Unsupported file. Error while opening archive file. The archive format is not supported by this operation.

Typically this error shows up when users try to mount an archive that is a file archive. It doesn't seem this is your case...
You also indicate that the file has been validated: there is hope.

If there is a chance that the build that created the backup is not the same as the build you created the recovery with, I would rather troubleshoot with the same build, but there is a low probability this is the source of the issue.

I would copy the TIB file to some other location, and validate the copy. Then run the restore again. If the validation fails, you are in trouble. If the validation passes, but the recovery fails, there is something else going on in your recovery process.

NB: a lesson here is that you should never delete a backup before you absolutely have to. This is a principle embedded in the ATI product (it never deletes a full backup before managing to create another one), but this is something that users should follow as well. I have found myself caught after I "cleaned up" old backups and then found some important files were corrupted, but no backup version were containing the healthy version.

Thank you. Please advise on validating. I was able to run validation from the boot, I remember doing so, but right clicking on the file no longer offers me a menu of any sort. Am I doing something wrong?

Do I need to use another computer with Acronis fully loaded in order to validate the copy made from the original usb drive?

postscript... I followed the directions here using a second usb drive with files copied onto it...
http://kb.acronis.com/content/17612
...for "validate using Acronis bootable media".

When I got to this instruction....

"If the necessary backup is not in the list, press Browse for backup, locate the necessary backup file and press Ok to add backup to the list."

I browsed to the file, which appeared in the list, highlighted it, clicked "OK", Acronis paused for 20 seconds as if attempting something and then returned me to the recovery page with "no items to display" still listed and no file. Seems I'm at a dead end.

I tried it with the original USB drive inserted and got the same dead end. I know I was able to validated these files on this drive previously. They appear in the "browse for location" window as "removeable drive (D:).

PPS..... I put the files another computer. I installed Acronis full version there. I opened the program and navigated to "my backups" and there they were. I right clicked on the file and chose "validate backup". Under the window in a green bar it said "the backup is valid"

The progress bar took about ten minutes and finished successfully. The green bar indicated "backup is valid". I transferred this to a USB 8gb stick. Just to be doubly sure I repeated the process selecting the USB stick as the backup to validate. The progress bar again went without a hitch and indicated a valid backup file.

I tried with this backup file to recover my other computer and still got the message indicated in the title of this post. Please let me know if there's any hope?

Bob,
When you are booted into the rescue disk, when you select recover from the menu and browse for your backup and then add to the list, which list/section is your backup listed in. Disk or file backup?

Update:
I just did some testing with ATIH 2011 rescue disk. I had both disk based backups and file based backups on an external disk drive. When I selected Recover / My Disks from the Main screen, and browsed for a backup to "Recover / My Disks" and pointed to a file based backup, I got the message you are getting " Error while opening the archive file. The archive format is not supported by this operation." The reson you get this message is that you are trying to recover a disk (not files/folders) from a file backup. You may have made a "full' backup, but you must have made a file based backup, not a disk based backup. The file based backup you made will contain whatever file/folders you have selected, and you can restore those files/folders, to a working copy of Windows, but you will not be able to "recover" a disk from a file backup.

Bob,

If you run the validation from the boot disk, even better. You can validate using the boot disk on any other computer, and you can validate a backup done on another computer (from the boot disk, or from Windows if ATI is installed in Windows).

It doesn't look like you have a validation issue. It seems you are trying to recover a disk from a file backup or something like this.

How did you produce the backup? What are you trying to recover?

First the "bottom line" Based on your suggestions and checking them out it appears that I have a "files and folders" recovery on my hands and a blank 100G drive on an HP 8510 workstation. I like to use a utility to wipe the drive before any fresh installation. The files and folders were originally archived from a system running winxppro 32 bit. Strangely, this recovery file, at 4.2g, is the same size as my previous full "disk" recovery. That may mean nothing though. So is this files and folders recovery file still useful? Can I install the operating system using my original shipped recovery disks and then use this Acronis files and folder build to layer everything back onto the system?

"Bob,
When you are booted into the rescue disk, when you select recover from the menu and browse for your backup and then add to the list, which list/section is your backup listed in. Disk or file backup?""

I'm not perfectly clear on that distinction. Unfortunately I can't offer a screen shot on this. But in the "brows for location" window the only place where I see any distinction relating to "file or disc" is under "type" among the "name" "date" "type" "size" headings and under "type" it says "file". If I'd done the backup properly for my needs this should read "disc" ?

In any case, when I right click "mybackup1.tib" I get no drop down menu offering "validate files". I am, however, able to validate these same files with no trouble via the full program on another computer.

EDIT.... sure enough, when I select "RECOVER ----- Files and Folders" instead of "My Discs" it takes me to a screen whereby I can validate. So I made a "files and folders" recovery. If it turns out that this is my only error.... that I made this mistakenly instead of a full disc backup then I am a bit embarrassed, sorry that I used up so much of the forums' time and energy, but still a bit irritated that it was possible to make such a mistake to begin with (more on that later). I sincerely did read all of Acronis instructions pertaining to my needs. But still screwed up along the way. Why is the "files and folders" back up, at 4.2gb, approx the same size as my previous full disc backup?

