Creating a System Image

[acemorgan]

After Creating A System Image using the windows 7 backup & storing it on my portable SSD, completed successfully. I see the name of the folder created "WindowsImageBackup". Can I change this folder name to "WindowsImageBackup. 01-19-2020 4-34 AM" & then create another System Image and naming that one to "WindowsImageBackup. 02-01-2020 2-20 PM" the next time I do another one? Will this work correctly so that they will all show up in the list to choose from for when the time comes that I have to get my computer back up working again in the future? Just to keep it simple.

 

[samuria]

Windows image has a lot of problem nd often doesnt work its better to use a free imaging sofware that will let you create a rescue disk to boot from in order to restore

 

[MeOnMine]

Yes, you can modify the file name just do not change the file extension.


However Samuria's words are very very wise.
Google Macrium Reflect Free.

 

[SIW2]

"Will this work correctly so that they will all show up in the list to choose from for when the time comes that I have to get my computer back up working again in the future? Just to keep it simple. "

It will work to create an entirely new .vhd file .

To get it to show in the restore gui, you would need to rename whichever you want back to just "WindowsImageBackup"

It won't be found if the folder name is different.

 

[Bree]

I see the name of the folder created "WindowsImageBackup". Can I change this folder name to "WindowsImageBackup. 01-19-2020 4-34 AM" & then create another System Image and naming that one to "WindowsImageBackup. 02-01-2020 2-20 PM" the next time I do another one?

Yes...

Will this work correctly so that they will all show up in the list to choose from for when the time comes that I have to get my computer back up working again in the future?

No.

Backup and Restore's system imaging is very simple-minded and has few 'user friendly' features. It will only look in the folder WindowsImageBackup for an image to restore. You will have to decide in advance which of the saved folders you want it to use, then rename it back to WindowsImageBackup.

Personally, I use Macrium Reflect Free to make my system images. More features, you can browse for an image to restore, and more reliable.

 

[acemorgan]

Ah now I know what you mean by saying "in advance". That's what I was thinking at first, afraid of having to
do. Can you have 6 backup folders on the portable ssd with all of the folder names being the exact same is the way to "Select A System Image" when you have more then one backup to choose from? That would be really confusing to know which one is your newest or oldest one, if it was possible. And or I don't think it would be possible to right click on any of the WinsowsImageBackup folders to see the date in properties for that folder if you choose to use it.
I guess the only way would be to connect the portable ssd that has the "WindowsImageBackup" 's that has date&time included in the name of the folder onto another computer that is working so then I can delete the date&time that's right after the "WindowsImageBackup" that I select one from then I can connect it back to the unbootable computer to fix it. Right?
Or another way I see is to get 6 of those USB Scandisk or flash drives they call it, putting just one System Image backup on each one with a sticker labeled with the date&time on it.

 

[Bree]

@acemorgan, as I said, Backup & Restore has few if any user controls available. Microsoft have decided how it should work and expect you to use it as it was designed - and that means not renaming any of the folders!


Given sufficient space on the destination drive (and just using it as Microsoft intended, not renaming anything and having only one WindowsImageBackup folder) it is designed to keep a number of previous backups when you make a new one, giving you a choice of image dates to restore. Exactly how many it may keep and how it decides if there's sufficient space is undocumented. Also, if space is needed then older images will be deleted without giving you any warning, or notice that it has been done.

Macrium Reflect on the other hand gives you complete control over setting your own retention rules. Or you can turn off retention rules completely and manually delete an image of your choice when space is needed. I'm sure other imaging software does much the same, but I am only familiar with Macrium (and Backup & Restore, of course).

 

[acemorgan]

It will work to create an entirely new .vhd file .

To get it to show in the restore gui, you would need to rename whichever you want back to just "WindowsImageBackup"

It won't be found if the folder name is different.

Can you have more then just one "WindowsImageBackup" with that same name in the list to select from when you click onto "Select an Image"?

 

[SIW2]

Not sure what you are asking.

"WindowsImageBackup" folder contians a visible .vhd file which is the most recent image.

When you make a new image, any changed blocks will added and older blocks are moved into shadow storage.

You can't see what is in shadow storage, but the system image gui can

The system image gui will display both the most recent and any older images that are in the
"WindowsImageBackup" folder.

It won't look in a folder that has any other name.