Let’s assume a scenario in which you have an external hard disk that you want to format using your Windows 2000 system. You create a BKF file of the data that you want to retain for future use. When you attempt to restore the file after formatting the hard disk, you fail to do so. An error message is displayed as a result, that is:

“[Unrecognized Media]

The backup file is unusable. You must erase it, or choose another file.”

After this error message, you can only click on the OK button to close the message box.

Cause:

The root cause of this error message is that the BKF file has corrupted and, now, is in an invalid Windows 2000 backup file format. There could be various reasons for BKF corruption such as virus infections, power outages, incomplete or interrupted backup process, etc. As the BKF file is corrupt, you are unable to restore data from it.

Resolution:

You should always check the backup reports and event logs to determine that backup has been created properly. Now as is stated, Windows does not provide any in-built utility to repair BKF files. So, to repair corrupted BKF file you should use a third-party MS backup repair tool. Such read-only tools repair the BKF files without overwriting the original contents using fast yet sophisticated scanning algorithms.

Stellar Phoenix BKF Recovery is a BKF repair tool that enables you to repair corrupted BKF files from all instances of corruption. It is capable of repairing the BKF files created in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003. This backup repair tool also recovers BKF files created by Backup Exec tool from Veritas and Symantec Software. It is easy-to-use software that does not require any prior high-end knowledge to repair the corrupted BKF file. It is compatible with Windows 7, Vista, Server 2003, XP, and 2000.

When you see the BKF files, which are created using concurrent execution of several backup processes,you will discover that the catalog files are missing from the Restore tab under the NTBackup utility. Catalogfiles of BKF file allow the NTBackup utility to restore your critical data from the BKF file.Although, all the backup operations complete successfully without showing any error message while backingup the data, but when you try to restore the data, you might encounter an error message related to unrecognizable and unusable file. Some of these error messages can be as given below:
.    The backup file contains unrecognized data and cannot be used
.    The backup file is unusable. You must erase it, or choose another file
.    An inconsistency was encountered on the requested media

At this point of time, you can’t re-create missing catalog files while other BKF files, which were created concurrently, already exist under the Restore tab of the NTBackup tool. Thus, you can’t restore the data from BKF file stored on your backup media.
Root of this problem
NTBackup tool creates catalog files for every BKF file and of every backup operation which is completed.

These files are stored in the following folder on your Windows computer:

%SystemRoot%\Documents and Settings\Account\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\catalogs

The Catalog files are shown under the Restore tab of NTBackup utility, so that you can select the part of backup file that you want to restore.

When you create more than one backup at a time, the catalog files share identical timestamp attribute. In thiscase, the backup set that was attributed first, emerges under the Restore tab. Other backups started concurrently do not appear under the Restore tab and you can’t add them manually. This process corrupts BKF file and bkf repair becomes necessary to achieve precise recovery. This is best possible using powerful and advanced third party bkf recovery software.

Stellar Phoenix BKF Recovery software can effectively Repair BKF Files created using NTBackup tool. The software is compatible with BKF files created with Windows XP, 2003 and 2000.  It supports Microsoft Windows Vista, XP, 2003 and 2000. It is also compatible with BKF files created using Backup Exec tool by VERITAS software.

Consider a practical scenario, the backup utility (NTBackup.exe) in Windows Server 2003 might accidentally delete the archive bit information when you backup your data in BKF file. Furthermore, when you select the BKF file for backup restoration and go to Advanced properties, you find that the “File is ready for archiving” check box isn’t checked. After the archive bit gets deleted, you can not restore your important data from BKF file by using NTBackup.exe.

Cause
The main cause for the occurrence of the above error message is the selection of “Verify data after backup completes” under Options dialog box. To prevent the occurrence of the above problem, you should avoid selecting “Verify data after backup completes” under Options dialog box.

