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Recover archived CDP backups with only the .tib and Catalog files

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Issue:
I get errors trying to recover Exchange backups that I archived to an external hard drive. These backups have only the full (weekly) backups or ".tib" files and the Catalog folder/files used during their original backup.

Background:
The Exchange 2010 (version 14.03.0224.002) server is running the previous Backup & Recovery 11.5 for MS Exchange. System and ExchangeIS backups work. I run CDP with a Full backup once a week and copy the weekly full backup to an external HDD to archive (rotating the external HDDs to keep about 6-8 months worth). The weekly backups of CDP are copied with the Catalog folder. Some of these archives I'm able to view, but others show there is no backup or it is corrupted.
Do I need additional files, such as the .xml file, to view/recover the backups? This would make sense, but I originally saw something (I think on these forums - but don't remember) that the Catalog and the tib files were all that were needed. And, I tested this and it worked. Now I'm trying to get some of the old files and it is not working.

I can give more info like specific errors, but initially, I'd like to know if it is even possible to recover email backups from only the .tib files and associated Catalog folder/files.
By the way, I have changed my archiving method to leave CDP for recent backups and now archive weekly the entire ExchangeIS separately to the external HDD (with all associated files).

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Hi Tom,

.xml-files contain the metadata information of the whole archive. So for the restore operation you will need this file.

As I understood the backups were copied manually.

1. Create a personal vault on the external drive in the folder where all your backups are.

2. Click on "Refresh" in the vault to create the metadatabase for the archive.

3. Check, that the whole backup-chain is saved on the external drive. Start restore.

If the mentioned external drive is a second location for the backup, you can safely copy backup files using the option "Replication". Alternatively you can export backups or archives from the vault.

During the mail recovery its important to know, whether the option"Include e-mails" was activated during backups creation.

Step-by-step description of the email recovery you can find in this article.

I am happy to answer any questions.