System Image Recovery

How to Do a System Image Recovery in Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to restore your Windows 7 hard disk back to exactly how it was when you created a system image backup.

   Warning

• You can only do a system image recovery to a HDD that is the same size or larger than the one the system image was created from. You will not be able to do a system image recovery to a smaller HDD.
• When you restore your computer from a image backup, it is a complete restoration. You can't choose individual items to restore, and all of your current programs, system settings, and files are replaced.
• If your backup image is on a external device (ex: USB drive), then make sure it is connected before starting. If USB drive, then also make sure that you have your BIOS settings (ex: Legacy USB) set to allow USB devices at boot.
• A system image recovery will format everything on each hard drive that was included in a system image, and will only restore what is included (see steps 7-9 in STEP TWO below) in the system image back. Be sure to backup anything that you do not want to lose that is not included in the system image backup first.

STEP ONE

Only if You Renamed the "WindowsImageBackup" Folder

   Note

To be able to have multiple versions of system images saved on the same drive or partition, you would need to rename the older WindowsImageBackup folder from the previously created system image as described in the NOTE box at the top of this tutorial.

If you renamed the WindowsImageBackup folder for the system image version that you wanted to restore, then you will need to do the steps below before you will be able to restore that system image.

1. If you are "Able to Boot" into Windows 7 A) In Windows Explorer, navigate to the renamed (drive letter)\WindowsImageBackup folder location of the system image that you want to restore.

B) If you already have a folder named WindowsImageBackup that is not the system image version that you want to restore, then you will need to right click on it, click on Rename, and type in say WindowsImageBackup-Copy-2 as an example.

C) Now, right click on the renamed system image version (ex: WindowsImageBackup-Copy-1) that you did want to restore, click on Rename, type in WindowsImageBackup an press enter.

D) Go to the STEP TWO section below to do the System Image Recovery.
2. If you are "Not Able to Boot" into Windows 7 A) If you have the system image backup save to an external device, be sure that it is connected now.

B) Open a command prompt at boot.

C) In the command prompt, type diskpart and press enter. (see screenshot below)

D) In the command prompt, type list volume and press enter. (see screenshot below)

E) Make note of the drive letter (ex: E: ) that you have the system image backup saved to.

F) In the command prompt, type exit and press enter. (see screenshot below)

G) In the command prompt, type the E: and press enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Subsititute E: for your actual drive letter at step 2E instead.

H) If you already have a folder named "WindowsImageBackup"

NOTE: This is if you already have a folder named WindowsImageBackup that is not the system image version that you want to restore. If so, you would need to rename it to say WindowsImageBackup-Copy-2 as an example.

• In the command prompt, type the command below and press enter. (see screenshot below)
  NOTE: Substitute WindowsImageBackup-Copy-2 in the command below with any name in quotes that you would like to rename it to instead.

[B]ren WindowsImageBackup "[COLOR=red]WindowsImageBackup-Copy-2[/COLOR]"[/B]

I) In the command prompt, type the command below and press enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute WindowsImageBackup-Copy-1 in the command below with the actual name of your renamed system image folder in quotes that you want to use to restore instead.

[B]ren "[COLOR=red]WindowsImageBackup-Copy-1[/COLOR]" WindowsImageBackup[/B]

J) Close the command prompt window. (see screenshot below)

K) Continue on to step 3B in the STEP TWO section below to do the System Image Recovery.

STEP TWO

To Do the System Image Recovery

1. If you have the system image backup save to an external device, be sure that it is connected and turned on (powered up) now.
A) Start with either step 2 or step 3 below first.
2. From "Backup and Restore" in the Control Panel while in Windows 7 A) Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click on Backup and Restore.

