Windows 7: restoring an image

I want to restore an image created with Windows 7. I have looked at the tutorial about restoring an image and would like to clarify something so I don't cause myself problems.

I have one drive (C) which I partitioned (E) and created the image on that new partition. The the DVD is (D).

I also created 4 separate images on DVD's to be on the safe side.

I want to restore the image from the partition (E) and would like to verify the following.

If I understand correctly, the recovery process will format the drive (C) prior to doing the recovery. Will it also format the partition (E) where the image is located during the recovery process (since it is a partition of C)?

I don't want to lose the image on (E) and don't understand that if it did, how it would be able to do the recovery if it was formatted.

My last question - has the recovery of an image with Windows 7 proven to be successful?

Any comments would certainly be appreciated.
Thanks

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It should not bother the contents of "E". Make sure you select the correct partition for the restore.

Win 7 restore have been used successfully (but they arent the easiest to work with--I personally use acronis)

Hi zigfried welcome to the forums

That is basically correct yes. The system image will overwrite what is on there, and replace it with the image. It's effectively a "snapshot" of the disk as it was then.
No, it will only overwrite C. E is unaffected by the system image, (unless you imaged E as well, but the default Win 7 imaging only images C)
I have been using Windows 7 since RTM. To date I have NEVER had a bad image recovery.

Wow, quick responses!

One last question for now (I'm hoping).

Will it actually ask for the drive to place the image on and therefore will only format the drive selected? I will select (C) as that is where the operating system currently exists.

Would you suggest using one of the images on the DVD's I created rather than the image on the partition.
I understand that if the drive fails where (C) and (E) exists that the image on the partition would then be no longer available. That is why I also created multiple images on DVD.

Again, thanks for the information.

Personally? I'd use the partition, it will be a LOT quicker. Obviously the DVD's are good for backup's if the drive failed, but if your restoring, then obviously that hasn't happened.

It's been a while since I used Windows default imaging, I've switched over to Acronis, but if I remember rightly, it automatically figures out where it's supposed to go for you based on drive sizes.

One thing to mention, the drive letter's it says it's going to restore WILL be wrong, I have no idea why, but WinRE seems to pick different drive letters to Windows, don't worry about it, it's going to the right place

When reimaging with Windows 7 imaging, you will be presented with a screen which gives you the option to format your HDD. If this option is not grayed out (with a tick in it) DON'T tick it. Only your OS (+little system reserved) partition will be restored and E: should be safe. If you select the option or it is grayed out with a tick in it, E: will be formatted and you will lose your data.

Windows will generally only force a format if you have changed the partition structure of the disk (even in the slightest way).

I have reimaged MANY times with the Windows 7 native system image program (and have a data partition which is left untouched). This includes to 2 new HDDs. Macrium also works fine for me.
All imaging software can have problems depending on the user configuration.

When you use the recovery disk to restore an image, It will present you with partitions to exclude from the restore. Chose to exclude the D: partition.

Zigfried,
Be aware that you can exclude other drives from any formatting. If the format option is chosen or forced your whole OS drive will be formatted. You cannot exclude partitions like your E: partition if the format option is ticked when using an image on an external HDD or DVDs (your D: drive).

If you have an image on E: AND the partition structure has not been changed in any way then you can reimage C: without affecting E:. In this case the format option is both unticked and grayed out.
However, relying on an image stored on E: is very risky.

Since I was uneasy restoring the image from the partition on the drive, in case it got formatted and was not able to complete the restoration, I decided to try it from the image made on the DVD.

It seemed to work fine EXCEPT for one issue - there were 2 folders in the folder Documents (which was under Libraries) missing - Fax and Scanned Documents.
These 2 folders each contained folders that contained files. They looked like Windows files - not user and should'nt be since the computer had not been used prior to the images being created.

Other than that everything seems to be working fine.

I don't understand why those folders are not there since they were when the images were created. I would have assumed they should be after the restoration and now wonder could there be other problems that I am not yet aware of.

The E: drive - the partition where the other image existed did not get formatted, so I expect if I recovered from that image everything would work fine and the partition will remain and not get formatted.

If anyone could explain why those folders are missing, I would appreciate it.

Thanks

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