Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

How to Create a System Image Backup in Windows 7​

   Information

A system image is an exact copy of a drive. By default, a system image includes the drives required for Windows to run. A system image would include all NTFS formatted partitions with an operating system installed on it (ex: C ), as well as the System Reserved partition. These system partitions cannot be unselected. It also includes Windows and your system settings, programs, and files. You can use a system image to restore the contents of your computer if your hard disk or computer ever stops working. When you restore your computer from a system image, it's a complete restoration—you can't choose individual items to restore, and all of your current programs, system settings, and files are replaced with the contents of the system image.

This tutorial will show you how to create a system image (clone) backup of the entire hard drive or partition that Windows 7 is on, and any other selected drive or partition. You can use this image to be able to do a system image recovery to restore the hard drive or partition at boot back to the way it was at the time the backup image was created.

If you want to include additional drives in the system image, you can manually create a system image. If you manually create a system image, it can be saved on a USB flash drive, CDs, DVDs, or a hard drive.

If a system image was created through Windows Backup instead with the Include a System Image of Drives box checked, you can set Windows to retain as many system images as it has space for on the backup disk or to only keep the most recent system image.

   Note

Keeping different versions of system images

If you're saving your system images on an internal or external drive, or on CDs or DVDs, you can keep several versions of system images. On internal and external hard drives, older system images will be deleted when the drive runs out of space. To help conserve disk space, you can manually delete older system images.

Backup images are saved as backup periods in this format at the selected saved to location like the example below.

drive letter:\WindowsImageBackup\computer name\Backup YYYY-MM-DD HHMMSS

For example, if your computer name is Computer, your backup image location is on hard disk or partition (network or local) D: , and you backed up on 11/22/2008 at 1:00:50 PM (It uses 24 hour time), then that backup image would be located in the folder below.
D:\WindowsImageBackup\Computer\Backup 2008-11-22 130050
If you're saving your system images in a network location, you can only keep the most current system image for each computer. If you have an existing system image for a computer and are creating a new one for the same computer, the new system image will overwrite the existing one.

   Tip

If you want to keep multiple system image versions on the same drive or partition, then you can use either method below to do so.

METHOD ONE:
Change the maximum space used for system images on the drive letter you are saving the Windows Backup to by changing the maximum space used by System Protection for the same drive letter. This is the same setting.

You do not have to have System Protection turned on for the drive letter, but do need to adjust the maximum space to what you like.

The size of a system image can be quite large since it will include all system drives in the image by default plus any drives you have included. If you want to keep multiple system images, be sure to increase the max size accordingly.

METHOD TWO:

1. Navigate to the backup location above for where you saved a system image that you want to keep before creating a new system image.

2. Right click, or press and hold, on the WindowsImageBackup folder, and click/tap on Rename.

3. Rename it to something like WindowsImageBackup-Copy-1, press Enter, and click//tap on Yes if prompted by UAC.
NOTE: This way you can just easily change the 1 an the end of the name to 2, 3, 4, etc... for each new system image that you make a copy of.

4. You now have a different system image version that you can leave at this location to be able to keep multiple versions.

NOTE: When you want to restore a system image in a renamed WindowsImageBackup-Copy-1 folder in the future, then you must rename the current WindowsImageBackup folder first, then rename the WindowsImageBackup-Copy-1 folder back to WindowsImageBackup in order to be able to restore it. The WindowsImageBackup folder must be in the root directory of the drive, and not within another folder.

   Warning

• Windows 7 can only include drives formatted with the NTFS file system in the system image.
• Windows 7 cannot include the partition or drive that you are saving the backup image to in the image.
• All "system" or "boot" drives/partitions are included in the system image by default, so you will not be able to save the system image to a system or boot drive/partition.
• If you are saving the system image to a HDD or partition, then you can only save the system image on a separate hard drive (recommended) or partition than what Windows 7 is installed on. It cannot be saved to the C: drive.
• Only the Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions can backup to a network location.
• You cannot restore a 64-bit Windows 7 backup image on a 32-bit system.
• You cannot restore a 64-bit Windows 7 backup image with a 32 bit Windows 7 installation DVD or recovery partition, or the other way around. You must use the same 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 installation DVD or recovery partition as the backup image is.
• A system image that was created on a computer using EFI cannot be restored on a computer using BIOS. It can only be restored on a computer using EFI.
• When restoring a system image from a dynamic volume, the disks on your computer cannot be formatted to match the layout of the disks on the backup. To have full functionality, select a volume (partition) on a basic disk as your backup location instead.
• I would recommend to create a system image on a separate HDD, or a separate partition on a separate HDD, for the best reliability to restore from it. CDs or DVDs are just not as reliable. A scratch one just one of them could ruin the whole image.

