Windows 7: Cannot open .vhd files after doing a backup.

Hey guys, I just performed a backup for one of my drives.



I got one file that contains plenty of .rar files which contain the files I backed up.
And then there's the windows image backup which was created as well, but I cannot seem to be able to open the .vhd file. I heard it could be opened with winrar or 7zip, and even mounted like an .iso, but no joy whatsoever.

I guess the question here is.. I am reformating my system, and in really all I want is to have personal folders, game installers, and app data for my browser.. so is the windows image backup really necessary for what I want?

Hello Erick,

If you mean you created a system image, then the tutorial below can help show you how to extract files from it's VHD.

System Image - Extract Files Using Disk Management

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Ohhh, thank you very much! This does clear a lot of questions.

I didn't really choose to create a system image, and I already made a backup with my most important folder.. so what would a system image be useful for if say, I was to change a motherboard and processor?

I do want to start from scratch, is the system image still useful?

You're welcome.

A system image is useful if you wanted to be able to restore Windows 7, and any other hard drive you included in the image, completely back to how it was when the image was created.

A Windows Backup is only for the files in the folders you included in the backup. It will not restore the computer like a system image does.

To restore files from a Windows Backup, the tutorials below can help with that.

(preferred method) Restore Backup User and System Files

or

Backup - Manually Extract Files from in Vista & Windows 7

Thanks!

Well I just really care for application installers that were hard to find, and folders, so I should be fine, thanks a lot!

You're most welcome.