More in Backup & maintenance
Where to find it
MenuSelect Company › Restore Data
Restore reads a backup file and turns it into a working company on this computer. Use it after a disk failure, a Windows reinstall or a move to a new PC. It never overwrites. Each restore adds a new company in a new Data folder.
Where your backups are
| Backup | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Backup My Data | The folder you chose, often a pen drive. The file ends in bk.sbk. |
| Automatic daily copy | The Backup folder in the E-Lab program folder, one folder per weekday. |
| Second drive | The AutoBKP folder inside your auto backup path, one folder per weekday. |
| Email copy | The .zpp attachment in the backup mailbox. Save it to the PC first. |
| SQL Server company | A pair of files ending .sbm and .lbm. |
Prepare
- Find the newest backup
Look at the date in the file name, not only the file's date in Windows. - Keep the old disk
Do not format or throw away the old disk until the restored data is checked. - Install E-Lab
Only from the installer your support partner gives you. Ask about the licence on the new PC before daily work.
On this screen
- Filename to Restore the path of the file you picked
- Restore as MS Access Database the normal choice
- Restore As SQL Server Database only with support
- Restore starts the restore
- X closes without restoring
| Filename to Restore | The full path of the file you picked. Read it. |
| Backup File Belongs to … | MS Access Database for .sbk and .zpp, SQL Server Database for .sbm and .lbm. |
| Continue to Restore as … | The normal choice, already selected. |
| Migrate This data to … | Changes the database type. Only with support. |
| Restore | Starts the restore. |
| X | Closes without restoring. |
Restore
- Open Restore Data
On Select Company, click Restore Data. - Pick the file
The window Select Backup File to Restore lists .sbk, .zpp, .sbm and .lbm files. Pick yours. Cancel does nothing. - Check the window
For a .sbk or .zpp file it says Backup File Belongs to MS Access Database with Continue to Restore as MS Access Database selected. Leave it. - Click Restore
A Restore complete box names the company and the folder it was made in. It says the company is now in the list, or which data folder to set to see it. - Open it
The Select Company list refreshes itself. Double-click the restored company. - Log in
Use the user names and passwords that were in the backup. The restored company keeps its own users.
Check before patients arrive
- Match the last day
Open Reports > Test Reports Register, set From to the last working day, and match a few entries with the bill book. - Print one report
Preview an old report. Check the lab name, logo and layout. - Type in what is missing
Bills made after the backup are not in it. Enter them from the bill copies. Check each one is not already there.
In a real labWindows had to be reinstalled on the lab PC. The engineer installs E-Lab, picks yesterday's .zpp from the owner's Gmail in Restore Data, and reads "Restore complete". The owner logs in with her usual password, because the users came back with the data. The morning's six bills are typed in from the bill book.
Good to knowRestoring the same file twice gives two companies with the same name. Click each and read Stored at to tell them apart.
CautionA SQL Server backup needs SQL Server switched on first. E-Lab says SQL Server Must be enabled in order to restore data from an SQL Server Database. Call support for SQL Server restores.
Questions people ask
Will restoring erase what is on this computer?
No. It adds a new company in its own folder.
Restore says nothing was restored.
The file is not an E-Lab backup, or it is damaged. Try another day's copy. A .zpp from email works only if its name ends in zp.zpp.
I restored but cannot see the company.
Read the Restore complete box again. If the folder is outside the data folder, set the data folder it names.
My password does not work in the restored company.
The restored company has the users and passwords that were in the backup. Try the password used on that date.