For many people the next logical action after installing Vista will be trying to restore some of their files from a backup taken on Windows XP.Agreed? Unfortunately this apparently simple task is not as easy as it should be when you are on Vista.Let me start saying that Vista has a new backup and restore application. Why? If you really want to know more, read this PowerPoint presentation by Dan Stevenson, Lead Program Manager for Microsoft. Impressive, isn’t it? It’s too bad that the new backup apps doesn’t support tapes, but you can still use, USB drives, flash drives, DVDs, CDs and network shares. Who cares about tapes. Too bad number two: The new backup apps in Vista is not backward compatible with the old one that shipped with Windows XP. In plain English, to restore files from a backup made on XP you need to install a restore utility on Vista, yessir! As it happens, that restore utility looks like and walks like the old XP backup restore duck, but I am getting ahead of myself.So, no big deal, let’s install the restore utility on Vista. To make things easier the Vista restore window has a link to the download page for the restore utility on Microsoft. Cool!.That’s what my to do list for restoring those files has become: 1) go to the download page 2) validate your version as a genuine Microsoft Windows3) download restore utility I go past those three points like a hot knife through butter, but only to be stopped by a warning message saying that I need to install or turn on Removable Storage Management to run the restore utility. Instructions to do that are on the Backup Restore Utility Web page. Do I want to go there? Well I answered yes but only to find out that there are no instructions on that page, not on how to activate Removable Storage Management anyway. Moreover, nowhere in the process tells me where to find the new utility after the install.Luckily, you can find all what you need here, and in one page. So there is a happy ending to my restore story after all, but not thanks to Microsoft. Lesson learned: If you plan to restore files in Vista from an old Windows backup be prepared to a not so smooth sailing. Stock on patience and allow plenty of time. To be continued.