Restore to an Earlier Time
Fast-Backup Version 4 can rebuild a folder as it appeared at an earlier point in time. This is useful when files were changed, corrupted or deleted before the problem was discovered.
Restore Points Come from Keep Old
The Restore feature uses the dated restore points created when Keep Old Files is enabled. These are stored in folders whose names begin with _OLD_, with a separate time folder for each restore point.
The available dates depend on the Keep Old period selected for the backup and how much history remains on the destination drive.
How a Restore Works
Fast-Backup first copies the relevant files from the latest backup into a new working folder. It then works backwards through the recorded changes until that copy matches the restore point you selected.
The result is placed in a new folder named RESTORED_FOLDER. Fast-Backup does not overwrite the current backup or the original source files.
How to Restore a Folder
- Make sure the drive or location containing the backup is available.
- Open Fast-Backup and put the backup location in the To box.
- Select Restore. Fast-Backup will normally offer the most recent available restore point.
- Use Browse if you want a different date, time or folder.
- Leave Restore Destination at its suggested location, or select an existing folder on a different drive.
- Select OK. Fast-Backup will not start if RESTORED_FOLDER already exists at the destination.
- When the restore finishes, inspect the new RESTORED_FOLDER before copying any recovered files elsewhere.
Restore the Smallest Useful Folder
Selecting the whole restore point rebuilds the whole backup and can take a long time. It is normally much quicker to select only the folder containing the files you need.
If you need only one earlier file, you may not need the Restore feature at all. You can browse the dated _OLD_ folders and copy that file directly.
If the Folder Is Missing from the Restore Point
The folder you want to restore may not exist inside the selected _OLD_ date and time folder. This does not necessarily mean that Fast-Backup cannot restore it.
It is safe to create an empty folder with exactly the same name in the correct location inside that restore point. Select the new folder and run Restore normally. Leave the folder empty: Fast-Backup will reconstruct its contents from the current backup and the available backup history.
Where the Result Is Stored
By default, RESTORED_FOLDER is created inside the restore-point folder you selected. You can choose an existing destination folder on a different drive instead; Fast-Backup then creates RESTORED_FOLDER inside that folder.
The destination on another drive is useful when the backup drive may not have enough room for both the backup and a large restored copy. Fast-Backup will not use a custom destination on the same drive, and it will not overwrite an existing RESTORED_FOLDER.
If a Restore Is Stopped
If you cancel a restore or an error prevents it from completing, RESTORED_FOLDER may contain only a partial result. Check the messages shown by Fast-Backup and do not treat that folder as a complete restored copy.
If the destination runs out of space, Fast-Backup stops immediately. It does not delete _OLD_ folders, backup history or other files to make room during a restore. The incomplete restored folder is left in place for you to inspect or remove.
Restoring from the Command Line
The command-line edition supports