Recovery disk can not see image on network drive

Hello... my Windows-7 system is dead. Will not boot, and recovery options from previously made recovery disk have been unsuccessful. I do have a recent Windows-created System Image on a USB-Network drive, however all attempts at utilizing such have been unsuccessful. After navigating to the System Image Restore function from either my repair CD, or my OEM Windows CD, then selecting Search for image on the network function, then entering the full network address [\\readyshare\usb_storage\larry\delldesktopbackup\windowsimagebackup\dell_desktop\backup 2012-11-18 170013], then entering my network credentials, the system seems to search the location, but returns me to a blank "select the location of the backup you want to restore" screen.

Related problem... thinking the C-drive was toast, and knowing I have an OEM Windows-7 CD, I bought a new 3-TB drive. Installed the drive, attempted to do a clean-fresh system install on the new drive, and Win-7 tells me it can not install windows because of some hardware incompatibility issue. Since nothing was changed from the previously working Win-7 installation on this system, except the new 3TB hard drive... I'm wondering what the problem could be.

I can either go with the backup system image, or clean install of Win-7 to the new drive to get me back up an running. I would actually prefer to install the backup image to the NEW drive, if possible.

Can anyone offer any thoughts or suggestions???

Can you plug the USB Drive in to the PC you trying to repair?

To use the full size of a 3TB HD Drive, you a PC with a uEFI/BIOS firmware.

For more info on uEFI:
Windows and GPT FAQ
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
UEFI and Windows

theog... yes, I tried that. The usb-attached device did not show up on the list either... and, there are only options to Load Drivers, or Search for device on the network as selection options while in the restore/repair functionality.

On the new drive issue... I did download a BIOS flash file, and attempted to install, but received an error saying patch could not be applied (did that when I could boot to Safe-Mode). I can no longer boot to safe mode.

If you are using USB 3.0 you will need to load the USB 3.0 drivers.

theog... I think the usb is 2.0, but how would I find out at this point? And, where would I find the drivers for generic USB? Can I extract them from the OEM Win-7 CD ?

Thank you for responding and helping !

If you are using USB 2.0 you be OK. If USB 3.0 download drivers from the PC manufacturer.

Trying to run SFC but get an error of... There is a system repair pending which requires reboot to complete... however rebooting does nothing except return the same error over and over again. Is there a way to run the restore function from DOS in order to load the backup drive image? I can see the image folder with DOS "dir" command.

I have a dell xps with windows 7 home premium. I am trying to backup to an external HDD connected to USB 3.0 using windows backup function. When I try to backup my image, the backup failed with the error code "0X8007002 cannot find specified file". How to rectify this error.

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Just for those who may be reading this thread...
Still unable to utilize the "backup" Win-7 created... (what good is it if it can't be used ? )

Resolved the secondary hardware incompatibility issue... the problem was - trying to install Win-7 on a hard drive that was manufactured AFTER the Win-7 disk creation date. In other words... there was no driver for the new drive on the install CD. So... after long support session with Western Digital, they sent me a link for hard drive drivers. Downloaded the drivers to a USB device, and utilized the "Load Drivers" function available on one of the first Win-7 install screens. Once I did that, the Win-7 install went smooth, and successful.

However, now that the new drive is installed, and Win-7 up and running... it does not recognize the "backup" (using system image feature) that I previously made. So... I guess I join the millions and millions that have been screwed over by Microsoft. IMO... for the most part, Windows works pretty well... except when you REALLY need to count on it.

I have not deleted the backup yet... so if anyone reading this has any suggestions, I would certainly welcome such.

Thanks...