Restore Windows Server 2012 Backup from Network Location | 2 Ways

Restore Windows Server 2012 backup from network location without error or directly use another way:

• Need help: Windows Server 2012 Backup restore from network location
• Restore Windows Server 2012 backup over network via Windows Server Backup
• Another way to Backup and Restore Windows Server 2012 backup from network location
• Wrapping things up

Need help: Windows Server 2012 Backup restore from network location

"I am having trouble in restoring Windows Server 2012 backup from network location with WSB. All the steps are normal. But when I enter the path of network shared folder, it says: "The specified remote share does not contain any backups. Provide a path to a remote shared folder that contains backups." Then, I check my path and make sure there is nothing wrong. Any thoughts? "

For this problem, there are 3 possible reasons, please check them in the following.  

• Your backup image is corrupted.

• You are not using the root folder of the backup path.  eg: You create a backup on \\server\share but use \\server\share\WindowsImageBackup to restore your server.

• You don't configure iSCSI as a volume in the target computer. Not all users need to do this, but if you use NAS storage device via iSCSI connection, you need to do it.

After checking all the possible reasons, If you still cannot access this folder, you can do the net use command below. Then, continue to see below and learn the detailed steps to restore Windows Server 2012 backup to another machine. 

• ping [computer]
• net use \\  [computer] \ [share]

Note:✎...

The WindowsImageBackup was created during the backup process, thus, it does not be the parent folder of your backup image.

Restore Windows Server 2012 backup over network via Windows Server Backup

Before using this method, you need to get an installation disc from the manufacturer. It’s used to boot your computer and restore Windows Server 2008/2012/2016/2019/2022 image to different hardware. 

The steps in different operating system have a little difference. Here, I’ll take server 2012 as an example to show you the detailed steps. If you use iSCSI connection, please configure it as a volume in the Server Manager. 

Step 1. Start your computer using the specified installation disc. Please change the boot order to CD/DVD in BIOS at first.

Step 2. In the initial Windows Setup window, click Next. Then, click Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > System Image Recovery. 

Step 3. Select the target operating system, here is Windows Server 2012.

Step 4. In the Reimage your computer, you will receive Windows cannot find a system image on this computer error, since your backup is on the network location.  Just click Cancel and click Next.

Step 5. After that, you will be asked to choose thelocation containing backup you want to restore, click Advanced and select “Search for a system image on the network ”.

Then, click Yes to confirm that you want to connect to network and type the path of network shared folder which contain a system image, it should be \\server\share instead of \\server\share\WindowsImageBackup. If you are asked, type username and password.

Step 6. Select the image and click Next. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the rest of steps.

Another way to Backup and Restore Windows Server 2012 backup from network location

Except for Windows Server Backup, there are many useful backup software for Windows Server, AOMEI Backupper Server, for example, and can help you backup and restore Windows Server 2012 backup to another machine, even with different hardware. 

Not only Windows Server 2012, but also applies to previous version, such as, Windows Server 2003/2008/2008 R2, and advanced version, including Windows Server 2012 R2/2016(R2)/2019/2022.  And Windows 11/10/8/7/XP/Vista is also supported.

Also, here some obvious advantages of this software: 

• It supports all kinds of backup solutions, namely, File Backup, System Backup, Disk Backup and Partition Backup. 
• It supports schedule automatic backup, such as, daily, weekly, monthly or full, incremental, differential backup, so so as to keep track of changes in time.
• It supports restoring backup from external hard drive, USB flash drive, NAS storage device or network location, etc.
• It supports restoring image to a computer with different hardware and ensure secure boot.

Then, you will learn how to restore backup over network in Windows Server 2012. Download AOMEI Backupper Server to have a try right now! It has a 30-day free trial, so you don't need to pay for it before you make a final decision. 

Notes:✎...

If you don't have a backup created by AOMEI Backupper, you could create system image backup for Windows Server 2012 in another working computer and save it to a network location.

If your computer fails, it's suggested to create a bootable media as well, which could help you start it.

Detailed steps to restore Windows Server 2012 from network location:

Step 1. Set boot priority for your bootable media and start from it. Wait until you see the interface of AOMEI Backupper Server. Click Select Image File in the main page.

Step 2. Click Share/NAS in the pop-up window.

Then, Click Add Share or NAS Devices and then type network path, username, password.

Step 3. Select the system image in the network path.

Step 4. Tick Restore this system backup and Restore System to other location, then click Next.

Step 5. Select a location to receive the backup image and click Next.

Step 6. If your target drive is SSD, please tick SSD Alignment to accelerate the writing and reading speed of SSDs. If the target computer use difeferent motherboard or CPU, tick Universal Restore to ensure secure boot after restoring. Then, Click Start Restore to start this process.

Tip on restoring files from backup:

If you want to restore files from Windows Server 2012 backup, you can go to Home>Tools>Explore Image, and save it to your computer by specifying a drive letter for your backup. Then, copy what you want to restore and paste it to another location.

Wrapping things up

Windows Server Backup and AOMEI Backupper Server both can help you restore Windows Sever 2012 backup from network location. And they also applies to other server operating system, from 2008 to 2022, and the later one still can be used to Windows Server 2003 and Windows 11/10/8/7/XP/Vista.

In addition, the later one has rich feature among backup, restore, clone, sync and support many useful tools, such as, Create Bootable Media, Create Portable Version(supported by AOMEI Backupper TechPlus). Thus, you can use it to backup files in Windows Sever 2019, create system image backup for Windows Server 2016, clone Windows Server 2012 R2 hard drive, clone C drive in 2019, etc.