Restore a .bak File on a Windows 7 PC

Ever backup your Windows computer using the NTBackup Tool built into Windows XP? Previously, I even wrote an entire article on how to use this tool to backup Windows quickly. In order to restore the image, which is a .BKF file, you need to use the same NTBackup Tool.

This was fine if you backed up using XP and restored using XP. But what if you want to restore a .bkf image using Windows Vista or Windows 7? This is becoming more common now that people are switching from XP to Windows 7.

Of course, the whole process will be super easy once Microsoft releases the NT Backup Restore Utility for Windows 7 in early 2010. Right now it only supports up with Windows Vista. You can download the current version here.

For now, if you a .BKF file and want to restore it on a Windows 7 PC, follow the instructions below.

1. Download the NT5Backup.cab file from Plugins by STSanford.

2. Now extract the .CAB file and all the files to a new folder anywhere on your Windows 7 machine.

Now double-click on ntbackup.exe to run the NTBackup Utlity. You’ll get a message saying that Removable Storage Not Running. Just click OK, you can ignore this message.

Now click Next when the Backup and Restore Wizard screen pops up. On the next screen, go ahead and choose the Restore File and Settings option.

restore files to windows 7

On the next screen, go ahead and click the Browse button and select the backup file wherever you have it stored on the computer.

Here you can select the files and folders that you would like to restore from the backup.

Now you can simply click Finish to restore the files to the same locations as they were on the original system or you can click on Advanced for more options.

Under Advanced, you can choose to restore to the files to an alternate location, in case you want to move the files manually yourself.

You can also choose to replace any existing files or leave any files that already exist with the same name.

Finally, click Finish and your files will start to be restored! When it’s finished, you’ll see a report.

And that’s it! So if you have a backup (.bkf) file from Windows XP and want to restore it to Windows 7, the above tutorial should get your working! Enjoy!