Here's How:
1. Open the Control Panel (icons view).

2. Click on the Backup and Restore icon.

3. Click on the Create a system image link. (See screenshot below)

4. If prompted by UAC, click on Yes.

5. Select the location to where you would like to save the backup image at, and click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: See the Warning box at the top of the tutorial. Only the Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions can backup to a network location.

6. If available, check any additional hard drives or partitions (ex: Vista) that you would like to include in the backup image with the Windows 7 (System and C: ) partition or hard drive, and click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: See the WARNING box at the top of the tutorial. If you do not want to add any additional hard drives or partitions, then just leave the others unchecked. You will not see this, if you do not have any other OS installed other than Windows 7.

7. Click on the Start backup button. (See screenshot below)

8. You will now see this window. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you wish to stop creating the backup image during this point, click on the Stop backup, Stop, and Close buttons.

9. When it is finished you will see this create a System Repair disc pop-up window. Click on No. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: For how to always hide or show this message, see this tutorial.

10. Click on the Close button. (See screenshot below)

11. Close the Backup and Restore window. (See screenshot below step 3)
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Backup User and System Files in Windows 7
• How to Do a System Image Recovery in Windows 7
• How to Backup and Restore the Windows 7 Registry
• How to Enable or Disable the Ability to Create a System Image in Windows 7
• How to Extract Files from Windows 7 System Image using Virtual PC
• How to Extract Windows 7 System Image Files Using Disk Management
• Imaging with free Macrium
• How to Restore your System with a Broken Windows 7 System Image
• How to Manually Extract Files from a Backup in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Backing up to a CD or DVD in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Backing up to Local Hard Disks in Windows 7
• How to Delete Windows 7 User Data and System Image Backup Files
• How to Create a "Create a System Image" Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Hide or Show "Do you want to create a system repair disc?" Message
• How to Fix Backup Error 0x81000019 in Windows 7
• New Installation: How to Create a General System Image in Audit Mode

 

[Brink]

Nice trick SIW2, but it may be best to allow the hidden system partition to stay as default though. This way it is sure to get backed up as well.

 

[SIW2]

Hi Shawn,

Yes , if it's only the 200mb system partition - you're right , it's best to include it.

This is for if your Vista partition is the System partition - and you don't want to include all that in the same image as 7. You might not have space, or you might prefer separate backup images.

In fact, I have just changed my System partition from the First (Vista ) partition , to the second (7) partition.

I have the relevant boot files on both, so if I want to change back, I only need to swap the active flag back to the first partition.

 

[Brink]

LOL, oh I see what you meant now. I was thinking of just Windows 7. DOH!

Yeah, that would be much better.

 

[nate42nd]

If anyone is wondering, I just did a complete computer backup. I put it on an external HD. It included 100GB with Vista on it and 30GB with Windows 7 on it. 130GB total and it took about 45 minutes. I guess I'll have it if I need it. (until RC1, then it will be deleted) There is compression. It warned me is may take up to 130GB. It took up 59.5GB on the external HD. I didn't test it so I don't know if it would work.

 

[Brink]

Thank you Nate for sharing your results.

 

[SIW2]

Hi Nate,

Thanks for the info. Is that 60gb backup the same as the USED space on both your 100gb and 30gb partitions?

 

[nate42nd]

SIW2, the partitions are 360GB and 100GB. The used space is 100GB (in the 360) and 30GB (in the 100) Those two partitions are my Vista and Windows 7 and take 130GB total. The backup took 59.8GB. It uses compression. It warns you there may be no compression but must compress some files.

 

[SIW2]

Hi Nate,

Thanks for the info.

