Create system repair disc on Win7 w/o DVD drive or Win7 .ISO file?

Hello:

I'm trying to create an image backup of our DVR system so that I can
repair it if its bootable hard drive fails. It is running on Windows
Embedded Standard, which is Windows 7, 64-bit. I was able to create an
image copy of disk C: but then it asked me if I want to create a
bootable disk, but showed an error that I don't have a DVD bay:

https://i.imgur.com/9QjaJmj.png

All I have is a USB drive.

I searched online and there's a lot of tutorials on how to create a
bootable USB drive for Windows 7, but all of them require copying
files from a Win 7 .iso or a bootable DVD. I don't have either. All I
have is this windows 7 installed on our DVR system.

dc2000 said:

I'm trying to create an image backup of our DVR system so that I can repair it if its bootable hard drive fails. It is running on Windows Embedded Standard, which is Windows 7, 64-bit. I was able to create an image copy of disk C: but then it asked me if I want to create a bootable disk, but showed an error that I don't have a DVD bay...

All I have is a USB drive.

Yes, that's one of the failings of the built in Microsoft system imaging. Another is that it's not terribly reliable.


I'd use something else to make a system image. My personal favourite is Macrium Reflect Free, and that does have the option to create a bootable recovery usb.

SIW2 said:

He never misses an opportunity to promote that product.

...microsoft system image is fine.

It's not, its most common failing is being unable to find the system image to restore just when you need it the most. I have seen that for myself.

I have the "Repair Disc Windows 7 64 Bit" that I created in Windows 7... I insert the Repair Disc and start the system. Get to System Recoevery Options. I have the external Hard Disk with the system backup image connected. Select System Image Recovery option. Says "Windows cannot find a system image on this computer...

System Image Recovery - Can't find System Image - Microsoft Community

I went to Advanced Recovery methods and I clicked "Use a system image you created earlier to recover your computer" .... Then I clicked "restart". The next thing I did was to choose a language. Then here comes the error. A message box popped up saying "Windows cannot find a system image on this computer"

Windows cannot find a system image on this computer ERROR - Microsoft Community

Microsoft deprecated it and stopped developing it nearly three years ago. They recommend you use something (anything) else.

Microsoft said:

System Image Backup (SIB) Solution
We recommend that users use full-disk backup solutions from other vendors.

Windows 10 features we’re no longer developing - Windows Deployment | Microsoft Docs

dc2000 said:

I searched online and there's a lot of tutorials on how to create a bootable USB drive for Windows 7, but all of them require copying files from a Win 7 .iso or a bootable DVD. I don't have either. All I have is this windows 7 installed on our DVR system.

Here's one that doesn't, it tells you where to find the files on your installed system.

You must get your hands dirty in the process, as it involves changing some security permissions on a system folder called Recovery and it also involves copying some system files onto your memory stick.

Create a USB memory stick with system recovery tools in Windows 7 | Digital Citizen

Hey @dc2000 have you thought to buy a external DVD drive? They are only around $10-$15 CAD and very useful for servicing computers with no DVD drives. And on the plus side you don't have to buy/download/figure out another program.

SIW2 said:

pretty pictures to show how

Yeah, thanks. I'll try that software first. Although that link you provided doesn't have any pictures. All links are bad.