Windows 7 won't restore backup files . . . .

[janebeth]

My Windows 7 laptop broke. Fortunately I backed up my data on a Seagate external hard drive. I used Windows backup in Windows 7. I have another computer running Windows 8.1 but it won't accept the Windows 7 backup from the external drive.

Questions:
1. Would this problem or conflict have occurred if I had used the Seagate backup software instead of Windows 7 backup? (Would the backed up data restore to Windows 8.1 from Seagate software?)

2. Can I restore the backup files to a borrowed Windows 7 computer and then back it up again, - this time using the Seagate software to overcome this issue? (So then my data would be backed up using Seagate software which hopefully would restore/transfer to any computer.)

3. If I restore from the current backup system image will the system image cause any interference or damage to the borrowed Windows 7 computer?

4. Can I restore only my folders and files from a Windows 7 backup or must I use the system image?

5. What is the difference between restoring files vs. restoring from a system image?

6. Do I need to create my user profile on the borrowed computer before restoring from the external hard drive or will the profile be automatically created?

These are the specific questions that I would like to have answered. If you can reply to these questions it would be most helpful.

 

[Kursun]

Hello,
You may use Acronis True Image software to convert your Windows backup to Acronis backup format and try restoring the image using Acronis software.

I use Acronis 2013 for backups. It has "Backup Conversion - Convert an Acronis backup to a Windows backup, and vice versa" tool. Newest version of this software probably has the same tool.

If you integrate Acronis to Windows Explorer you can even see/select/copy the files you want using Windows Explorer. Or you may do a complete restore of course.