How to Recover .CAB Files Lost After a Full System Crash

A .CAB backup file is a file format used for storing compressed files and folders. CAB stands for Cabinet, which refers to the way the files are organized and stored within the file.

The purpose of a .CAB backup file is to create a compressed archive of files and directories, making it easier to store and transfer multiple files as a single entity. It is commonly used for software installations, where multiple files need to be packaged together.

To create a .CAB backup file, a compression utility is used to compress the files and folders into a single archive. This compression reduces the overall file size, making it more efficient for storage and transmission. The compression process typically involves removing redundant information and using various algorithms to compress the data.

Once the .CAB backup file is created, it can be easily transferred or stored. To access the files within the .CAB backup, it needs to be extracted or decompressed using a compatible utility. This process reverses the compression, restoring the original files and directories to their original format and location.

Overall, a .CAB backup file is a compressed archive used for storing multiple files and folders, making it easier to manage and transfer data.

To create a .CAB backup of your files and folders, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Command Prompt

• Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type "cmd" and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.

Step 2: Navigate to the directory where you want to create the .CAB file

• Use the "cd" command to navigate to the desired directory. For example, if you want to create the .CAB file on your desktop, type: cd Desktop

Step 3: Create the .CAB file

• In the Command Prompt, type the following command:

makecab /D "CabinetName1=c:pathtofiles" /F "c:pathtofilesfilelist.txt"

Replace "CabinetName1" with the desired name for your .CAB file.

Replace "c:pathtofiles" with the actual path to the directory containing the files and folders you want to backup.

Replace "filelist.txt" with the name of a text file that contains a list of the files and folders you want to include in the .CAB file. Each file or folder should be on a separate line.

Step 4: Press Enter to execute the command

• After entering the command, press Enter to create the .CAB file.

The Command Prompt will create a .CAB file in the specified directory, containing the files and folders listed in the filelist.txt file.

Advantages of using .CAB backup compared to other backup formats:

1. Compression: .CAB files use compression algorithms to reduce the size of the backup, saving disk space and reducing storage requirements.
2. Portability: .CAB files can be easily transferred and shared across different systems and platforms, making them convenient for data migration or transferring backups to different locations.
3. Integration: .CAB files are natively supported by Windows operating systems, ensuring compatibility and ease of use for Windows users.
4. Incremental backups: .CAB files support incremental backups, allowing users to back up only the changes made since the last backup, resulting in faster backup times and reduced storage requirements.

Disadvantages of using .CAB backup compared to other backup formats:

1. Limited cross-platform compatibility: .CAB files are primarily designed for Windows systems and may not be compatible with other operating systems, limiting their use in heterogeneous environments.
2. Lack of encryption: .CAB files do not provide built-in encryption features, which means sensitive data within the backup may be vulnerable to unauthorized access if not encrypted separately.
3. Limited file size: .CAB files have a maximum file size limit of 2 GB, which may be insufficient for large backups or when dealing with large files.
4. Single-file structure: .CAB files are stored as a single file, making it difficult to selectively restore individual files or folders from the backup without extracting the entire archive.
5. Slower backup and restore speeds: The compression and decompression process of .CAB files can introduce additional processing overhead, resulting in slower backup and restore speeds compared to other formats that do not use compression.

It's important to consider these advantages and disadvantages in relation to your specific backup requirements and the systems you are using before deciding on the most suitable backup format.