Totally Confused on restoring system image

Yesterday I had a system failure and was not able to boot into Windows. Previously I had created an image using the built-in imager in Windows on an external hard drive. I had also created an image using Macrium (thank goodness).

I used the Repair Disk I had created to boot up expecting to be able to use the Windows created image to restore my C-drive.

I have read all the tutorials on how to restore the image, all that did was confuse me. It seems there are just too many "IFs ands Buts" in the tutorials I have read.

The restore would NOT see the image I had created on the external HDD. I ended up restoring with Macrium which did a fine job.

What I would like is some simple instructions on how to restore an image created on an external HDD using the built-in imager.

If there is such instructions, I would appreciate I would appreciate directions to them.

Thank you

Did you use the Advanced options to find the image?

I thought I used the Advanced Option, but I am not totally sure.

Here is more information that might be helpful:



This shows all the files and folders on the external hard drive.

I assume (right or wrong) that the "JERRY-PC" file is the file that is used for restoring the image?

I have no idea what the "MediaID.bin" is for.



This shows all the files/folders inside the "WindowsImageBack" folder. Again I would assume the restore function will find these automatically as needed.

I am still looking for simplest instructions for restoring the image created under the conditions I stated in the first post.

Thank You

Why not just forget about using it. As you have found out it isn't very intuitive and doesn't work some times.

Just think if you hadn't use that other program to make a backup image of your system.

So just forget about the built in image program. It's not worth your time trying to figure it out.

mborner said:

huffman said:

I thought I used the Advanced Option, but I am not totally sure.

Here is more information that might be helpful:



This shows all the files and folders on the external hard drive.

I assume (right or wrong) that the "JERRY-PC" file is the file that is used for restoring the image?

I have no idea what the "MediaID.bin" is for.


JERRY-PC is your data backup, not your image. Your image is

This shows all the files/folders inside the "WindowsImageBack" folder. Again I would assume the restore function will find these automatically as needed.

I am still looking for simplest instructions for restoring the image created under the conditions I stated in the first post.

Thank You

JERRY-PC is your data backup, not your image. Your image is "WindowsImageBackup"

And "mediaID.bin" is a file used by Windows Backup and must be in the root of the drive where the "JERRY-PC" data backup folder is at. You lose that file, you be in big poopoo.

You can find, in the Tutorials here, straightfoward tutorials on using the Windows 7 Backup/ Restore /Imaging program.

Backup User and System Files

Restore Backup User and System Files

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

System Image Recovery

Why not just forget about using it. As you have found out it isn't very intuitive and doesn't work some times.

Far as I am concerned the more options I have to restore an image when seemingly unsolvable problems arise the better off I am.

Tinkerdog I have read and reread all those tutorials. I even printed them out so I could take my time and not miss anything. I think they are still too many "IFs, Ands, and Buts".

The best one and most straight forward I found is "System Recovery Options" at

System Recovery Options

It seems easy and straight forward and addressed my situation. At least I will try it next time I have to.

Thanks for the responses

huffman said:

Far as I am concerned the more options I have to restore an image when seemingly unsolvable problems arise the better off I am.

In the abstract, I agree with you.

However---in actuality, you have to guard against THINKING you understand an imaging application. You think you understand it, so you use it. Then, a few months later, you get in a jam and try to restore. Only then do you discover you didn't really understand it--and you can't restore due to some fine point that wasn't in the help file or was glossed over in the tutorial. You were lulled into complacency--which is deadly when applied to something as critical as backup.

If you in fact DO understand it, fine. But, as you are learning, Windows Backup is a bit cryptic and hardly user-friendly. In an attempt to dumb it down and still include a bunch of features, Microsoft actually made it more complex to understand.

View from one of my Test rig's.


Backup Disk1


Backup Disk2


As the Hd's are V a Sata/Raid Card, HD's will not show in recovery options.
When drivers are loaded, HD's will show.

SATA Drivers - Load in Windows Recovery Options
You can also load drivers in Recovery Adanced options