Video Tutorial: Windows 2003 NTbackup ASR Backup and Restore

The NTbackup tool that comes with all versions of Windows makes it easy to backup and restore files and folders for every user.  Windows 2003 version added the ASR option that makes it easier to restore a server after a crash in the shortest time.Performing an ASR restore of a Windows server is an exercise that every system administrator should do and be comfortable with it. In this article, I’ll be presenting an example of making a full backup of a Windows host using ASR option. I’ll start by showing how to create a floppy image under VMWare (workstation in this case but it’s all the same). Then I will make a backup, destroy the disk and restore the server using ASR. At the end, the server will be as it was at backup time.

so let’s start!

Creating the floppy image

To create a floppy image, simply go to hardware edit tab, double click on floppy icon and chose “using an image”; you’ll have the option to create a blank image, that’s what I highlight in the following video.

Now, let’s get into the action!

Performing the backup and restore.

So, now that we have a blank “floppy” to use, let’s start by making the ASR backup. Note that the ASR backup will save most of system configuration files, system state, boot info, registry and so on. Ensure that the .bkf file is saved together with the floppy. The .bkf file may be saved to a network share, or on a second disk attached to the server to restore.

So be able to apply this procedure, you’ll need:

• Windows 2003 CD (or what ever version you use)
• Created ASR floppy with its .bkf file

To perform the restore, we start by booting on Windows CD and hitting F2 when the ASR Restore choice is available. The Windows setup will start as any usual windows setup, but it will ask you soon for the backup file. Once the restore ends, the setup will reboot the server and you’ll be able to use the server as it was at backup time.

I hope you found it useful, and I’d like to thank you for your time.