Resolve The Backup File Contains Unrecognized Data and Cannot be Used Error

When working with critical data, it is important to back up all data. In the case of an original loss of data, you can recover your data from these backup files. Windows XP has an NTBackup utility that allows users to easily back up their data. The Windows NTBackup program creates a backup in BKF file format. If necessary, users can easily restore the BKF file. Most of the time, when restoring the backup, errors occurred that said: “the backup file contains unrecognized data and cannot be used”. In this blog, we’ll show you the complete steps to resolve this error and how to restore BKF file in Windows 10 and other versions.

Reasons Behind This Windows Backup Error

Users can easily take a backup of their important data by using NTbackup utility which already exists in Windows XP. There can be many different reasons behind the error. Some of them are mentioned below:

1. When users try to restore backup files created on Windows XP / Server 2003 using the NTBackup utility on Windows 7, 8, 10 and other versions, this error is displayed.
2. When users try to restore a corrupted backup file, then the same error occurs. There can be any reason behind BKF file corruption such as virus attack, software corruption, hard drive failure, CRC error, and many more.

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Solution To Resolve The Backup File Contains Unrecognized Data and Cannot be Used Error

The NTBackup utility has been removed from later versions of Microsoft Windows. To resolve this issue, the user must install the NTbackup tool in Windows 7, 8, 10 whichever they are using and where the BKF file is to be restored. The NTBackup utility has two dll files that create a backup and restore a Windows XP backup in Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, and so on. These files are:

1. ntmsapi.dll
2. vssapi.dll

After downloading the utility you need to take care of two things. First, the location of these two files should be the same as that of ntbackup.exe. If the location is different, the tool will not run. Second, make sure that the files are not saved to the original location, as this can make the existing files ineffective.

Steps To Restore Windows XP Backup in Windows 10, 8, 7

In order to fix the error “the backup file contains unrecognized data and cannot be used” follow the mentioned process:

Step 1. Download and extract the nt5backup.cab file, make sure that it contains 3 files: 2 dll files and ntbackup.exe

Step 2. Click on the ntbackup.exe. After that “Removable Storage Not Running” screen will appear, click OK.

Step 3. Welcome to the Backup or Restore Wizard will open, click the Next button.

Step 4. Click on the Restore and Manage Media tab.

Step 5. Select the backup file you want to restore and also select the location where you want to restore BKF file.

Step 6. Now, click on the Start Restore button and confirm restore by clicking OK.

Step 7. Once the restore process is completed, a pop up will appear “The restore completed, but some files were skipped”. Click the Close button.

What To Do If the BKF File is Corrupted and Cannot be Restored?

If you continue to receive “the backup file contains unrecognized data and cannot be used” error when restoring the backup from Windows XP, then it is clear that your BKF file is corrupted. The NTBackup tool can not restore a corrupted backup file. In such a situation, you can use SysTools BKF Recovery Tool which will allow you to repair damaged Windows BKF file. This software supports all current and earlier versions of Microsoft Windows, allowing users to restore backups in Windows 10, 8, 7, and so on.

How To Repair Corrupted BKF File and Restore in Windows 7, 8, 10

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The recovery software easily fixes damaged and inaccessible backup file with all data like images, video, emails, documents and many more. Follow the step by step guide to perform this task:

Step 1. Download and Run the software on your system.

Step 2. Browse and select the BKF file.

Step 3. Select scan mode: Quick, Deep or Range Based and click on the Scan button.

Step 4. Once the scanning process is completed, the tool displays the preview of recovered data items.

Step 5. Extract backup file at original or the selected location as per the need. Click on the Extract button.

Final Words

Almost all users face the error “the backup file contains unrecognized data and cannot be used” while restoring the backup. To resolve this error, we discussed the best and most proven solution. The NTbackup utility already exists only in Windows XP The NTbackup utility already exists only in Windows XP and it does not work to restore the backup file in Windows 7, 8, and other versions. In this blog, we have explained the step by step solution to overcome this problem using NTbackup tool and a third-party tool. In case of the corrupted backup file, you will need to download the automated tool because with the NTBackup utility it is not possible to recover corrupted backup files.