created system image in Vista now have windows 7. how can i use backup

[fishtag]

I have a system image created in Vista with external, internal hard drive is done. i replaced internal and installed windows 7. Can i use any of the information from this system image backup? Is there anyway to read the drive and pick out some of the important files? i don't need the whole system restore but would like as much of the old info as possible.

i am a computer novice so any help would be much appreciated.

thanks

 

[Night Hawk]

Hello fishtag Welcome to the Seven Forums!

Were you running the Business or Ultimate edition of Vista previously or use a 3rd party imaging software to create the image with? As far as restoring any full image a second hard drive available would be one option for a 3rd party program while 7 will not be able to restore an image created by the previous version.

If you used a 3rd party program and have that installed presently on 7 the program may have the option for mounting the image as a virtual drive where you can easily access the files. The feature allows the user to add or remove files from any image created rather then creating a totally new one just to see more files added. As for more programs then a totally new image would be required.

If you had created the image with the backup option in the Vista Business or Ultimate edition a fast temp install of Vista to a second drive would allow the image to be restore there long enough to retrieve the files you want to keep and use on 7. Here I have a second OS drive here used to test image integrity as well as retrieve files when not running a beta like the next version of Windows to come there. It also can serve as a second drive to store system images on as well.

One guide for gaining access to a full image backup made with Vista suggests using the MS Virtual PC 2007. Use Virtual PC 2007 to access a Complete PC Backup image in Vista | TechRepublic