Performing Image Restore Computer Uses Wrong Image

I am having some weird problems and need help.

I have windows 7 ultimate.

I have used three different programs, malware antimalware, AVG, and Windows Defender and found zero problems on my home, single computer. I uninstalled AVG.

Ok. So am thinking I will restore from my windowsimagebackup 11-14-17 on external Harddrive. I added the date after I performed my image backup. I will simply remove the date so I just have "WindowsImageBackup" (Without " marks.) and do a restore.

I also have three other WindowsImageBackups on my external F: harddrive. The three have dates 6-4-19, 2-8-20, and 3-23-20 added so as to not over right them, and see them.

I want to go back as far as possible to as pristine as possible windows 7. I am thinking less errors to deal with.

However, when I do an image restore, the computer sees F: drive but uses an image 1-20-20, which is not listed on any harddrive. If I had an image from that date, I already deleted it some months ago from F: drive. It is not listed on F: drive as a double check.

What is causing the image restore to see an image that has been deleted, and what do I do to restore using "WindowsImageBackup" from date 11-14-17?

cheers and thanks for any help and time.
pos777

SIW2 said:

Where are you getting those dates from?

Did you check the date of the vhd file?

Thanks for your reply SIW2. When the computer is searching for an image to restore, after reboot, the date is part of the information provided, which is 1-20-20.

The dates I used were when the backup images were created.

When fully booted up into windows 7 ultimate x64, when I open explorer, power on external G: drive, I don't see any 1-20-20 date for one of my image backups.



In the past, I have performed backups with no problems, so I don't understand the problem unless corruption has occurred.

What is a vhd file?

cheers and thanks again.


pos777

SIW2 said:

When you create an image older blocks are moved into shadow storage. The vhd file you can see contains the most recent image.
To restore from an earlier image than the date on vhd file requires accessing shadow storage, which you might not have if you are renaming/moving your image folders.

You could also do a search for *.vhd to find where they all are. I don't know what you are using for search, the free everything by voidtools is good
voidtools

I double clicked on each of the windowsimagebackup folders and each Modified date simply stated the date I performed the backup image,

except,

the "WindowsImageBackup 11-14-17" folder which states Modified date 1-14-20. Wow. Yet, when

I click on properties, it says that I created the image on 11-14-17.


But it was just the other day, I thought, that I removed the date to read "WindowsImageBackup".

Was it my changing the name that altered the modification date? Maybe I read the date wrong when I restored using the image. Maybe it said 1-24-2020. My eyesight is not exactly the best.

Does that mean I actually already backed up using the 11-14-17 image file? If so, then that is exactly what I wanted.


cheers and thanks.
pos777

So far, the printer has been working great, and all seems to be in order. Defrag has not messed up the computer, printer etc.



As of now I think all is a ok. Will keep informed if a problems pops up. I did uninstall CCleaner.


Thanks to gentlemen who helped me solve the problem. When I was in college we did not learn about computers, so this was a nice learning experience.



positron777

Just now, after running easy start, I just ran glary Utilities and got rid of 2000+ tracks (erased), and 300+ mb of file cleaning, then rebooted, and the printer works like a charm again.

Will keep informed.

pos