How to Restore Windows NT Over an Existing Installation

ID: Q101229

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
If you experience a hard disk or data corruption problem and lose your Windows NT system volume, you can restore Windows NT and preserve your data if you made backup copies of the Windows NT system volume.

NOTE: You must have overridden the default settings of the Windows NT Backup program (NTBACKUP) to select backing up the Registry files when the original backup tape was created.

To restore Windows NT, use the following procedure:

  1. Start NTBackup and open the Tapes window.


  2. Catalog the appropriate tape and ensure the following directory:
    %SystemRoot%\system32\config

    Contains the following Registry files: System, Software, Sam, Security

    If not, then the registry was not backed up onto this tape. Search previous backup tapes for one that does contain the registry files then select the directory to be restored.


  3. Choose Restore.


  4. In the Restore Information dialog box, provide all the necessary information, select the Restore Local Registry check box, and choose OK.


  5. After restoring, quit NTBackup and restart the computer.


  6. Start NTBackup and open the Tapes window.


  7. Catalog the appropriate tape and select all the directories needed to restore Windows NT.


  8. Choose Restore.


  9. In the Restore Information dialog box, provide all the necessary information, DO NOT select the Restore Local Registry check box, and choose OK.


  10. After restoring, quit Backup and restart the computer.


The volume should be back to its original state.

Alternately you can install NT into a \JUNK directory - then perform a complete RESTORE from your last backup tape into its original directory structure IE: C:\WINNT and all subdirectories. After the restore - modify the BOOT.INI file in the root of C: to include an entry for the restored NT installation and reboot the machine into the restored installation.

NOTE: If you use a backup tape by Arcada (Conner), you can use NTBACKUP.EXE using this backup tape. Choose %SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\CONFIG and all Registry files. Your program groups and accounts should be restored. The Arcada backup doesn't allow you to explicitly specify the Registry files for backup or restore.

The Arcada product discussed here is manufactured by a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

Additional query words: prodnt

Keywords : kbtool ntutil
Version : 3.1
Platform : winnt
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: January 13, 1999
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