Trying to Restore from WindowsBackupImage Fails

[Flava0ne]

I want to restore my drive from a Backup Image that I made before, but everytime I try to do it, it fails to find my C:\ drive that I would like to restore. I forgot the error code I got, but could it be because my Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit is installed in UEFI? The backup image I created was from the same UEFI installation on Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

 

[cyanna]

You are going to have to give us a bit more detail about what you are trying to do. How are you starting the restore? When you say it can't find the C drive do you mean it can't find the backup of the C drive or the physical drive to restore to? Why are you trying to restore? And yes, error messages are sometimes useful so you might want to add that to your post...

 

[Flava0ne]

I'm starting the Restore process with the Windows 7 Repair Disc that I've created. But I think I know why my drive is not being found, it's probably because it's an NVMe SSD drive and should probably load the driver when prompt during the restore process. But trying to boot properly into the repair disc is also another issue, because now it keeps saying that the repair disc tools is not compatible with my version of Windows and just restarts my system when closing the message dialog box.

Edit: After clicking on Next during the Keyboard layout selection, I get the following error message:

This version of System Recovery Options is not compatible with the version of Windows you are trying to repair. Try using a recovery disc that is compatible with this version of Windows.

Is there a way to Slipstream the NVMe drivers into the repair disc's boot.wim with DISM?

 

[cyanna]

Are you certain you have chosen the correct boot option for the DVD? You need to boot in UEFI mode What key you need to press during boot depends on your motherboard

 

[Flava0ne]

I'm pretty sure, because I created an ISO image of the repair disc that I burnt onto a blank DVD and made a bootable USB drive from the ISO file and it's recognized as UEFI:Generic USB in my BIOS boot drive list.

I just hit F8 during boot then select the Repair System option, then it loads the repair disc.

I'm completely lost on why for some reason I'm not able to boot properly into the reapir disc utility anymore because I was able to before when I received an error code when it wasn't able to find my NVMe drive.

 

[cyanna]

Ok, try to boot without the USB connected. Get to the Repair option, wait to be told that there is no valid image and then plug in the USB drive.
If this doesn't work, you really need to check that the USB drive is actually booting in UEFI mode

 

[Flava0ne]

So after several tries, I was able to boot properly into the repair disc, then loaded up the NVMe driver and my Windows drive was recognized. Then I was able to proceed and restore the drive from my Backup Image.

 

[RolandJS]

...I was able to boot properly into the repair disc, then loaded up the NVMe driver and my Windows drive was recognized...

I'd like to learn from you! Did the repair disc boot up smoothly finally? Then, after that disc booted, exactly how did you get the NVMe driver loaded?

 

[Flava0ne]

I'd like to learn from you! Did the repair disc boot up smoothly finally? Then, after that disc booted, exactly how did you get the NVMe driver loaded?

I had to do a fresh install of Windows 7 to be able to boot into the repair disc. I think it only works the first time you try to after a fresh install and you're no longer able to for a second time. Also, when you get into the repair disc, there will be an option to load drivers if no drive is recognized.

But even after all that I still wasn't able to restore from my backup image. As soon as you get to the part where you select your backup image, the repair disc gives me another error saying that it can't restore the drive because its in use in the repair environment and to reboot with the proper repair disc. But you won't even be able to boot back into it anymore untill you once again do a fresh install of Windows. Which then will begin this useless cycle and never being able to restore your drive.

 

[cyanna]

"I think it only works the first time you try to after a fresh install and you're no longer able to for a second time." That would kind of defeat it's purpose...I have no idea what is going on with your bootable repair disk but this is not the normal behaviour.
Anyhow since you now have a functionning windows installation you can restore your old backup from within windows using THIS tutorial.

 

[mjf]

...I was able to boot properly into the repair disc, then loaded up the NVMe driver and my Windows drive was recognized...

I'd like to learn from you! Did the repair disc boot up smoothly finally? Then, after that disc booted, exactly how did you get the NVMe driver loaded?

You'd use the Load Drivers options. eg:
Problem recoverying from backup via USB 3.0 external drive

SATA Drivers - Load in Windows Recovery Options