1. To restore your data from the backup file, click the Recovery icon in the main TrueImage window. Read through the introductory information in this window and click Next.

2. Now find the backup file that you want to restore. Search through the folders and drives in the left side of the window until you find the file.

If you placed the backup file on a removable hard drive, be sure to connect the hard drive before beginning this process. If you placed the backup file on a CD or DVD and had to use multiple discs in the backup process, you’ll need to insert the last CD or DVD in the backup sequence before beginning the restoration process.

Highlight the file and click Next. (If you added a password to the backup file, you’ll need to enter it in the right side of the window before you can click Next and continue.)

If you’ve selected a file that’s an incremental backup file, TrueImage will ask which archive you want to use, based on the time and date the software created the incremental file. This allows you to select the point of restoration. (However, TrueImage cannot restore from an incremental file if the initial full backup file or any incremental files are missing between the full backup and the incremental backup you selected.)

If you’ve selected a file that’s a differential backup file, you must have the initial full backup file, as well, or the restoration will fail.

3. TrueImage now will ask whether you want to restore an entire disk, an entire partition, or selected files. Click the restoration type you want and click Next.

4a. If you selected to restore a disk or partition, place a check mark next to the correct partition and click Next. (The software might then ask you whether you want to resize the data; in most cases, you’ll want to click No.) Highlight the partition or disk that will accept the restored data and click Next. TrueImage then will display a few more windows, asking for your choices for the settings for the partition or disk; in most cases, you’ll want to just click Next in each window and accept TrueImage’s suggestions, which matches the settings at the time of the backup’s creation.

4b. If you selected to restore files, you now select the location on your PC where you want the restored data to appear. You can choose to send the data to any location, although we’d suggest its original location would be the best option most of the time when performing a restoration. Click the Next button. Now click the files and folders that you want to restore. You can place a check mark next to the name of the backup file to choose to restore all of the data in the file. Or simply place check marks next to only the files and folders that you want to restore. You can select any combination of files and folders to restore. Click Next.

5. Now you can set the restoration options. The default options will suffice the vast majority of the time.

6. Finally, you’ll see a summary of the settings for the restoration process. To start the restoration, click the Proceed button. If you’re restoring from a set of CDs or DVDs, be sure to follow the instructions from the TrueImage software. The software will tell you the exact order in which to insert the discs to make the restoration process successful.

7. If you change your mind in the middle of the restoration process, you can click the Cancel button. However, because of the way the restoration process works, TrueImage still may have made some changes to your destination hard drive and folder(s). The software cannot undo these changes later; you’ll have to remove them manually. Because of this, it’s important that you do not click the Proceed button unless you’re absolutely sure you’re ready to start the restoration process.

by Kyle Schurman