Syprep/Image X procedure 'not recognised command in cmd prompt'

Dear All,

Apologies for total lack of knowledge and understanding here.

Found sysprep because last 2 pc purchases I couldn't transfer system image, only transfer wizard, takes ages setting up and installing apps again.

This time, I purchased new pc, and once set up, I found out about sysprep through the sysprep/imagex procedure:

Build a Windows 7 Image - Sysprep, ImageX, Deployment | TechNet

Well, I restarted, and that was almost the end.

I put in boot cd and entered windows pre-installation environment, found cmd prompt and tried to put inthe command prompt to copy image of my c: drive onto my D: drive (have lots of space there, and have windows 8 evaluation copied loaded there too).

Well, when putting in the command line, I get imagex is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

Can't reboot, because system is sypreped, it just fails, and can't do it from windows 8 command prompt, and basically cannot get anything going.

I thought sysprep would just temporarily prepare the system, take an image, and then you return back to normal.

All my data is there, on C: with the windows 7 system, I can see all the folders and there is still 90gb of info there, but I can't boot it.

Please help me to recover. I don't have a backup of this setup/system because I was trying to make a backup by using sysprep.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Richard

Thanks for reply Kaktussoft :

I used OOBE, and selected quit, as it instructed in the following MS instruction video:

Build a Windows 7 Image - Sysprep, ImageX, Deployment | TechNet

Then I restart. It did mention that you have to go into windows pre-installation environment to put in the command line.

I did that using boot disc, but imagex is not recognised as an internal or external command.

All attempts to boot back in my now "syspreped" windows 7 system fail, it says during the start up screeen, starting services, and then an error comes up. Logically, I wouldn't expect it to boot properly, as it has been syspreped, but surely there must be away to put everything back, to unsysprep it.

I didn't want to wipe or destroy my system, just to copy the image of the disk in such a way as it was a portable image.

Looking forward to any help you can give me.

Thanks

Richard

Am downloading AIK now.

Will go from there and let you know, thank you.

Richard

Dear Kaktussoft,

Thank you for helping me.

I can answer your questions more clearly with bullet points:

1. Yes I checked the generalise box in the sysprep window

2. I don't know why I'm capturing my windows 7 disk on a WIM file, other than the fact that I know if
I ever want to restore an image to another laptop (say something happens to this one), I can only do it if
it was a sysprep image. Therefore, I followed the syprep video instructions.

3. I have acronis for WD drive if that helps, but I don't have a backup pre-new laptop. That's what I was in the process
of doing when all this happened.

4. I'm sorry I don't know how to repair this computer. I tried to 'repair startup' from the Windows Boot disc, but all it did was create a "recovery version" of Windows 7. Now I have 3 versions available from the windows 8 boot up screen (the blue one): windows 8, windows 7, windows 7 (recovery). Neither windows 7 works.

5. I read your link, I was following the exact same method as in method 1, but when I restarted I did not get the new installation screen as it shows in that link. I remember it saying something about 'changing registry settings' but when it restarted it did something different. It said "Set Up is Starting Services" on the black screen with windows motif. Then the error came which you asked about which is" Windows Cannot Complete the Installtion. To install Windows on this computer, restart the installation", offers an OK button. I press OK

6. Then it says "setup will continue after restarting your computer".and goes back
into the windows 8 screen with the 3 systems available to me, and if I choose windows 7, it does it again.

My GOAL:

My initial objective was to make an image of Windows 7 with all my programs and data. Now, my objective has changed to just recovering my windows 7, with all my programs and data. I have to do my daily work/tasks, etc I am doing all of this from windows 8 but it has no programs
or data.

Thank you

Richard