NTBackup Server 2012: How to Back up Files in Windows Server
Overview of NTBackup
NTBackup is the built-NTBackup is a backup tool introduced by Windows NT in 1997. It has been a part of all subsequent Windows versions, including Windows 2000, XP, and 2003. NTBackup uses a proprietary format (BFK) to back up files to various media, such as tape, ZIP drives, floppy disks, and hard drives, and allows for automated backups with scheduling and command-line options.
To create files backup in Windows 2003/2000/XP, simply run the command prompt by pressing Win + R, type "ntbackup", and follow the Backup or Restore Wizard to complete the files backup. This supports normal, daily, differential, and incremental backup options.
Can you use NTBackup on Server 2012?
Unfortunately, NTBackup has been replaced by Windows Server Backup since the release of Windows Server 2008, making it not recommended or feasible to use NTBackup for data backup on Windows Server 2012.
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To restore the files from a Windows Server 2003 NTBackup (.bkf) file on a Server 2012 machine, you can use the Windows Server 2012's built-in "Windows Backup" feature, which can read and restore .bkf files. Alternatively, you can use a third-party tool such as Lepore or Microsoft's own "Backup and Restore" tool, which can be downloaded from Microsoft's website. These tools can read and restore the .bkf file, allowing you to extract the files you need. You can also use the built-in "Windows Explorer" to browse the backup and select the files you want to restore, then copy them to the desired location.
Well, this is actually possible on Server 2008, but it seems you can hardly do it on Server 2012 now.
How to restore Server 2003 NTBackup onto Server 2012/2008
If you backed up files using NTBackup in an earlier version, restoring them in a compatible Windows OS in the future will be relatively easy. To do this, simply choose "Restore files and settings" in the Backup or Restore Wizard and follow the on-screen instructions.
However, restoring Server 2003 bkf files becomes complex when trying to restore them on newer operating systems that don't support NTBackup, making the whole process quite different and more complicated.
For Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7, Microsoft offers an NT Backup Restore Utility to restore .bkf files, but it's only for restore and not for backup, and it's not compatible with subsequent OS versions.
For users with Windows 10 or Windows Server 2012, the NT5Backup.cab option is available, which was a free tool that could be downloaded and unzipped, but the download link is currently unavailable, making it a tough task if the paid BKF Repair Tool is not an option.
Alternative to NTbackup for Windows Server 2012/2016/2019/2022
The NTBackup was replaced by Windows Backup and Restore in Windows Vista and later, making data backup and recovery time-consuming and inconvenient, especially when downloading a special compatible version to convert between different Windows.
As a result, many users are searching for an alternative to NTbackup Server 2012, and we recommend Qiling Disk Master Server.
Highlights of Qiling Disk Master Server:
▸The software is quite easy to use, making it accessible to both computer experts and newbies alike, thanks to its intuitive interface.
▸Easier to control and effective to back up everything compared with many other server backup tools.
▸The software supports all Windows Servers and PCs, including the latest operating systems such as Server 2022, Server 2019, and Windows 11.
▸Apart from allowing you to back up files, folders, disk and partition, it also does a great job of backing up your system and providing cloud backup capabilities.
▸The software allows users to schedule automatic backups of their data, ensuring the backup image remains current and up-to-date.
You can download the 30-The free trial version of Windows Server 2012 allows you to back up files using the built-in Backup and Recovery tool. To back up files, go to the Server Manager, click on "Add Roles and Features," then select "File and Storage Services" and "Distributed File System" to enable the Backup and Recovery tool.
Step 1. To back up files in Windows Server 2012, install and launch Qiling Disk Master Server, then click "File Backup" under the "Backup" column.
Tip: You can still back up files using the Cloud Backup feature, which comes with a cloud drive called Qiling Cloud, offering 1TB of free cloud storage for 15 days. Simply select the files you want to back up.
Step 2. In the File Backup interface, click on either "Files" or "Folder" to select the files or folders you wish to backup.
Step 3. Choose a destination location for your backup files based on your needs, such as a local disk, network share, NAS, or cloud drive like Google Drive.
Step 4. To execute the files backup task in Windows server 2012, click "Proceed" after completing the steps.
Bottom line
Besides NTBackup Server 2012, there are other methods to back up files in Windows Server, each with its own procedures. However, Qiling Disk Master stands out as a great alternative to NTBackup, offering a reliable way to back up and restore Windows Server, including restoring to a new server with dissimilar hardware.
This software offers a range of impressive features, including real-time file sync, which continuously monitors and synchronizes files between source and destination paths as soon as changes occur, making it a worthwhile try.
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