> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://helpcenter.xopero.com/xopero-one-en/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://helpcenter.xopero.com/xopero-one-en/backup-and-recovery/virtual-machines/hyper-v/recovery/overview.md).

# Overview

## General information

When working with backup software, it’s important to know how to restore your data efficiently. **Xopero ONE** offers multiple methods to restore virtual machines directly to **Hyper-V** hosts — select one that best fits your requirements.

{% hint style="success" %}
Note that these restore options also allow you to transfer VMs between different **Hyper-V** hosts, as long as they are connected to the **Xopero ONE Management Service**.
{% endhint %}

***

## Instant restore

The **instant restore** feature quickly restores a VM’s configuration files to the **Hyper-V** host and prepares the virtual machine by mounting its disks directly from storage using the iSCSI protocol. This enables the VM to start within minutes. Because the data remains in the backup storage, no actual data is copied or restored elsewhere, allowing fast access without duplicating the backup.

{% hint style="danger" %}
This method is intended for disaster recovery scenarios and <mark style="color:$danger;">**should not**</mark> be used as a standard production restoration process.
{% endhint %}

To restore a virtual machine to **Hyper-V** after an incident, run both the **instant restore** and **whole VM recovery** tasks <mark style="color:$danger;">**at the same time**</mark>. This allows you to access and use the VM almost immediately via **instant restore**. Once the **whole VM recovery** is finished, you can stop the **instant restore** process and switch to using the fully recovered VM in production.

{% hint style="danger" %}
Note that this is a non-production restore; any changes or modifications made during the **instant restore** session are temporary and <mark style="color:$danger;">**will not be saved**</mark>. When you perform another restore, these changes will no longer be visible.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
All modifications are written only to the **Hyper-V** host’s temporary files.
{% endhint %}

***

## Whole machine restore

**Whole VM recovery** allows you to restore a virtual machine to its original location or to a new one. This is the standard method for VM restoration — **Xopero ONE** retrieves the VM data directly from storage and restores it to the **Hyper-V** host.

***

## Summary

1. **Instant restore** is perfect for immediate disaster recovery, giving rapid access to your virtual machines within minutes.
2. **Whole VM recovery** ensures that your VM is fully restored and ready for production use.
3. Using both methods together allows you to quickly recover **Hyper-V** virtual machines while minimizing downtime.


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