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Question

Help me please

May 24, 2012 6:03AM PDT

Hi,

I've been searching for days but cannot find a solution to my problem. I had vista 64 bit OS and got driver an keypad troubles so I restored to 32 bit after a full back up to an external hard drive, now I cannot restore the files as the restore center gives the error " the data area passed to a system call is too small oX8007007a" can anyone help on this as I need my files asap.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
That's a clue. Not much of one but a clue.
May 24, 2012 6:11AM PDT

One of the terrible issues with MSBACKUP (or whatever we call it) is it has issues with restoring to other systems. As you don't have the same system you backed up from you need to use your backup copy. That is the copy of stuff you can't lose that you keep in some simple non-proprietary storage.

Many learn about this issue the hard way. So if you are just learning about it, be sure to try http://www.drivesavers.com since they are experts on recovery when we failed to backup in ways we can recover.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsbackup/thread/23381467-4a4a-4f96-84ff-d3e895e56260/ is worth reading as it's a Microsoft forum.

Nod to drivesavers.com
Bob

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More clues it's borked.
May 24, 2012 6:14AM PDT
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Thanks
May 24, 2012 6:18AM PDT

Cheers for the quick reply Bob, I've had the same question posted onsocial.technet since last tuesday but had no luck there. I'll have a look at drivesavers now.

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Answer
Check Task Scheduler
May 24, 2012 6:18AM PDT

Check the Task Scheduler and see if anything else is in there that might be holding things up.

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thanks KenHusveg
May 24, 2012 6:23AM PDT

Did I not mention I'm a sofa laptop user Grin I found "Task Scheduler" but what am I looking for after that??

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Task Scheduler
May 24, 2012 6:31AM PDT

Look in the Library and see if anything is running that might be interfering with your restore. While your at it go look at the Task Manager and end any processes you don't need.

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Thanks
May 24, 2012 6:48AM PDT

I have nothing in the task library and don't know enough about the processes to be deleting any.

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Task Scheduler
May 25, 2012 1:10AM PDT

Any other ideas please????

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Just one.
May 25, 2012 2:34AM PDT

Since we know how finicky MSBACKUP is, you could try Vista 64 bit again and hope it restores.

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Task Scheduler
May 25, 2012 3:15AM PDT

I thought of that but then there are drivers not available for 64bit so I'd lose part of my keyboard (the reason I went back to 32bit in the first place) Cry

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So the choices are?
May 25, 2012 3:19AM PDT

1. Lose the files.
2. Data recovery companies.
3. Other?

Sorry but recovery of the files if this works means you get a second short at backups that work.

Let me be very blunt here. Microsoft backup have failed too many times for me to consider their titles every again. They just don't get it. And they may be able to help you if you surrender the plastic card.

I'm unsure why folk continue to learn the backup lessons first hand. But I fear they must.
Bob

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Thanks
May 25, 2012 4:06AM PDT

Cheers Bob, your a hard man Grin as I've said I'm a sofa PC user so I just did what I was told. The back up is in zip files so could they not just be unzipped and saved to the laptop that way??? or be blunt with me again, am I flogging a dead horse here and should give up??

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Tell us more
May 25, 2012 4:12AM PDT

about your keyboard and mouse, and what backup method you used.

Zip files can just be unzipped. Windows can do that. But how did you back them up and what software did you use?

About the keyboard and mouse. It's surprising they don't work in Vista 64 bit because unless they are some special keyboard and mouse the OS should simply use them wihout drivers, so what can you tell us about these?

Mark

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Mark
May 25, 2012 4:21AM PDT

Hi Mark, I had win vista 64 on an inherited PC, the Fn volume and brightness would not work or the S1 so after a few weeks of looking and downloading drivers etc I was informed that microsoft don't have available 64 bit drivers for these functions. So I decidet to revert to 34bit. Before I did that I ran a complete back up in Windows back up and restore program. There are about 90 zip files under the back up file on the external hard drive so I think it might be possible to go through each and unzip them BUT that's a pain in the *** to me.

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As Bob says
May 25, 2012 4:32AM PDT

Returning to Vista 64 bit may be better, but...

How would you do that? Do you have the Vista 64 bit retail DVD to do that, or some hidden restore partition on the drive?

If you do, then don't count on Microsoft to find drivers for you. They don't do drivers and that driver finder utility in the Device Manager should not be used. More often than not they find incorrect drivers.

It is much better to go to the computer maker's web site to find all the drivers for this make and model. Do we know what make and model this PC is yet?

It's confusing that you have files backed up as zip files, yet you say you used Windows own backup to do them. I don't understand that to be honest as i thought Windows Backup used a different file extension.

But if they are zip files, then 7zip will show you what they are before you unzip them.

Mark

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Sorry my prior reply was incomplete.
May 25, 2012 4:18AM PDT

First, ZIP files can indeed be unzipped so try 7zip (see google)

My thought about going back to Vista 64 is maybe, just maybe the restore will work. Then you get a second shot at backup and more.
Bob

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Thanks
May 25, 2012 4:28AM PDT

I already have winzip so I might give it a try and if that fails I'll consider reloading 64 bit and starting again. I'll see what value the files "really" are to me and make a decision then. Thanks to all you guys for your help it's been great.