Resolution
To resolve the above problem, Microsoft recommends a hotfix solution. After applying the hotfix, you need to restart your system. If you still can not use the BKF file, you should repair the corrupted BKF file by using powerful  bkf repair utility. Such MS Backup Recovery applications incorporate high end scanning algorithms to comprehensively scan and repair corrupted backup files. These utilities extract all the required information from the corrupted BKF file of any size. Due to their graphical user interface, these backup repair tools are easily understandable without any prior technical knowledge. These tools come with detailed and graphical documentation to make the user aware of different features and application screens.

Stellar Phoenix BKF Recovery is the most trustworthy Microsoft Backup File Repair utility. It systematically repairs and restores the corrupted BKF files. It is compatible with BKF files of Windows XP, 2003 and 2000. It can be installed on Windows Vista, XP, 2003 and 2000. It also supports Microsoft Backup File Repair for BKF files created with Backup Exec utility by VERITAS software.

You might encounter the below error message when you attempt to create a BKF file of some videos:

“The fixed media is full. You cannot back up all of the specified data to this disk device.
The backup operation will stop.”

The above error message mainly appears for the computer systems using FAT or FAT32 file systems. These file systems are compatible with maximum file size of about 4 GB. If you attempt to create a BKF file (of videos more than 4 GB in size) on a FAT partition, the BKF file may get corrupted.

To prevent the occurrence of the above error message, you need to use NTFS file system as it is compatible with large files of size up to 16 Exabytes. You need to convert the file system to NTFS using the below command:

convert <Drive:> /FS=NTFS

To resolve the above error and access the corrupted BKF file, you need to use Microsoft Backup File Repair software. Such applications effectively scan the corrupted BKF files and extract the important information from them. MS Backup Recovery applications do not refer to the size of corrupted BKF files and provide complete repair in all possible scenarios. With highly graphical and interactive user interface these recovery utilities are easy to understand without prior technical knowledge. They also come with detailed graphical documentation to make the repair and recovery experience user-friendly.

Stellar Phoenix BKF Recovery is the most reliable utility that provides powerful Microsoft Backup File Repair. It efficiently scans and repairs the corrupted BKF files. It is compatible with Windows Vista, XP, 2003 and 2000. It also provides BKF File Repair for files created with Backup Exec by VERITAS software. The demo version of this utility is provided on the Stellar’s website.

Stellar Information Systems, the industry’s leading and most advanced provider of data recovery products and services has launched Stellar Phoenix BKF Recovery software. Stellar, which has the maximum mind share in the Data Recovery tools, is a trustworthy name with the widest range of file repair tools for MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access and now has came up with Microsoft Backup Repair Software. This easy to use application is designed to recover corrupted BKF file from Microsoft Backup. The software repairs and recovers lost data from corrupted BKF files in all instances of BKF corruption when the user can not restore the back up data.

The simple, intuitive and modern interface makes Stellar Phoenix BKF Recovery the most user-friendly software available in the BKF recovery segment. The new software does a complete scan of the corrupted Microsoft Backup File and provides restoration of BKF files after any logical losses. After recovery, software will let you save repaired BKF files at a safe location. It also provides extensive search pattern to explore a BKF file from a specific location. Stellar Phoenix BKF Recovery supports Windows XP, 2003 and 2000 BKF files. It can be installed on Windows Vista, XP, 2003 and 2000.This user friendly software does not require any special user skills to use it. You can repair your BKF file in three easy steps select, scan and repair.

For further information please visit:

http://www.stellarinfo.com/bkf-recovery.htm

The software, which comes with a lifetime validity comes with three licensing options—Single User, Administrator License and Technician License. Pricing of the software starts from US $ 99 and is available online as well as through the company’s partner network across the globe.

About Stellar Information Systems
Stellar Information Systems Limited is an ISO 9001-2000 certified company specializing in data recovery and data protection software, services and solutions. Stellar offers a complete solution of file recovery software and lost data restoration programs for Windows (Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, 2003, XP, Vista), Apple Macintosh, Novell, Linux, Unix operating system and FAT, NTFS, NTFS5, HFS, HFS+, NWFS, JFS, EXT2 and EXT3 file systems.