You double-click an old NTBACKUP archive on a Windows Vista machine and nothing happens. Or you get a message that the backup file is unusable, or that it contains unrecognized data. That is the situation Open BKF in VISTA is built for.
Quick facts
- Version: 4.0
- Platforms: Windows, including Windows Vista
- Price: $89.00
- Trial: a demo version is available
Why Vista makes BKF files awkward
Vista no longer includes the old NTBACKUP restore tool in the way earlier Windows versions did. To open a BKF file with Microsoft's own route, you have to turn on Removable Storage Management under Windows Features. That does nothing for a file that is already damaged, which is where a dedicated recovery utility comes in.
Key features
Repair BKF archives that report CRC errors
The software reads a corrupt .bkf file and tries to recognize damaged metadata so it can locate the files that can still be recovered. It targets errors such as CRC (cyclic redundancy check) failures, "fails to open file" and "the backup file is unusable".
Preview files before you restore them
A file preview option lets you check the contents of a recovered file. Search and sort options help you find one document in a large archive.
Keep original file creation dates
Recovered files keep their original creation dates, so your restored folders stay in order.
Read BKF files from several sources
It handles BKF files made by NTBACKUP on Windows Vista, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows 2003 Server. It also handles files made by Backup Exec by VERITAS. You can restore music, images and documents.
Who it's for
You will get the most from it if you have an old or damaged NTBACKUP archive and need specific files out of it. It suits anyone who cannot get the built-in Windows route to work.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Targets corrupt archives, not just healthy ones
- Preview, search and sort before you restore
- Reads BKF files from many Windows versions and Backup Exec
- A demo version lets you test it first
Cons
- Paid software at $89.00 for full use
- It only handles BKF archives, so it is no general backup tool
- Recovery results depend on how badly the file is damaged
FAQs
Can I open a BKF file in Windows Vista without extra software?
You can turn on Removable Storage Management in Windows Features, which is the vendor's suggested first step. A corrupt file may still need a recovery tool.
Which errors does it address?
It targets CRC errors, "fails to open file", "the backup file contains unrecognized data" and "the backup file is unusable".
Does it work with files from Backup Exec?
Yes. It supports BKF files created with Backup Exec by VERITAS as well as NTBACKUP files.
Can I try it first?
Yes, a demo version is available.
System requirements
- 64 MB RAM
- 10 MB disk space
- Windows Vista, XP, 2003, 2000, NT, ME, 98 or 95