B) Click on the Recover system settings on your computer link. (see screenshot below)
C) Click on the Advanced recovery methods link. (see screenshot below)
D) Select the Use a system image you created earlier to recover your computer option. (see screenshot below)
E) Select to either create a Back up now, or to Skip it and continue the system image recovery without backing up any of your current files.
NOTE: If you select Back up now, it will take you to step 6 in this tutorial link to create a User and System File back up of your current files first before continuing to step 1F. (see screenshot below)
F) Click on Restart. (see screenshot below)



G) Select a languange to be used for your keyboard input and click on Next. (see screenshot below)
H) Go to step 4.
3. From the System Recovery Options Screen at Boot A) Boot to the System Recovery Options screen from your Windows 7 installation DVD/USB, or System Repair Disc.

B) Select the System Image Recovery option. (see screenshot below)
4. If you saved the system image backup to a set of DVDs, then insert the last DVD from the set when prompted. If not, go to step 5 for a system image backup on a hard drive. A) Go to step 7 below.
5. To Use the Latest System Image A) Select (dot) Use the latest available system image and click on Next. (see screenshot below)
B) Go to step 7.
6. To Select a System Image A) Select (dot) Select a system image, and click on Next. (see screenshot above)
NOTE: This is if the system image that you want to use is not listed here and is at another location that you wish to choose from instead.

B) Select the location of the backup image for the computer you want to restore from the list, and click on Next. (see screenshot below)

   Note

To add a image from a network location, click on the Advanced button, and on the Search for a system image on the network option.

If the drive cannot be seen to select a system image from, then you may need to use the tutorial below to load your SATA or RAID drivers before it will be seen. You would click on the Advanced button, and on the Install a driver option.

SATA Drivers - Load in Windows 8 System Image Recovery

C) Select the date and time of the system image to restore, and click on Next. (see screenshot below)
7. To Do a Full System Image Recovery
NOTE: This option will format everything on each hard disk drive that was included in the system image, then restore them as they were when the system image was created.

   Note

Format and repartition disks box:
NOTE: Special thanks to MJF for this addition. 1) Grayed out and selected
You are forced to have the whole disk formatted and repartitioned to match the partition structure of the disk the image was made from. This can occur when restoring an image to a new disk or the original disk with a modified partition structure. Data on other partitions on the disk you are restoring to will be lost.

2) Grayed out and unselected
You are not given the option to format and repartition the disk. This will occur if you are restoring Windows from a partition on the same disk.

3) Not grayed out and unselected
Here you have the option to select format the whole disk and repartition or not. In this case the disk the image was taken from has a matching partition structure to the disk you are restoring the image to. By not selecting the format and repartition option your image will be restored and other partitions untouched such as valuable data partitions.

A) Check the Format and repartition disks box (if not grayed out) and uncheck Only restore system drives box (if available), and click on Next. (see screenshots below)


B) Go to step 10.
8. To Only Restore System Drives in System Image Recovery
NOTE: When restoring to the same disk containing data partitions, the Format and repartition disks option may format the data partitions as well. If this is the case and you have the option to leave the Format and repartition disks box unchecked, then initially attempt your image recovery with the Format and repartition disks box unchecked. If recovery is unsuccessful, repeat the process with the format box ticked. A) If available, check the Only restore system drives box, and click on Next. (see screenshot below)
B) Go to step 10.
9. To Exclude Restoring Specific Drives in System Image Recovery
NOTE: Since a system image recovery will format everything on each hard disk drive that was included in a system image, this will allow you to exclude specific disks so that specific disk will not be formated or restored. A) Check the Format and repartition disks box , and click on the Exclude disks button (if not grayed out). (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If the Exclude disks button is grayed out, then the HDD that you are restoring to is empty, or you do not have any disks in the system image that are able to be excluded from being restored.
B) Unselect the drives that you want to exclude from being restored.

