48. How Do I Open QIC Backup Files In XP
The simple answer to this question is you don't.
Unfortunately the backup software supplied with
Windows XP saves files with a BKF extension and
therefore it is not possible, using XP, to open QIC
backup files that have been created using the backup
utility in previous versions of Windows.
That said, all is not lost, providing you can
gain access to a machine that runs Windows 95/98/Me.
If this can be done you can restore the QIC file to
the PC's hard drive and then copy the contents to a
CD.
Another alternative, of course, is to install a
copy of Windows 98 onto a separate partition on your
hard drive. This will make your machine a dual boot
machine, enabling you to boot into Windows 98/Me or
Windows XP. However, when considering a dual
boot system like this Windows 98 must be installed
on the first partition, i.e., drive C: and Windows
XP installed on the second partition, i.e., drive D:
If I come across any other alternative methods of
getting around the QIC problem I will update this
page accordingly.
UPDATE
This fix, contributed by Chuck Steinman, relies
upon you having access to a PC running Windows 98.
You will, of course, also need a PC running Windows
XP.
While I have not personally tested this fix, I am
advised by Chuck that it is a simpler, less complex
approach to retrieving QIC files.
- On the Windows 98 PC open Windows Explorer and
navigate to c:\program
files\accessories\backup directory.
- Inside this directory you will find a file
called MSBACKUP.EXE and two sub
folders called System and reports.
- Copy the MSBACKUP.EXE file
and the System folder to a CD or, if you are using
Windows 98SE, a USB thumb drive.
- Once all of the files are safely copied, you
need to transfer them to the Windows XP PC.
- For ease of application, create a folder in
c:\program files\ called
accessories, and inside that folder, a
sub-folder called backup. Now copy
the MSBACKUP.EXE file and the
contents of the System folder to this newly created
backup folder. Don't copy the system folder,
only the contents.
- Once you have done this, either right click on
the MSBACKUP.EXE file and select
'Properties'. In the Properties
window, Click on the 'Compatibility'
tab and then place a 'tick' in the
box next to the option 'Run this program in
compatibility mode for.' Next, from the
drop down box below this option select
'Windows 98/Windows ME' and then press
OK. Now simply click on the file to
run the MSBACKUP application.
- You can now start to access the QIC
files from your backup disk(s).
- Once you have finished transferring all the
QIC files you can then back them
up, if you wish, using the Windows XP version of
NTBackup. This is installed by
default on Windows XP Professional. If you have XP
Home then you will need to install NTBackup from
your XP CD. For further details see question
21.
- Finally, once you have completed the backup
procedure, you can delete the Windows 98 backup
application and files from your hard drive.