"The reason you get this message is that you are trying to recover a disk (not files/folders) from a file backup. You may have made a "full' backup, but you must have made a file based backup, not a disk based backup. The file based backup you made will contain whatever file/folders you have selected, and you can restore those files/folders, to a working copy of Windows, but you will not be able to "recover" a disk from a file backup."

Does that mean I can reinstall my system from my original restoration discs that shipped with the laptop and then recover all my subsequent files/settings using these Acronis restore files? I ask for help below for instructions on how, in the future, to perform ONLY disc based backup of the complete operating system/files/settings/installed programs.

"If you run the validation from the boot disk, even better. You can validate using the boot disk on any other computer, and you can validate a backup done on another computer (from the boot disk, or from Windows if ATI is installed in Windows). "

I just figured out why I can't validate (above explanation). But for some reason attempting to validate file based recovery media via the "my disks" option in the bootable media fails (as it should I guess) but the same attempt via the "my disks" option in the full running program, on the same files, succeeds.

I recovered the operating system with the system restore discs. I booted with acronis bootable media disc and recovered 'files and folders' via the restore files on the usb drive. My last recovery took about 12 minutes for the full disc 4.2gb recovery (i was really impressed). With this files and folders recovery it's taken twenty minutes to get halfway through the progess bar and it's slowed down to a crawl and the estimated time in the upper left indicates 10 hours!!!!! Did I just run into a another obstacle? Or is this normal?

A files & folders restore can take a lot longer than an image restore, depending on the situation. However, I would think it wouldn't take 10 hours. Is the restore still progressing (disk activity, less time left, etc.)?

I left the house for an hour and came back and install was completed.
Update... My computer came with two recovery discs. Winxppro 32 operating system with SP2 and an "application and driver recovery DVD".
I installed the operating system and, not wanting to create possible conflicts, I attempted the Acronis file and folder recovery without installing the "application and recovery" dvd.
The installation has finished successfully. I restarted the computer and there appears to be no change. Or at least it was not done automatically and I'm at a loss as to how to go further to find where the files have been stored or how to commence integrating/further installing them.

So I restarted the computer again and am presently installing the "applications and driver recovery DVD" in the hopes that this clears up things.

Can I at all expect that the installation'integration of the files and folders on the acronis recovery disc will proceed automatically once I provide the operating system?

XP stands a much better chance of working after doing a complete file/folder restore. However, things can be screwed up if attributes and permissions aren't restored along with the files. Restoring from Windows is probably better in this regard since Linux (the TI CD) can sometimes mess those things up.

If you reinstalled XP I would just reinstall programs and copy over the data files. Otherwise, you would need to get everything copied from the backup (most or all will replace your reinstall files). Also, the backup must have all the Windows files. If any necessary folders/files were skipped or excluded it won't work. That type of backup is just not designed for doing a complete restore.

Sincererest apologies here to anyone I might have driven off by my occasional rants. I've edited out all extraneous such from above posts.

"That type of backup is just not designed for doing a complete restore. "

I've discovered that.... too late... for better or worse. I believe I have finally accomplished it, but with a new wrinkle.

I almost quit just two yards shy of goal. I installed the application and driver dvd and then re-recovered the Acronis files and folders via the USB drive. Restarting the computer I was presented with a desktop at the absolute minimum resolution. When I tried to correct it I was advised that the graphics driver does not exist. Assuming that this was an indication that the Acronis recovery has somehow corrupted all my drivers, a can of worms, I almost quit at that point. But I downloaded the latest driver for my graphics card, installed it, was advised that the driver already existed on my system and would I like to install over it (???) I went ahead and installed it. Rebooted and everything was fine. I went through all my programs and they appeared fine. I reset all of my preferences and settings, internet connection, and file sharing. All seemed golden.

I took a deep breath and attempted to put a full disc recovery back on my 16gb usb stick.

I did not have enough room. My local disk now shows "27.9GB of 93.2GB used"'

Underneath that it read "estimated backup size 16.7 GB"

How did I end up going from a 4.2GB backup to a 16.7GB backup with only couple of minor tweaks and additions?

My original full disc recovery on the USB stick, one that I'd used successfully three times, was approx 4.2gb. The only difference between that disc recovery image and the present one is a few changes in winxp settings and updating one or two programs such as utorrent.

I made two attempts at recovery using the 4.2 sized file and folders recovery, so that might account for some duplication if there are temp files somewhere that I can delete. But can anyone help me understand how I went from 4.2gb Acronis full disc recovery file to 16.7GB file and where I might look for files to delete and clean up?

God. I've spent the entire day on this. If I have to start over I'll pull my hair out. (sorry.... there goes the pique again).   Where can I search to find excess space to delete?

Incidentally, is it better to format my 16gb usb memory device to FAT32, or NTFS?  I've been using FAT32 successfully so far.

FAT32 on a flash drive is usually best since it's faster and there's less file system writing.

You could search the drive for large files (say, over 1GB) and see if anything shows up. Make sure to include searching hidden and systems folders/files.

You could also run a chkdsk /f to check for file system errors. There may be space marked as used when it isn't.

Otherwise, you may have to browse through everything and compare to your backup. Maybe you could restore the backup to a different drive so you could browse it more easily.