Vista Ultimate problem with 'Advanced Restore' from remote computer backup

Question

I have been successfully doing Vista 'File Backup' to a remote PC - a UNC reference to a large USB drive on another computer.   My Inspiron E1505 HDD crashed and I went to do a restore following warranty replacement.  I selected 'Advanced Restore,' entered the UNC of the backup sets ( \pamd2\e$\bernhtpl3) and pressed Next.  It responded with 'Windows was not able to find any backup sets on \pamd2\e$\bernhtpl3.  However, I can point Explorer to the same UNC and see the backup sets (and everything else) without any problem.  I've tried everything from entering lower-level UNCs to the individual Backup Sets and even to the Backup Files, and then also to the root, but nothing works.   I've done a quick web search and nothing points to a solution.  I need to restore much of the backup I clearly see on the remote drive, but nothing seems to work.  I am holding off returning the failed drive until I can do a restore in the event I might need to try (an expensive) hardware restore of the data.   Please help   Tom

mombodog · Answer

You never said what OS is on the remote PC, this may help others with solving.   Firewalls can be an issue.   Are you using advanced restore from inside the OS or booting from the Vista DVD?

bernhtp · Answer

The remote PC is XP, but this should be irrelevant as it just exposes a remote file system via the UNC.   The remote PC is on the local network and there are no firewalls between, but again the salient point is that I can see the backup sets, backup files and images via explorer to the same UNC.  Thus there are no access issues.   Backups had been successful for months and there are numerous backup sets out there with many more nightly 'Backup Files 2007-xx-xx xxxxxx' folders.   Summary:  1.  The backups were reported as successful to this UNC.  2.  I can access the files on the UNC including all of the backup sets and backup files folders without problem  3.  Attempting to use the Advanced Restore UI against this accessible UNC with apparently whole backup file images results in failure.   What is it looking for that it cannot somehow access or find?  You would think that it would have reported this difficulty (if any) by alerting of a backup failure.

mombodog · Answer

I wonder if advanced restore would see the files if the usb drive was connected directly to the Vista PC. This would tell you if it is a problem with the backups or a network/software unc problem.   'The remote PC is on the local network and there are no firewalls between'   XP has a built in firewall, probably not the issue, but who knows. Firewalls can block one program and not another, this is why I suspected a firewall issue here.   I have seen issues on the web about using unc and vista on a network when trying to access an executable program, but not simple file access. A strange problem you have.   Bang head here >   X   If you do figure it out, please post the solution, thanks.

Windows General

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