Can't find the drive to recover system image error

rhicks20 · 10 Mar 2010

Hello, This is probably a simple fix, but I can't seem to figure it out. I build a image of my system using MS backup. I'm switching HD's and i figured I would restore the image on the new HD. I'm getting 2 separate errors. The only HD's in the machine are the new one and the old one with the image on it. When I restart using the install disc and select recover and go through the options to restore the image, I go through all the prompts about the formatting and whatever and then it starts the recover and fails. It either says it can't find the drive to install to or it can't find any HD's at all. This is after of course I go the the prompt to exclude drives that it sees and I don't select any because the only one in the window is the one I'm installing to. It sees them during the question part of the recover but not during the actual recover.....?????

Any thoughts?

Victek · 11 Mar 2010

rhicks20 said:

Hello, This is probably a simple fix, but I can't seem to figure it out. I build a image of my system using MS backup. I'm switching HD's and i figured I would restore the image on the new HD. I'm getting 2 separate errors. The only HD's in the machine are the new one and the old one with the image on it. When I restart using the install disc and select recover and go through the options to restore the image, I go through all the prompts about the formatting and whatever and then it starts the recover and fails. It either says it can't find the drive to install to or it can't find any HD's at all. This is after of course I go the the prompt to exclude drives that it sees and I don't select any because the only one in the window is the one I'm installing to. It sees them during the question part of the recover but not during the actual recover.....?????

Any thoughts?

.
You could try putting the old drive (with the image file) in an external USB enclosure, or copying the image file to a USB key (and take the old drive out of the system).

JimLewandowski · 11 Mar 2010

I posted in another thread.

Here's my scenario:

new PC, fresh W7 install

Take System Image (create System Image) on E: drive (2nd hard drive). Verify it's there by going BACK into Create System Image and it shows under the DRIVE selection part of the panel.

Reformat original W7 drive

Go to Create System Image screen and see if the E: system image is still recognized. NO.

I think the reason is that when reformatting on my wnd W7 install, the volume has changed (i.e. I let Windows choose the volume). And, I think W7 doesn't want to chance restoring a system image (.vhd) to a DIFFERENT volume.