by accident.

I hope that was a good thing.. lol

[wrecker69]

Ya Mark I am hoping it is a good thing too. If someone can help me it could be. I am getting desparate.

Richard

[Raymond]

Nero BackItUp saves your backed up files in .nba format. How many .nba files do you have?

[wrecker69]

Thanks for replying Raymond.

I backed up different sections of two drives. Backitup 4 separated them into 67 separate files. I am assuming because of size issues. Each file is a bit more than 1,900,000 KB in size.

I made the disc that was sugessted as being required but I cannot seem to get it to work properly. The disc opens the program but that is where I run into troubles.

I have two ideas that might work if all else fails. If you kow of a way to convert the files to a different extension that I could access, like maybe a .zip or something else. Or we could do a remote hookup so you could have access to the files and maybe unpack them that way.

I am willing to do what ever you suggest to get access to my files back. I am at a total stand still without them.

Waiting for your reply

Thanks, Richard

[Raymond]

.NBA are zip files. You can certainly rename it to *.ZIP and open with a zip utility. The filenames will all be in 8.3 format, though (which might not be a problem for you if you already know what to look for). The directory structure is preserved except the dos drive letter is prepended. (eg C:\WINDOWS\LONGFIL~.TXT)

I was wondering why aren't you able to restore your backed up files? I just tried restoring on my computer and I didn't encounter any problems.

I assume that all your .nba files are at the same location? You have reinstalled Nero BackItUp, click Restore button at the left pane, click Start Restore and Restore Wizard will open. Now you have to click on the folder icon to select an existing backup to restore. Select from local hard disk, disc or network, and again click on the folder icon to browse for the .nba files. Click OK, and click next twice and finally click Restore button.

[wrecker69]

The first paragraph of your reply confuses me. The backed up files do not appear to have the .nba extension. I have taken some screen shots that I am attaching.

I do not understand anything in regards to 8.3 format. I checked my C drive for C:\WINDOWS\LONGFIL~.TXT and it does not appear to exist. The reason could be because after backing up the files and saving them to a separate HD I completely reformatted my C drive. I hope I do not need to have C:\WINDOWS\LONGFIL~.TXT in order to save my files.

I will now describe the screen shots.

1. scr-sht-1
   This shows the backed up files along with a properties box. Nowhere do I see the .nba extension. Not on the image of the files nor in the properties box

1. scr-sht-2
   This show the files that Backitup 4 apparently sees. I clicked on the first file, top left, as well as the last file, bottom right and got the result that is shown in scr-sht-3.

1. scr-sht-3
   This shows the result that I got after designating which file to restore and clicking "open" in two windosw

I would try to change the extension to .zip and try to open them that way but like I said, I do not see an .nba extension, or any other extension to change.

I have tried contacting Nero themselves for the third time last night still with only the confirmation of my support request. I do not know what the problem is with there support team as the first attempt at contacting them was on Oct. 12.

I have also posted help requests on three separate Backitup 4 related forums with no results. One is actually Neros' own forum.

I know that you would have no control over Nero or forum results, I just wanted you to know that I am trying all I can to resolve this situation.

Thanks for all your help, Richard.

PS: I am sorry for the screen shot images being cut off at the side but there were size restrictions for attaching these files. I hope they are sufficient.

[prashanthpai]

Did you try un-checking "Hide File Extension" in 'Folder Option'

I am making the guess that you should load the file that ends with PF,W
It could be last file which Nero is referring to as numbering system starts from W2

[Raymond]

Seeing that it has 22 parts, you should try loading EVERY file.

Go to Control Panel > Folder Options > View tab > UNCHECK Hide extensions for know file types".
Now you should be able to see that the backed up file has a .nba extension.
If you rename 20081010_044637_D+C,PF,W.nba to 20081010_044637_D+C,PF,W.zip, you should be able to extract the files. Becareful when you're doing that because you're messing with your backup files and wrong move could make it impossible for you to restore your backups.

[wrecker69]

Thanks alot guys. It seems to be working. Somewhat. The only problem I am having now is that the folders and file names come out looking something like this...2NDMOR~1. I now have the files but I am going to have to go through every one, there are over
100gb, by hand to figure out exactly what they are. Most of both the file names and folder names. That is thousands upon thousands of changes to be made. Any ideas on how to fix this?

Thanks for all your help, Richard