Restoring windows, System image backup?

[SoulPursuer]

Hi so I recently got a SSD for my comp, before installing I did a backup of windows and included the system image option. I am now on a fresh install of windows but can only restore the files I had on my old windows and not the entirety of windows (programs, program settings.. ect). How can I use this image to put everything back exactly the way it was before?

 

[whs]

If you are trying to restore your SSD from an image you took from your HDD, I have the following questions:

1. What program did you use to make the image.
2. How big was the imaged partition when you made the image
3. How much data was on that partition
4. How big is your C partition on the SSD

PS: Why do you need to restore and do you not have an image you took from the SSD.

 

[SoulPursuer]

If you are trying to restore your SSD from an image you took from your HDD, I have the following questions:

1. What program did you use to make the image.
2. How big was the imaged partition when you made the image
3. How much data was on that partition
4. How big is your C partition on the SSD

PS: Why do you need to restore and do you not have an image you took from the SSD.

1: I used windows 7 backup, the default one.

2: not sure what you mean, the HDD was 500gig(one partition)

3: It was 150gig or so.

4: 240gig


PS: as I had all my programs set up the way I like and it will take at least 3hours to get it back to useable and longer to be back to perfect.
I have all my media backed up elsewhere it's just all my windows settings and program's that I would like back.

Edit: SSD is brand new so I have no image of it

 

[whs]

Hmm, it can be done, but it will also take about 3 to 4 hours to get it done. The process is a little tricky because with the Win7 image you cannot do anything straight forward in this context.

If you want to do it, I am here the next 4 hours and we would take it step by step. So let me know if you want to proceed.

 

[SoulPursuer]

I'm in bed atmo, could you give me a rough idea if what I need to do? Or an idea of what I should google as I tried and I didn't get much. DW if not its my own fault for not doing a proper image.

 

[whs]

There are many steps

1. You have to copy the VHD from the image
2. Mount the VHD with Disk Management
3. Shrink the mounted VHD volume to less than 240GB - that may require an external program
4. Install free Macrium and burn a recovery CD
5. Image the mounted and shrunk VHD with free Macrium
6. Restore that image on the SSD
7. Fix the bootmgr in case you had the 100MB system partition on the HDD with EasyBCD

And that may not be all if we encounter problems along the way.

PS: if you prefer, we can do that tomorrow after 1PM EST - 6PM GMT

 

[Night Hawk]

Hello SoulPursuer Since you are moving onto a totally different drive type as well as smaller drive you may want to consider starting over fresh getting everything on the new drive while leaving the 500gb intact for the time being until everything on the SSD is all set. Then you would create a new image from the SSD to be stored on your new 500gb storage medium.

This will insure the best long term results since any new image you have to restore from now on would already be best suited for the 240gb SSD. The restoration of any new SSD image would be anywhere from about 20min. from a clean install of Windows to upto about 35minutes when booted live from the 7 dvd.

The restoration can also be started from the Control Panel>Backup & Restore when giong to restore the newer image(s) as long as you are still able to boot into Windows if restoration of an image is required.

 

[SoulPursuer]

Ok so in the end I just reinstalled everything. Decided it would be easier, fresh is always nice too. Thanks for the help though peps!!

 

[Night Hawk]

When originally moving away from ide drives entirely for Sata II and then later Sata III drives I always prepared for a clean install of the version of Windows being run at the time and always ended up seeing favorable results.

Likewise with SSDs being the newer kid on the block so to speak this would be a good time to create your backup image from the new drive. Any restoration needed should go much smoother for you.

When testing several images created and later restored I found the built-in option in the long term practically eliminates the need for any 3rd party imaging program.