Corbett
Corbett BKF File Recovery scans damaged NTBackup, Windows Backup and Backup Exec .bkf files and extracts the files still inside them, folder structure intact. Standard and Advanced scan modes cover light and heavy corruption. Runs on Windows 11 back to 7, no NTBackup needed.
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Backups are scanned on this PC. No BKF file or recovered document leaves it.
Free demo, scanned clean on VirusTotal and a 30-day money-back window.
Lifetime licence from $99 Free trial shows every recoverable file
Backup facts
BKF is the archive format of NTBackup, the tool that shipped with Windows XP and Server 2003. Microsoft dropped it from Windows Vista onward, so a BKF found on an old drive has nothing to open it, and a damaged one fails with errors about unrecognized data. BKF File Recovery reads the archive without NTBackup and pulls out every file it can still reach.
Recovered
BKF sources
Scan options
Not recoverable
Why a BKF will not open on Windows 10 or 11
NTBackup left Windows with Vista, and Microsoft's later restore utility covered only a few older releases. On a current PC a BKF simply has no program behind it. BKF File Recovery opens the archive directly, healthy or damaged, so the files come back without an old XP machine.
Core features
Open the archive, scan it, check the files and extract them to a safe folder.
Load
Click Open, then Choose Files for one archive or Choose Folders when several backups share a directory. Scanning begins as soon as the BKF loads.
Backup tree
Once scanned, BKF File Recovery rebuilds the folder tree stored in the archive. Expand drives and folders exactly as they were on the machine that made the backup.
File check
Click any item to confirm it is the right file before anything is written. That saves hours when a backup holds thousands of near identical documents.
Selective recovery
The search bar narrows a large archive by keyword. Pull back one invoice folder or one project and ignore everything else stored in the BKF.
Extraction
Actions, then Extract writes the selected files to any folder through Browse. Turn on Open folder after export to land straight in the results. Delete old folders clears an earlier run first.
Before scanning
Three habits that raise the share of files a damaged backup gives back.
Work on a copy
Copy the BKF before scanning
Copy the damaged archive to a healthy drive and scan the copy. A failing disk can lose more data with every read, and the untouched original stays as evidence.
Free space
Plan room for the output
Extracted files take about as much space as the data inside the BKF. Point the destination at a drive with enough free room before saving.
Scan mode
Start with Standard scan
Standard scan is quick and handles light damage. If folders or files are missing from the tree, run again in Advanced scan, which reads the archive more thoroughly.
Mail found inside old backups is covered in Restore OST file and Repair PST file without scanpst tool.
Free trial
Scan a Damaged BKF Before Buying
Install the trial, load the BKF and run a scan. Every recoverable file shows in the tree, so the result is clear before paying.
Download free demoBefore purchase
NTBackup made these archives and still restores a healthy BKF on an old XP machine. Once the file is damaged or the old PC is gone, a dedicated reader takes over. Row by row below.
| Job | NTBackup | BKF File Recovery |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free on XP | $99 one time |
| Healthy BKF on XP | Restores it | Recovers it too |
| Windows 10 and 11 | Not available | Runs on 7 to 11 |
| Damaged BKF | Stops with an error | Extracts readable files |
| Scan depth | None | Standard and Advanced |
| Find one file | Browse the catalog | Keyword search |
| Many archives | One at a time | Folders in one load |
| Backup Exec files | Not its format | Read as well |
Green rows mark where NTBackup still holds up.
If the archive is healthy and an XP machine is at hand, NTBackup restores it at no cost. Mail data inside such backups is the job of the email recovery software .
Specifications
Download details
System
Supported editions
Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7 in 32-bit or 64-bit, plus Windows Server 2008 to 2019.
No macOS or Linux build.
Corbett has built Windows email utilities since 2020. BKF scanner support comes straight from its developers.
Working process
Prefer stills? The BKF File Recovery guide follows a full scan screen after screen.
Common questions
Archives, scans, Windows versions and what the trial shows.
Click Open, choose your BKF with Choose Files and let the scan finish. Select the files in the tree, click Actions, then Extract, browse to a folder and press Save.
Not with Windows itself, since NTBackup is gone. This tool reads your BKF directly on Windows 7 through 11.
Standard is fast and suits light damage. Advanced reads the archive in more depth for badly corrupted files and takes longer.
Yes. Archives from NTBackup, Windows Backup and Symantec or Veritas Backup Exec all load.
No. Large backups scan the same way as small ones, only the scan takes longer.
Yes. Files extract into the same folders they had inside the backup.
Yes. Search by keyword or browse the tree, select what you need and extract only that.
No. It only reads the archive. Results go to the folder you choose.
It depends on archive size and damage. Lightly damaged files finish in minutes, while a large archive in Advanced mode can take much longer.
Not always. Sectors that were overwritten or never written cannot come back. The tool extracts everything still readable.
No. Open, scan, select and extract is the full routine.
No. Scanning and extraction run on your PC only.
Not natively. Copy your BKF to a Windows PC and recover it there.
Licences start at $99, with higher editions for business use. Payment is one time.
It scans your archive and shows every recoverable file. Extraction is unlocked by the full licence.
Step by step
Help for the jobs that follow a backup rescue.
Inspect files
Disk and devices
Mail moves are covered on the Email Migration Tool page, server jobs on the IMAP Migration Tool page. Mail file formats go to the email converter tool. Damaged mailbox data is the job of the email recovery software. Mailbox files open free in the email viewer software. Utility tools: VBA Password Remover and Website Downloader. Also see the Email Eraser Tool, Image File Converter, XLS to CSV Converter, Email Address Validator and Sitemap Generator.
User testimonials
493 ratings from people who rescued backups with Corbett.
Collected across 493 reviews gathered from software portals and live chat feedback. The three below are unedited.
When my BKF file wouldn't open after the system crash, I feared that my entire year's worth of project would be lost. But, after using this software all my data is recovered with the folder structure. I highly recommend this tool as it helps me with corrupted backup.
I don't know anything about technology, but this software helped me in recovering my data from a damaged BKF file. Its preview section and the clean interface make it easier to work.
I tried many tools to repair my corrupt BKF files, but nothing worked. However, one of my colleagues suggesteds the Corbett BKF data recovery software and it worked well. I like the preview section of the software as it tells me what I was recovering.
Get started
Run the trial scan, see every recoverable file and buy only when the result is there. Licences start at $99 with a 30-day refund policy.
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3.7 MB · Windows 11 to 7 and Windows Server 2019 to 2008 · 30 day money back