C) Click on Next.
10. Click on Finish. (see screenshot below)
11. Click on Yes. (See screenshot below)
12. You will now see this screenshot below.
NOTE: If you have the backup image on DVDs, have them ready. See step 4 above.
13. When it is through, click on Restart Now to finish. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Your computer will restart and the backup image restoration will be done.
14. If you created a backup in step 1E, then you will now see this option to Restore my files after the computer restarts. (see screenshot below)
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Create a System Image Backup in Windows 7
• How to Create a "Create a System Image" Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Restore Backup User and System Files in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc
• How to Do a System Restore in Windows 7
• How to Backup and Restore the Windows 7 Registry
• How to Enable or Disable the Ability to Create a System Image in Windows 7
• How to Extract Files from Windows 7 System Image using Virtual PC
• How to Extract Windows 7 System Image Files Using Disk Management
• How to Restore your System with a Broken Windows 7 System Image
• How to Manually Extract Files from a Backup in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Create a System Recovery Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows 7 Backup and Restore Shortcut
• How to Restore a Partition Image From a HDD to a SSD
• How to Delete Windows 7 User Data and System Image Backup Files
• How to Load SATA Drivers in Windows System Image Recovery
• New Installation: How to Create a General System Image in Audit Mode

 

[JWrn]

Here's all the drives.

 

[mjf]

Format options with Windows Image Restore

When restoring an image you will be presented with two possible basic decisions
A) Format and repartition disks
B) Exclude disks

For decision (A) the format option can be:
1) Grayed out and selected.
You are forced to have the whole disk formatted and repartitioned to match the partition structure of the disk the image was made from.
This can occur when restoring an image to a new disk or the original disk with a modified partition structure.
Data on other partitions on the disk you are restoring to will be lost.

2) Grayed out and unselected.
You are not given the option to format and repartition the disk. This will occur if you are restoring Windows from a partition on the same disk.

3) Not grayed out and unselected.
Here you have the option to select format the whole disk and repartition or not. In this case the disk the image was taken from has a matching partition structure to the disk you are restoring the image to. By not selecting the format and repartition option your image will be restored and other partitions untouched such as valuable data partitions.
This is the most common choice to select.

When the format and repartition option is selected then
B) Exclude disks
should be selected to deselect any other attached disks. Otherwise, they will be formatted.

 

[Brink]

Thank you MJF, I added a note in the tutorial for this.

 

[JWrn]

When restoring an image you will be presented with two possible basic decisions
A) Format and repartition disks
B) Exclude disks

For decision (A) the format option can be:
1) Grayed out and selected.
You are forced to have the whole disk formatted and repartitioned to match the partition structure of the disk the image was made from.
This can occur when restoring an image to a new disk or the original disk with a modified partition structure.
Data on other partitions on the disk you are restoring to will be lost.

2) Grayed out and unselected.
You are not given the option to format and repartition the disk. This will occur if you are restoring Windows from a partition on the same disk.

3) Not grayed out and unselected.
Here you have the option to select format the whole disk and repartition or not. In this case the disk the image was taken from has a matching partition structure to the disk you are restoring the image to. By not selecting the format and repartition option your image will be restored and other partitions untouched such as valuable data partitions.
This is the most common choice to select.

When the format and repartition option is selected then
B) Exclude disks
should be selected to deselect any other attached disks. Otherwise, they will be formatted.

Yes, good info, thx.
However I don't get to this step when I select any one of the system images that were made before I took it in for service.
When I select one of these system images and hit next, I get the error message instead of the Format Options screen.

 

[SIW2]

What does vssadmin list shadows give you?

 

[JWrn]

What does vssadmin list shadows give you?

When I boot from the Windows Recovery disc command prompt doesn't recognize vssadmin.

 

[SIW2]

Why did you run the command from the Rec env ?

Run it in Windows.

 

[JWrn]

Your instructions implied the steps must be from outside windows.

Anyway, here's a sample of Shadows copies around the time frame I'm interested in.
Are Shadow copies complete system images or just some incremental file/folder changes?
And how do use these to restore my system?
By system here I mean the entire environment including O/S, apps, registry, etc which is what I assumed a system image is.
Thx!

 

[SIW2]

Yes that looks promising.

I assume the o/s letters are the same - i.e. your new installation calls itself C - and your old installation also called itself C

You need to do this outside, so d/l this file - unzip it with 7-zip , then rt click and run as admin on RunMeAsAmin.cmd. It will make a boot disc for you in a few seconds.

