Restoring from a drive that is not connected
Search a backup whose drive is in a drawer, set the restore up now, and it starts by itself when the drive is plugged in, whatever its letter.
On this page
Every backup is indexed on this PC, so you can search a backup whose drive is in a drawer and set up the restore before you go and find the drive.
What you see#
In Find, a result on an unplugged drive carries Drive not connected, with where the drive was last seen, for example Backup · last seen as H: 3 days ago. On a share that does not answer it says Share offline and \\nas\backups didn't answer.
On the Restore page, the same points show that in Status, and their button reads Restore later… instead of Browse.
Opening such a point shows This drive isn't connected instead of the list of folders, for example: Backup was last seen as H: 3 days ago. You can set up the restore now; it runs by itself the moment the drive is plugged in, whatever letter it gets. Browsing the folders needs the drive; searching in Find does not.
Set up the restore#
- In Find, click Restore when plugged in… on a result marked Drive not connected. Or, on the Restore page, click Restore later… on the point.
- Check what will be restored: the file you chose in Find, or Everything in this backup.
- Under Restore to, choose where it goes, the rule for files that already exist, and the Password for an encrypted backup.
- Click Restore when plugged in.
The bar at the bottom now says Waiting for Backup: Plug it into any USB port; the letter doesn't matter. The restore starts on its own and you'll be taken to it. Activity lists it as Waiting for drive. Cancel restore withdraws it, and nothing is written.
A restore to the original location also needs the drive the files came from. If that one is missing too, the restore is refused with E-SET-004; choose another folder.
When the drive appears#
The background agent finds the drive by its volume serial, whatever letter Windows gives it, and starts the restore. A share is used as soon as it answers again.
If the page is still open, it switches to the live restore. Otherwise the icon in the notification area shows Restoring and the job's name, and with the window closed a Windows notification says when it is done, for example Restore from Documents & Desktop finished. The report is in Activity.
Note
The wait lasts while the PC stays on. If GBM AI or the PC restarts first, the restore ends Interrupted with GBM AI or the PC restarted before this restore finished. (E-RUN-009). Set it up again.
A drive that is gone for good#
Its backups stay in Find, marked Drive not connected, until you say otherwise. Forget this set on a result removes that backup from Find and Restore on this PC. Nothing on the drive is touched; plugging the drive in and rebuilding the index brings it back. See The file index, and rebuilding it.
Backups do not wait the same way#
Plugging a drive in never starts a backup by itself. What happens to a backup whose drive is out:
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| A scheduled backup is due | it waits and starts when the drive is plugged in, for as long as the job's catch-up window allows: 12 hours with Run a missed backup as soon as possible on, 10 minutes with it off. After that it counts as missed |
| You start a backup by hand | it stops at once with E-DEST-004: The removable drive isn't connected. |
| The drive goes away during a backup | it shows Waiting for Backup (H:) to be plugged in and carries on when the drive is back; after 15 minutes it gives up |