Error: SharePoint backup tool must execute on a web client.

Error: SharePoint backup tool must execute on a web client. I am posting this hoping that someone may find it useful. It is a common practice to migrate SharePoint deployment from one machine to another. Many people use Backup and Restore utility that comes with SPS 2003. Recently, someone asked me a question that when he tried to run the backup tool to restore a site, he got following error message: "SharePoint backup tool must execute on a web client." The user was quite confused. Perform these actions to solve the problem: 1. Open SharePoint Central Administration page. 2. Click "Configure server topology". 3. Click "Change Components" button 4. Check "Web" (Component Assignment) if not already checked. 5. Click OK. 6. If you are trying to restore to a new site, create that site first in IIS. Try running the backup tool again, it should work fine now.