Hi all,

I'm hoping that someone, on here, has personal experience of a shop (or person) who is extremely good/trustworthy, with computer software and is located in Udon.

My problem is that I backed up all of my files (not programs), using Windows Back Up and Restore, to an external hard drive, prior to re-formatting my laptop and now I cannot get them to re-install.

I saved a list of my, previously, installed programs/registration keys on a separate hand written list and have now re-installed them wihout any problems.

The files are, certainly, still there (around 94GB) and I have spoken to Microsoft who linked me to a website which referred to Media.Bin files and the need to, possibly, re-construct them which, immediately, lost me - I am TOTALLY none techy!

Any help/advice will be much appreciated - I just want to arrange to get my files reloaded without any mistakes or problems, which may result in my losing them.

Many thanks in advance.

I cannot use my "begging" smilie, coz it is on the backup!

zoomzoom try PMing EssexGaz he is pretty pc savy & with his "remote control" software he may be able to help without your computer leaving its desk

BobHelm wrote:zoomzoom try PMing EssexGaz he is pretty pc savy & with his "remote control" software he may be able to help without your computer leaving its desk

Thanks for the advice - have done!

Any more will be much appreciated - several pints could follow!

hi there

when you did your back up didi you create a resort disk ?

you should beable to use restore to access your files and select the individual files to restore to your current pc,
by select custom restore and the select the files you want. all depends on were abouts you are i maybe able to help.
my background is owner of a pritavte computer traning centre in New Zealand and have been in computers since 1992
also TESOL teacher, and do Photography. Im currently staying Ban Khok just out Phen on the way to Nong Khai.
will be here for another 2 weeks until i go back to NZ for a while.

Can you explain what precisely is the problem? Why cant you use the backup/restore program? What is the error message you are getting?

Many thanks for the replies.

Prior to restoring my laptop to it's "factory" state, I used Windows back up and restore to copy my files (not programs) to an external hard drive.

When I attempted to then utilise Windows to restore them I received a message stating that no back up had been created on THIS computer.

Ah-ha! I thought, it does not recognise the back up because I have re-formated it and so then attempted to use the restore facility using the option of installing a back up from another computer.

Still no joy.

The back up files DEFINITELY exist (I can open them on my external drive) but in typical Windows fashion they are all over the place and it would take months to reinstall them manually.

When I spoke to Microsoft they said it was all to do with Windows not recognising the Media Bin file and this may need reconstructing.

That is where I'm at - I hope that makes sense!

I use Arconis True Image to backup. It's great app...
When your system crashed... You can even boot up and continue your work with you backup archive, and let the restoration process running in the background...

OK. Windows should recognise the media bin file unless it has in some way become corrupted. I think your best bet might be to try a third party bu system and hope this can read your file. Many 3rd party bu programs can restore from Windows bu. Rather than buy one and then find this hasn't helped, try to see if you can download one from www.download.com
Even if you only get one with a trial period, that is probably all you need.
Schok dee!

rufus wrote:OK. Windows should recognise the media bin file unless it has in some way become corrupted. I think your best bet might be to try a third party bu system and hope this can read your file. Many 3rd party bu programs can restore from Windows bu. Rather than buy one and then find this hasn't helped, try to see if you can download one from http://www.download.com
Even if you only get one with a trial period, that is probably all you need.
Schok dee!

Thanks for the reply but what I am hoping to find is someone who is a "genuine" techy,
who can sort out my problem.

What I DON'T need (and did not ask for) are individuals trying to be clever, based upon what they would do to prevent my problem.

An example of what I mean is this:

xcession wrote:I use Arconis True Image to backup. It's great app...
When your system crashed... You can even boot up and continue your work with you backup archive, and let the restoration process running in the background...

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

I would, genuinely, thank all those that have offered/attempted to offer constructive replies but what I NEED is someone who is either a "TECHY", or knows someone who is, who will know how to sort out my problem! .

What I do not need are replies from individuals trying to be "clever", saying what they would have done to prevent my problem!

Please see below!

xcession wrote:I use Arconis True Image to backup. It's great app...
When your system crashed... You can even boot up and continue your work with you backup archive, and let the restoration process running in the background...

This (when I checked) turned out to be, highly, debatatable!


Sheesh!

srry for that zoomzoom I'm not intended to...
btw, I presume that you're using Vista because of Windows Backup and Restore...
So, can you more specific or add more info about "cannot get them to re-install"...?

xcession wrote:srry for that zoomzoom I'm not intended to...
btw, I presume that you're using Vista because of Windows Backup and Restore...
So, can you more specific or add more info about "cannot get them to re-install"...?

Ok mate, no problem.

Regarding my O.S. it is, indeed, Vista Business.

I have received two types of error messages.

The first one stated that no back up had been made on this computer, which I took to mean that it did not recognise it following the reformat.

The second type has been in two forms and please forgive my not being able to quote them exactly.

Firstly, there was a reference to being unable to find the files and secondly then not recognising them after I attempted to introduce a different Media Bin file, and did not revert back to the former even after I deleted it.

As I stated previously the files are definitely there - I can view them!

What I need to be able to achieve is to get Windows to recognise them and then to restore them for me.

Being totally none techy I would rather pay someone, who knows exactly what he/she is doing, to do this for me than risk screwing it up myself.

It would appea you did not read or more probably did not understand my post. Fine, if that is your attitude, do it yourself.

rufus wrote:It would appea you did not read or more probably did not understand my post. Fine, if that is your attitude, do it yourself.

Sorry mate if you took offence, none was intended.

I did not reply directly to your post because (you were right) I did not really understand it.

As I have posted, I am TOTALLY none techy and am, genuinely, worried that I may well do something that would cause me to permanently damage or lose the data concerned.

Once again my apologies.

Np. I was a bit techy myself. My Mum is visiting me here in Vientiane from Australia and she is iving me the **** already - after 2 days!