View attachment Here.zip

Boot it up.

From the menu select Explore and find the leters for your Backup drive and your Windows drive.

Then click Shadows - Shadowpe program will pop up.

Select your backup drive in the dropdown, then click Get Shadows. In a few secs they will pop up. Higher numbers are more recent. Have a look thru and find the one you want to restore from.

Go back to the Explore app:

If you have enough space on your windows drive you can make a folder on the windows drive called windows.old and
move these folders from your windows drive into it:

Windows, Users, Program Data , Program Files, Program Files (x86).

If you don't have enough space , just delete those 5 folders from your windows drive.

Copy the 5 folders listed above from your selected Shadow copy onto your Windows drive.

It isn't very quick - took me 30 mins last time I did it.

You need to check all has copied across - so expand the copied folders , and check against the ones in your Shadow Copy - anything missing - just copy it across.

Exit Shadowpe app.

Reboot pc.

You're done .

 

[SIW2]

I just made a small change to Here.zip - new one attached to previous post. It will make copying slightly easier for you.

 

[JWrn]

Hi.
I unzipped, rt clicked on RunMeAsAdmin.cmd and selected Run as Administrator.
New window opened up with msg "Setting up....." but nothing happens after that.
I noticed the window shows "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe".
My environment is 64 bit - that make a difference?

 

[SIW2]

You can try the new one I posted - adjusted it slightly so should be fine for 64 bit Here.zip

Just tested it on my 64 bit 7 - works perfectly.

 

[SIW2]

The idea is to save you a moderate size download.

It uses winRE.wim - which is on your windows partition in a hidden folder folder named Recovery.

If you don't have that - then it won't work. I don't know why you wouldn't have winre.wim there - unless the oem has removed it and is using their own version which they have put somewhere else - e.g. on an oem partition. But..from your disk management screenie - it looks like a normal installation.

You should get this when you boot it up:

Click Explore on the menu



Get your drive letters from the explorer window, then click Shadows on the Menu - select your backup drive on the dropdown , click " Get Shadows"



It will take a few secs to find them all , then this pops up:



Click on the mount points above to acces the contents of each Shadow.

 

[JWrn]

You can try the new one I posted - adjusted it slightly so should be fine for 64 bit Here.zip

Just tested it on my 64 bit 7 - works perfectly.

Interesting - it gets further on one pc but not the other even though they are supposedly identical.

So, I got to the Making iso stage but failed - cannot find specified path.
I did press key to continue but there was no image file to burn.
Cheers.

 

[SIW2]

Curious.

Have a look in Here\ISO\sources folder - if there is a boot.wim in there - you can make an .iso from the ISO folder.

View attachment BootIsoMakerV2.zip

EDIT - are you running it from your downloads folder?

You will have better luck extracting the 7-zip file directly onto your drive - so you will have C:\Here

 

[desdevil]

what should i do if the Format and repartition disks is grey out and uncheck?

 

[Brink]

Hello DesDevil, and welcome to Seven Forums.

When you are not given the option to format and repartition the disk, then this will usually occur if you are restoring Windows from a partition on the same hard drive.


What other options do you have listed that are not grayed? You could compare to the screenshots in steps 7-9 of STEP TWO in the tutorial to help make it easier.

 

[desdevil]

Thats the only choice i had..i dunno why
so if i were to move the windows image backup to an external harddisk would it work?

 

[Brink]

Is the HDD that you are restoring to part of a RAID or anything other than a normal SATA connection?

If so, then you could click on Install Drivers, and select your RAID drivers to load them and see if that may allow you to have any other option.

If not, then you can still click on Next to proceed with the System Image Recovery.

 

[mjf]

what should i do if the Format and repartition disks is grey out and uncheck?

As Brink points out the formatting is not an option when the image resides on a partition of the same disk.
In addition to the answer to Brink's last question........
Are you trying to restore to a dynamic disk?

Generally, I think the option you are presented with is the safest. Other partitions should be protected.