 

[nate42nd]

I have done this twice now. 130GB USED space on two partitions put onto an external HD. The first time I was using build 7048 or 7057 and the 130GB was compressed to 59.8GB. On build 7077 130GB was compressed to 36.8GB. They are using better compression or something isn't working right. It said it was created successfully.

 

[SIW2]

Hi Nate,

Thanks for reporting back. That does sound like better compression, on a par with third party apps.

Have you tried restoring either of them ? It should be possible to restore to a different partition , to avoid overwriting your current install.

You might see if you can boot that newly restored partition, if you are in the mood to experiment. Probably need to make a BCD entry for it .

 

[nate42nd]

SIW2, I have not tried to restore one yet. I wish I could choose to JUST create an image of the Win7 partition. It will not let me uncheck my Vista partition. It says it creates an image (automatically) of any partition with Windows. I would test it if it were just the Win7 partition.

I think if you use the back-up feature instead of the create disk image....you can choose which files. Next time I will do that and see how it works. I will report back if I try a restore.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi all -- Wihout discouraging the authors of this thread I would really invest in a commercial backup solution.

Acronis True Image is probably the best cheap one going which is suitable for both Small Offices and Home users.

Backup software for data backup and disaster recovery in Windows and Linux - Acronis

Using a Hidden Partition has several drawbacks --

1) (fairly obviously) it wastes Disc space on your fixed drives -- not a good idea especially say on a laptop which probably will only have one hard disk installed.

2) If the hard disk goes "Bonkers" then you've lost your backup / recovery.

3) You can't save / restore individual files / user data etc.

4) No good for handling Windows 7 Libraries.

By using something like Acronis you can back up DATA or a Partition Image (or both) and restore individual files. You can also backup the MBR if it gets corrupted (say you have been messing around with a Linux Dual boot system and you need to get rid of GRUB - the Linux Boot Manager).

You can handle libraries (W7) and can schedule FULL / Partial backups.
You can also do "Incremental" backups -- these are just backups of files that have changd since your last backup.

Acronis etc handles Multi volume backups automatically if you are backing up to say DVD's.

You can also create bootable recovery media -- for example you can launch the program from a USB stick (if your computer permits USB booting).

By say keeping your images on an external USB disk you can do a "Bare metal" recovery -- this means even if you REPLACE your hard disk you can still restore the entire OS and data.

Sorry to be negative --but IMO with the cheap cost of USB drives a proper commercial Backup program should be a high priority for anybody who stores valuable data on a computer. Typical W7 partitions can be restored in around 15 - 20 mins from SCRATCH -- much quicker than re-installing etc etc.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Brink]

Hi Jimbo,

This tutorial is just for a full System image backup. For individual files, see this tutorial instead.

You can still pretty much do all of that without the need for any 3rd party programs though using the Windows 7 installation DVD or USB, and the backups that you have created.

 

[nate42nd]

Jimbo, I have been using Macrium Reflect for creating an image, however, if I can get the same funtionallity from the built in Windows program....why not use it. I am just posting my results here to benefit others.

 

[stampler]

very interesting topic this one!!
any attempt for restore yet?

 

[SIW2]

I was just going to try it to see.

First I needed to make the backup image - failed right there.

Unfortunately, it demanded at least as much space on the backup destination as the used space on the partition you are imaging.


I use Macrium and Paragon - they don't do that.

 

[Brink]

Hi SIW,

I just created a system image on my other drive and the image file is 15.9 GB for the 22.9 GB Windows 7 drive + 100 MB System drive. Not much compression.

 

[Dinesh]

Hi SIW,

I just created a system image on my other drive and the image file is 15.9 GB for the 22.9 GB Windows 7 drive + 100 MB System drive. Not much compression.

it took 24 GB for my 30 GB partition+100 MB system files. Is there a good software which does the same job but takes less space?

 

[SIW2]

Hi Shawn,

I suppose it is better than nothing.

When it pops up warning a backup hasn't been made - many users will go ahead and do it.

They may not have thought of it otherwise - many I speak to have never heard of making your own backup image.

 

[SIW2]

Hi Dinesh,

Try this:

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download