How to Resolve “The backup file is unusable...” BKF error message

To safeguard your data, Windows provide you with an in-built backup command known as NTBackup. The utility uses a proprietary BKF format to backup the data. The data can be backed up on any external storage media like, Floppy, CD, USB, and more. But, sometimes the BKF file cannot be used to restore the data due to BKF file corruption. This may happen due to improper system shutdown, virus attack, disk errors, etc. In such cases, the data can be restored from an alternative backup, if any. But, if there is no alternative backup available, then you need to use repair bkf file to resolve the problem.

For instance – At times, when you try to restore data or add data from a Microsoft Windows 2000 backup file, you encounter the below error message:

“[Unrecognized Media]
The backup file is unusable. You must erase it, or choose another file. “

You cannot restore the data from the BKF file after the occurrence of the above error message.

Cause:
The above error message occurs if the backup file is not in a valid Windows 2000 backup file format or is corrupted. If the backup file is incomplete or corrupted, then you cannot add data or restore any data from the BKF file.

Resolution:
You cannot use a BKF file to restore the data after its corruption. To ensure the integrity of data, you need to select the Verify Data After Backup advanced option after backing up your data. This makes sure that the backup process completes successfully and integrity of data is maintained. After the completion of the backup process, you can further refer to the backup report to check if the process has been completed successfully.

However, if the above resolution fails to resolve the issues, then you need to use an effective third-party application known as bkf repair application to restore your data. The BKF Repair tool employs sophisticated algorithms to completely repair the corrupted BKF file.