Help with a complete system image restore from VHD files?

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  1. Posts : 22
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
       #1

    Help with a complete system image restore from VHD files?


    Not as simple as the title sounds. Believe me.

    To start: I did a complete backup of my system a month ago. I saved it on an external HD. There are three directories: Backup (Date) with two VHD files in this directory, Catalog, SPPMetadataCache and a file entitled MediaID. Well, about a week ago, I was having a hard time logging on to the system. I would get to the password and the system would not allow any keyboard entry and would not respond to Ctrl-Alt-Del. After a few attempts to figurer out the problem, I decided to do an image restore. When attempting this through the Control Panel, system repair disc and Windows 7 Installation disc, nothing worked because none of them recognized the VHD files. (I should add here that this is Windows 7 Ultimate on a two 1 Terabyte drive system in Raid 0 array - ). Well, I reformatted the drives so I now have drive C: and D: and have the absolute minimal installation of Windows 7 Ult. on the computer. In doing some research I found that I could view the files with Windows Virtual Hard Drive and all the files are still there. So, this brings me to the question:

    Can I (and if I can, how do I) restore the original backup of one month ago to the system?

    I have read that Windows Virtual Hard Drive has a limit of 172 Gb so that might not work as the backup is 214Gb in size. I have downloaded Virtual Box in case I need it. My main concern is to return the system to original configuration (sans the Raid array) without having to re-install all the programs and reconfigure all of the ones I would have to install.

    So why should I want to restore versus re-install? I have 20,432 folders and 176,000 files that date back to 1985 and many programs that have been downloaded and modified on this system and just don't want to spend that kind of time. So saying, if you have the answer or can direct me to it (I did a search without success on this specific problem), I would very much appreciate it.

    Don
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #2

    Hello Don, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    If you did a system image backup, then you should be able to do a system image recovery at boot to restore the image backup with the date you want.

    Hope this helps for now,
    Shawn
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 22
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thank you for the post Shawn, but that was the first thing I tried. The problem is that the restore part of backup-and-restore does not recognize VHD files and would not allow me to access the system image. There must be some way to access them through Virtual Hard Drive or Virtual Box in order to do an all-or-nothing system restore from image, but so far I am coming up empty handed on this one. Thanks for the reply. At least people are reading this request.:)
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #4

    Don,

    Is it still not in it's original WindowsImageBackup folder as in the NOTE box at the top of this tutorial?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 22
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    It is indeed. However, the system only recognizes another backup which was done after the new install following a complete re-formatting of the HDs and does not contain all the old files, folders and system files.

    I am supposedly going to hear from a level 2 tech at Microsoft tomorrow. My guess is this another epic fail on the part of MS and I will have to reconstruct piece by piece (something I dread doing). Thanks for the input.

    Don
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #6

    Just to be thorough, in the STEP TWO section of the tutorial below at step 6, was the older system image backup not listed there as well?

    System Image Recovery
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 22
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Yes, it is and when I attempt to restore from it I get to step seven and the top box is checked and grayed out. When I press next (because I have no idea what "drivers" they are talking about, I get the following error: "Error: The system cannot find the specified file 0x80070002." and it stops and allows me to restart.

    I don't know what "file" it is looking for as I have combed the backup folders and can't find this file anywhere.

    Any ideas?

    Don
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #8

    Don,

    Check out Scenario 3 in each section of the MS KB article below to see if that may apply and work for you for this error.

    Error code 0x8100002F and or error code 0x80070002 when you back up files in Windows 7


    Scenario 3 resolution
    For information about how to resolve this issue, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:
    976972 (You encounter problems when you move data over USB from a Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2-based computer that has an NVIDIA USB EHCI chipset and at least 4GB of RAM ) You encounter problems when you move data over USB from a Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2-based computer that has an NVIDIA USB EHCI chipset and at least 4GB of RAM
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 22
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    I should also add that I have gone to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList) and there are only 4 fiels with no redundancy. My concern is that when the OS was re-installed, I was not there and I wonder if that might be a factor. I still show as Admin. Also, if the restore ever works, will it reformat and then attempt to restore the files in a Raid array or will it restore to a single drive?

    Still waiting for MS to call. What a joke.

    Don

    Our messages crossed in the circuits. Yes, I have read the article. I have downloaded the file and attempted to install it. All I get is "This update does not apply to this computer."

    I have tried to restore from a USB hard drive and have copied the files to the D: drive to restore to C:, all without success. I would like to resolve the 0x8007002 and I believe the rest will work.

    Don
    Last edited by Brink; 26 Oct 2011 at 11:19. Reason: merged
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #10

    It depends on if they did something to the HDD that your image backup was saved to.

    No, RAID or single partitions will not matter. It only matters what was included ( selected partition(s) and size of partition(s) ) when the image was created. It will restore it back exactly the same way (partition(s) and size) to the HDD.
      My Computer


 
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