windows 98 restore - no backup sets

[kenetech2003]

I have a windows 98 SE system that died. Last week we did a full backup using the windows 98 backup program to the D drive (a 15 GIG hard drive), verified the data and all (we thought) was well. I reloaded windows 98.

I went to restore the back up and got the following message "the current media does not contain any backup sets". "Closing the program." HELP!!!!!!

All of the backups (5 of them done at different tinmes and of different file selections) give the same message. I have removed the hard drive with the backups on and tried it on two other windows 98 machines with exactly the same results. The major backup is 1.3Gigs and verified perfectly just 5 days ago. But I cant open it.

Are there any programs I can download to read a QIC file that windows 98 backup wont read? Is there any other solution that anyone can help me with?

Many many thanks.

Ken

 

[wolluf]

Do the backup files actually appear to be there on the partition? If so, can you copy them elsewhere and restore from there?
if no, you could use a data recovery tool to recover them - eg,

http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/UK/welcome.htm

 

[Crustyoldbloke]

If I'm reading this correctly, the backups are reliant on a working OS to restore them. It sounds as though you have two HDD's. If the "dead Win98SE" is US, then another Win98 OS will need to be installed to restore the backups.

Can you install to D drive? Regards
Phil

 

[kenetech2003]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

I have a new 'working' windows 98 operating system on drive C: that does not appear to show any errors. However, I have not been able to restore the previously backed up data (on drive D on the system. I tried copying the backup to the C: drive.

The only error showing is that when I try and restore the data (from the backup made with the old W98 SE) with the backup/restore program with the new W98 SE operating system the backup program reports "the current media does not contain any backup sets" and the backup program closes.

The backup file is 1.3gigs and when made 5 days ago seemed to be OK in that the data verified OK. It appears that the catalog of the backup is corrupt/empty.

What I am trying to find is a way to repair the QIC file. The backup created by the Win 98 SE backup program. I know the data is in there somewhere I am trying to find a way to access the files in the QIC backup file.

Thanks

Ken

PS I tried to recover some of the data direct from the hard drive ( eg the outlook.pst file) using a data recovery tool suggested. However, the outlook program wont accept the recovered file as a valid pst file. I have recovered various versions of the pst file (always using the "lost data" option as I quick formatted the hard drive) and none of them were accepted as valid pst file by outlook.

 

[caitcheson]

Ken
Sorry I can't answer your question. The same error has just occurred with me and I'm posting this in the hope that you might have found a solution from somewhere by now and can point me in the same direction.
It happened with me as a hard drive was beginning to 'pass away' (although I didn't know it at the time). I started a new routine backup which stopped almost immediately and this seems to be the root of the problem.
I can't copy the backup file from one hard disk to another using Windows but I can copy it in DOS.
Thanks
Chris

 

[GLevesque]

Hello Ken,
Wow what a mess. I just experienced the same problem, and cannot restore my backup file, getting the same error msg. My QIC file is on a CD, and I have also copied it on my new hard drive, but MS Backup still cannot read it. I am just writting in case you have found a solution, and if you wouldn't mind passing it on.
Good luck, and if I find somthing I will let you know.
Gilles