system image backup on 5 DVDs

[PeteL]

Hi guys, I've read with interest this forum.. I'll try & keep this brief as I can... I did a W7 system image backup on 5 DVDs. My Pc is a DELL XPS 15z which has the eject button as a key on the keyboard. I had a virus on my PC & tried to reinstall the image but I can only get as far as entering the last disc from the back up set.. when I try to eject the dvd it won't work unless I abort & boot into windows!! Since then I did a clean reinstall of windows 7, but I have realised I've lost my Microsoft office that came with the original Dell system software.I've also lost the original Dell back up so I can't restore with Dell recovery. How can I gt this problem solved? I have the image on 5 DVDs but I can't get it back on the laptop! Can it be transferred to a usb flash drive or a partition in my hard drive? Any help would be really appreciated.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Welcome to the Seven Forums.

You might try the steps in this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85813-windows-7-universal-installation-disc-create.html

See the note box above step 1.

That note box has a link where you might be able to download a Windows ISO file.

I say "might" because the links to some of the ISO files are not always functional as of late.

 

[PeteL]

Welcome to the Seven Forums.

You might try the steps in this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85813-windows-7-universal-installation-disc-create.html

See the note box above step 1.

That note box has a link where you might be able to download a Windows ISO file.

I say "might" because the links to some of the ISO files are not always functional as of late.

Thanks for the info... I don't quite understand how this would work for me. I have an original Windows 7 installation Disc (the one I used to do a clean install of windows with) already. I'm trying to reinstall the version of windows that was on my PC before I installed the current version of windows 7 I have now.. I did the system image 2 months ago & it has all of the original Dell software bundle & Dell back up data on those 5 system image discs... Does the universal DVD facilitate recovery from those discs?

 

[UsernameIssues]

Sorry - I misunderstood the goal :-(

Maybe others will have an answer for you

 

[whs]

I would try to copy the 5 DVDs into a folder in the PC. This should be a VHD which would look like the picture below - Note this is an image of a little 2GB test partition that I just made for demo puprposes. I usually use Macrium that does not create VHDs but MRIMs.

Once you have the image on the system, you can attach it via Disk Management > Action tab (you will have to drill down 4 levels. Every time you get a permission message. Just click 'Continue').

Once attached, the VHD will be in Computer like any other volume. There you can open it and retrieve any information from it. But programs will be difficult unless there is an installation .exe. Installed programs have all kinds of settings in the registry that you will probably not find.

 

[PeteL]

@WHS Thanks for that info.. I did read somewhere else on this forum about creating the vhd file.. I'll try that but how can I retrieve the relevant data eg; the Dell partition of my previous hard drive format & the Microsoft office software & product license key? I'm not too worried about everything else I had because I've pretty much restored it. Another question if I get it all back to the vhd folder would it show up as a previous back up if I tried to re-image my laptop?

 

[mjf]

If you did a true clean install you have probably reformatted and wiped the Dell recovery partition. Did you make the Dell factory restore DVDs (~2 DVDs) when you bought the PC? These are different from a system image. You can have a look at this link but it may not help if you have reformatted your HDD.
techieNetizen's Web Log: XPS 15z: Factory reset, recovery and partitions
Another option is to contact Dell. They appear to be very good with direct support.

 

[whs]

If you have access to a Windows 7 Ultimate or a Windows 8 pro system, you could boot with the VHD, run Belarc Advisor and thus find all your product keys.

how can I retrieve the relevant data eg; the Dell partition of my previous hard

Everything that was imaged would be in the VHD and could be retrieved.

Another question if I get it all back to the vhd folder would it show up as a previous back up if I tried to re-image my laptop?

This I don't understand. Can you elaborate.

 

[PeteL]

If you did a true clean install you have probably reformatted and wiped the Dell recovery partition. Did you make the Dell factory restore DVDs (~2 DVDs) when you bought the PC? These are different from a system image. You can have a look at this link but it may not help if you have reformatted your HDD.
techieNetizen's Web Log: XPS 15z: Factory reset, recovery and partitions
Another option is to contact Dell. They appear to be very good with direct support.

I bought the PC used from ebay so no back up discs unfortunately.
When I re-installed windows with a proper windows 7 disc it wiped everything except for REOVERY (E) which is set aside by Dell... However if I try to do a factory back up with Dell recovery I get a message saying original system image missing (or something along those lines)

 

[PeteL]

If you have access to a Windows 7 Ultimate or a Windows 8 pro system, you could boot with the VHD, run Belarc Advisor and thus find all your product keys.

how can I retrieve the relevant data eg; the Dell partition of my previous hard

Everything that was imaged would be in the VHD and could be retrieved.

Another question if I get it all back to the vhd folder would it show up as a previous back up if I tried to re-image my laptop?

This I don't understand. Can you elaborate.

What I meant was I've copied the discs into a separate partition on my hard drive but not created a vhd folder yet.. I don't know where the folder should be placed even! Should it be on (C) or the new volume (D) where I just copied the discs to. I don't have access to W7 ultimate or W8 pro.. All I've got is windows 7 home premium... I do have Hirens boot CD is there anything on that I could use to restore my back up? What I meant by would the VHD be shown as a previous back up is.. When you put the W7 repair disc in, it offers you various choices- system restore etc.. When you click on "system recovery options" then click on recover from a back up you made earlier, will those vhd folders be recognised as the earlier back up? (phew got there in the end lol!)

 

[whs]

The VHD is the image file. If you have copied the DVDs into a folder of your system, then the VHD should be in there. Just keep clicking thru the 4 layers and you should find it.

If you have no access to a higher level system, there is not much you can do with it other than attach it and copy data from it.

There is a procedure to convert VHDs to VMDKs and make them work in VMware Player. But I never had any luck with that. Maybe you want to try that and have more luck. You could start with this guys approach.

 

[Wandering one]

I think the keyboard control of the optical drive eject is a mini program with the original OS (Dell in your case). There must be a physical eject control of the drive, sometimes by using a straightened paper clip or a very small spot to press. If you can do this, you may be able to load your image properly, and your keyboard control will establish when image is loaded.

Art.