How to Restore the Backup Server

If the Backup Server computer has a problem, you might find that you need to reinstall the Backup Server software on a replacement hard drive or a new computer.  When this happens, follow the steps below to restore your Backup Server.

Note, the instructions below assume that all you need to do is reinstall the Backup Server software.  This set of instructions assumes that your backup data is still intact. A good example of this situation occurs when the C: drive inside the Backup Server computer fails and you had been storing your backup data to an external drive or a NAS device, or some other disk-based device that has not been affected by the failure of the C: drive.

This webpage provides you with instructions you can follow when you need to:

• Restore your Backup Server software.
• Troubleshoot problems encountered while reinstalling your Backup Server software.

How to Restore your Backup Server:

1. You need an operational copy of Windows on the computer that you intend to use as your Backup Server.  If Windows is not already installed on this computer, please install it now.
2. Download the current Backup for Workgroups setup program.  Click on the following link to download this program now.
   
   http://www.backup-for-workgroups.com/downloads/bfwsetup.exe
3. Run the Backup for Workgroups setup program. At the initial, opening screen, press Next,  and on the License Agreement page, click "I Agree" to accept the License Agreement Terms and press Next.
4. On the Welcome screen, choose the option "I need to access my existing Backup for Workgroups backup data.  I am reinstalling Backup for Workgroups." Press Next.
5. Choose the option to "Reinstall the Backup Server."  Press Next.
6. Use the Find Existing Backup Data screen to tell Backup for Workgroups the location of your existing backup data. When finished, press Next.
7. On the Reinstall Client Account screen, you can choose to reinstall the Backup Client software if you used to include the Backup Server computer in the backup process. Press Next.
8. Now you are ready to test your access to the Backup Server, at the Test Firewall screen verify that your firewall has port 2125 open to allow inbound TCP.  Press Finish.
9. When the Setup process completes, the Backup Server Admin appears.  To verify that your Backup for Workgroups installation is using your previous backup data, take a look at the Status panel and find the line item that shows the number of files backed up.  This should NOT BE ZERO.  If it is ZERO, read the Troubleshooting section below.
10. Go to the Clients panel and verify that your list of Clients is intact.  You should see your list of computers that you are backing up.  If this list is BLANK, read the Troubleshooting section below.
11. Now that your Backup Server software is installed, you are ready to continue normal backups and/or perform file restorations.

Troubleshooting the Reinstallation of the Backup Server

The most common problems encountered when you are reinstalling your Backup Server are:

• Access Rights Problems Occur When Reading/Writing to the Storage Device.
• Selecting the Incorrect Path to the Backup Data Storage Device(s).

Access Rights Problems Occur When Reading/Writing to the Storage Device.

If you have reinstalled the Backup Server and you are storing your backup data to a NAS or network share and it reports that it cannot write to the Storage Device, the most common cause of this problem is with access rights. The first thing to check is to make sure the Backup Server has rights to the NAS or share point.  Let’s do the following:

1. Run Backup for Workgroups and go to the Storage Panel.
2. Select the storage location that is listed in the upper portion of the screen under the Backup Storage section.
3. Press the Modify button.
4. At  the Modify Storage Location screen press the Network Share button.
5. At the Select NAS Devices and Shared Network Folders... screen, enter the name of a Windows account and its password that exists on this computer.  The Backup for Workgroups service will use this Windows account to access your network.
6. Make sure the path specified in Step 2 is the correct path to the NAS or network share.
7. Enter the name of an Account and its password that has full access rights to this NAS or network share.
8. Press the Verify button to test access to the network share.
9. Press OK to save your Network Share access information
10. Press OK to save the modifications to the Storage Location.

Selecting the Incorrect Path to the Backup Data Storage Device(s).

If you have reinstalled the Backup Server, but then it reports that no files were backed up and the list of computers to backup is empty, the implication is the path to the Backup Storage is incorrect.  Instead of using the path to the preexisting data, a different path has been specified that does not point to any preexisting data. As a result, the Backup Server created a NEW, EMPTY Repository. To correct this situation, all we need to do is change the path to use that points to the preexisting data.

1. Run Backup for Workgroups and go to the Storage Panel.
2. Select the storage location that is listed in the upper portion of the screen under the Backup Storage section.
3. Press the Modify button.
4. On the Modify Storage Location screen, look at the current storage path.  If the correct storage location is at a network share, press the Network Share button.  If the correct Storage path is on a local drive or USB drive then press the Advanced button and enter the correct storage location.
5. Press OK to save your changes.