Cannot restore from the backup.bkf file.

Since the backup was created by HP software (and it doesn't work with the ordinary Vista Restore process), then the problem is HP's as it is their software that created the backup - not Microsoft's.  Call back and ask for a supervisor and explain the problem - maybe this time you'll get someone who actually knows about the process and the program.  I cannot believe there is no restore option unless the program actually uses Vista's program to do the backup (but then Vista's restore should recover it and they should have told you that).  According to: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01153867&tmp_task=useCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3752240&lang=en, you should be using Vista to do the backups so I'm not sure what is on the HP Recovery Manager disk.

From what you said, you don't even know if the backup file is corrupt - just that it is unrecognized (perhaps because it was created with different software).  So you don't know if this $150 program will even resolve the problem.  I wouldn't spend that kind of money on anything but a certain resolution (and even then, that's a lot of money for a one-time use program).  Here is a link with a number of FREE .BkF recovery programs that may fix the file:http://www.fileguru.com/apps/bkf_freeware.  Since I don't know how it was created, it was hard to choose an option - but perhaps any Microsoft option will work if we are trying to restore using the Microsoft Restore process (assuming this is even the problem).

The only other option I can think of is to take the backup to a data recovery technician who will be very expensive and will offer no guarantees - but it's your decision how important it is to recover that data.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

There is a reply in your other thread: http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistarepair/thread/3f231eab-87ff-4c20-a2d7-6271957abbde.

Please post questions only once in these forums.

Thanks and good luck!

Thank you for the advice. I agree that this whole thing is bazaar. The HP tech confirmed that the HP Revovery Manager didn't include a restore function and said that the only resolution was the $150 soultion. He sent me the link to the free trial download that did open the .bkf but wouldn't allow a save unless a license was purchased. The HP Revovery Manager did restore the system to normal function but I lost all personal data contained in the backup.

Thanks again. I appreciate the assistance.

FYI - None of the software on the site listed above is free. Yes, they have a free download that opened my .bkf but a fully functional version is $89 - $149

Appreciate the hlep though. I'm going to try HP again.

That product is not freeware either - why doesn't Microsoft provide their own tool? The majority of .bkf corruptions are due to Microsoft's own bugs.