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Can't Restore Files from Your NAS Backup?

If you can backup to your NAS just fine, but restoring files fails with "fat table not found" errors, this is usually a permissions problem. Here's how to fix it.

 

What's Happening?

You've successfully backed up files to your NAS or network drive, but when you try to restore files, you get errors like:

  • "fat table not found, invalid document"
  • "could not locate channel in any search path"
  • Restore completes but no files are actually restored

Why this happens: Your Windows login doesn't have the right permissions to read from the NAS during restore, even though backups work fine.

Quick Fix (Try This First!)

Test Your NAS Access

  1. Open Windows Explorer
  2. Browse to your NAS backup folder (like \\MyNAS\backup)
  3. Can you see and open the backup folders?
    • ✅ Yes: Continue to Simple Solution below
    • ❌ No: Your Windows account doesn't have NAS access - see Advanced Solution

Simple Solution: Use NAS Credentials for Restore

  1. Open NovaBACKUP
  2. Start your restore as normal but before running it:
  3. Click "Settings" at the bottom of the restore dialog
  4. Go to "Run As" tab
  5. Change from "Run as logged in user" to "Run as specified user"
  6. Enter your NAS username and password:
    • Username: Your NAS username (same as backup device settings)
    • Password: Your NAS password
    • Domain: Leave blank (unless your NAS is on a Windows domain)
  7. Click OK and run the restore

If Simple Fix Doesn't Work

Advanced Solution: Create Matching Windows User

Sometimes Windows needs a local user account that exactly matches your NAS credentials.

Step 1: Find Your NAS Credentials

  1. In NovaBACKUP, go to Device tab
  2. Double-click your NAS backup device
  3. Go to "Network Credentials" tab
  4. Note down the username (you'll need to remember the password)

Step 2: Create Matching Windows User

For Windows 10/11 Pro:

  1. Press Windows + R
  2. Type lusrmgr.msc and press Enter
  3. Right-click "Users" and select "New User"
  4. Enter the EXACT same username and password as your NAS
  5. Uncheck "User must change password at next logon"
  6. Check "Password never expires"
  7. Click "Create"

For Windows 10/11 Home:

  1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users
  2. Click "Add someone else to this PC"
  3. Click "I don't have this person's sign-in information"
  4. Click "Add a user without a Microsoft account"
  5. Enter the EXACT same username and password as your NAS

Step 3: Add User to Administrators Group

  1. In User Management (lusrmgr.msc):

    • Right-click your new user → Properties
    • "Member Of" tab → "Add"
    • Type Administrators → OK

  2. In Windows Settings:

    • Settings > Accounts > Family & other users
    • Click your new user → "Change account type"
    • Select "Administrator" → OK

Step 4: Configure Restore Job

  1. Start your restore in NovaBACKUP
  2. Click "Settings" → "Run As" tab
  3. Select "Run as specified user"
  4. Enter the username and password you just created
  5. Test credentials using the "Check Credentials" button
  6. Run your restore

Important Notes

⚠️ Case Sensitivity Matters

  • Username and password must match your NAS exactly
  • Admin is different from admin
  • Password123 is different from password123

🔐 Security Considerations

  • This creates a local user with admin rights
  • Use a strong password
  • Delete this user when you're done with restores if security is a concern

📁 Backup vs. Restore Permissions

  • Backup: Uses the device's network credentials automatically
  • Restore: Uses your Windows login by default (which may not have NAS access)
  • Solution: Tell restore to use the same credentials as backup

Alternative Solutions

Option 1: Copy Files Manually

If restore continues to fail:

  1. Browse to your NAS backup folder in Windows Explorer
  2. Navigate to the backup data folders
  3. Copy the files you need directly to your local drive

Option 2: Restore to Different Location

  1. Map your NAS as a network drive (like Z: drive)
  2. Run restore but change destination to your local C: drive
  3. This bypasses permission issues with the NAS as restore destination

Option 3: Use IP Address Instead of Name

  1. Find your NAS IP address (like 192.168.1.100)
  2. Update your backup device to use \\192.168.1.100\backup instead of \\MyNAS\backup
  3. Re-create the device

Prevention Tips

For Future Setups

  • Use the same account for both Windows login and NAS access when possible
  • Test restore immediately after setting up a new backup device
  • Document your NAS credentials in a secure location

Regular Testing

  • Test restores monthly to catch permission issues early
  • Verify access to your NAS backup folder occasionally
  • Update credentials if you change NAS passwords

When to Contact Support

Contact support if:

  • None of these solutions work after following all steps
  • You're uncomfortable creating Windows user accounts
  • Your setup involves Active Directory or complex domain authentication
  • Error messages are different from what's described here

Information to Provide

When contacting support, include:

  • Whether you can browse to the NAS in Windows Explorer
  • Your NAS brand and model
  • Whether your computer is on a Windows domain
  • Complete error messages from restore logs

Summary

Most NAS restore failures are permission problems.

Quick fix: Use "Run as specified user" in restore settings with your NAS credentials.

If that fails: Create a local Windows user that exactly matches your NAS username and password.

Test: Always test restore immediately after setting up NAS backups.