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

[dc2000]

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.

 

[SIW2]

You can use totalmounter (free) to create a mounted iso with a drive letter that the thing will write to.
KernSafe iSCSI initiator, Virtual CD/DVD-RW Emulator, Virtual Encryption Disk and Virtual CD/DVD-ROM Emulator All-in-One free software.
Then you can extract the iso to create a bootable usb

:ar: pretty pictures to show how

Alternatively - or in addition, you can borrow my win7 recovery media - it is quite fancy with explorer, internet connection and lots of other toys.

32 bit
17514x86.iso

64 bit
17514x64v15.iso

Download the iso and create bootable usb from it using usb7ice, or similar View attachment Usb7ice.zip

 

[Bree]

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.

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]

He never misses an opportunity to promote that product.

I suggest you make a system repair disk - it has useful functions, and microsoft system image is fine.

Or you can use my recovery media that I linked above. It has all the functions of the standard MS repair disc - and plenty of other stuff - for example aomei backuper and aomei partition assistant are included, and eset antivirus, as is diskgenius, and plenty more.

 

[Bree]

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.

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

 

[Bree]

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

 

[GoldenDog]

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.

 

[dc2000]

:ar: 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.

 

[SIW2]

They look ok to me

 

[SIW2]

Clik MOUNT > virtual cd/dvd-RW



It will pop us a virtual cd by default.

So you only need to type in a path ( e.g. c:\somename.iso ). Then click Finish



You can see it is mounted as a virtual cd\dvd RW drive

 

[SIW2]

Run recdisc.exe and it thinks that is your cd\dvd drive





Click UNMOUNT



And the little guy is where you specified - in this case c:\somename.iso

 

[SIW2]

Otherwise, or in addition, you can make a much fancier recovery media iso file ( which can the be extracted to bootable usb) by using the thing linked on my earlier post. I haven't updated that in a long while, but you could give it a try.

here it is:

new7x64upd.zip

Extract the zip and run the .cmd file




This can extract iso files to usb View attachment Usb7ice.zip

 

[SIW2]

I might have a look at that new7x64upd when I have minute and add some extra drivers and other lovely stuff.

 

[dc2000]

I might have a look at that new7x64upd when I have minute and add some extra drivers and other lovely stuff.

This is what I see instead of your pictures (even when you posted them here):

The URLs you're using:

https://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/general-discussion/411079d1581964123-create-system-repair-disc-win7-w-o-dvd-drive-win7-iso-file-kernsafe4.jpg

are probably not accessible with other user's credentials. Google console gives me this error:

Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 403

When I go there, it brings up the login screen.

So better use some good image sharing site. I use imgur.com

 

[SIW2]

Strange. They show up for me. Maybe something to do with your browser.

I must have posted thousands of images over the years. Plenty of other people can see them.

 

[Bree]

Strange. They show up for me...

They show up for me too. I have had this same conversation with another member on another thread. No matter how I posted the images they (and only they) couldn't see them, never found out why....

 

[GoldenDog]

They show up fine for me. what web browser are you using

 

[SIW2]

It's a mystery.

 

[bendipa]

Just download Macrium Reflect Free. When installed you can make images to your heart's content from within W7. Once set up it will also ask you if you want to make a rescue disk/flash drive, aka a Win PE drive. You plug in your USB drive and simply let it make a bootable version of MRF. You can then backup or restore existing images without booting into W7.

Never had to do a re-install again since using MRF years ago, not that W7 ever caused me many issues.