Vista - Question about computer restore and computer backup

Howdy forum goers, I have a question about restoring a system. I just recently replaced my motherboard in my case, and before I did I ran the "Back up computer" tool from the backup & restore center in the control panel. I backed up all my drives onto an external. After I backed up I went ahead and replaced the mobo, and then I did a clean install of Windows Business 64 bit (previously running Business 32 bit). The drive with Windows on it is partitioned, and it turns out I only had to format the partition with Windows and keep the other just fine. So now I have a clean version of 64bit on this partition.

What I'm now wondering about is the "Restore Computer" tool. If I restore my C drive from the backup I made on 32 bit Vista, will it work? Can you grab a restore from a different version of the OS? I'm also wondering about the drivers, this Vista (x64) install was pretty blue screen-y until I installed drivers for all my hardware. Will a restore overwrite driver installs? Is it a safe bet to go ahead and restore my C drive, or will it fail / harm anything?

If it won't work, what other alternatives do I have for getting my data? Is there just some way to extract the files from a backup archive? Thanks forum goers!

This one is a relative unknown. I don't think the drivers are re-installed so:~

Go on give it a go! Tell us what happens! It should work fine...But i wouldn't guarantee it... You don't lose the data on the external drive so it's a fairly safe bet...
Tell us what happens mind you!

Hello DelvarWorld,

As you have a disc image of a 32 bit system and and Live 64 bit system these are NOT compatible A restoration of the image you have will overwrite your live system restoring the original system to the state it was when you made the backup.

I am assuming you performed a "Windows Complete PC Backup" of your system, if this is the case it should be possible to restore only the Data portion of the image.

MS have instructions for this here ...

Question about computer restore and computer backup

Hi barman, thanks for the advice! Just one thing, the link you posted appears to go to this thread...copy and paste mishap?

Hi,

I think it was this that I meant to post

How to use Vista's Complete PC Backup and Restore utility

i used the back and restore center of vista to back up all the necesary data that i had in my hdd then when trying to get it restored it is not being restored from the backup and restore center it is not giving the option of restore and when i am trying to copy paste or transfer all the data of hdd it is not being done so can anyone help me out

Hey, I can't find anything about restoring the data portion only from this link.

Hi

I.m sure I did see some mention of the recovery of data only from this type of backup - obviously not on the link I posted - Will see If I can track down the actual post I thought I had posted before.

The only other way I can see to get this data extracted is to do a complete restore, System and data, to another drive or partition and then transfer the data to the new 64 bit install.