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

 

[Roo Boy]

Hi B,
Sorry had to go and pick the kids up from school and just got back

Its an OEM retail copy that i bought when i built my machine last year.

I found the repair section but it shows a windows image in D location. My D is an optical drive which has the windows 7 disc in it. It also says the image date is yesterday - the 1st of September - but i backed up today which is the 2nd of Sept(Australian Time). Does it show the U.S. time rather than my current Australian time?

 

[Brink]

Do you have the G HDD connected to the computer with your system image backup on it?

Are you able to select your G HDD and the image you have on it at step 6 if it's not displaying at step 5?

What type of HDD is your G drive? For example: external (USB) or internal

 

[Roo Boy]

at the moment i have the new empty C drive and F drive which has the image on it.
When i boot from windows CD it doesnt show F drive - it shows D as location.
both drives are internal drives

 

[mjf]

You would use step 3 in STEP TWO.

STEP ONE is only if you had renamed or moved the WindowsImageBackup folder.

This is referring to booting from a Windows made system repair disk which you make
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

 

[Roo Boy]

when i boot from CD and get to "Re-image your computer" under Location it says New Volume (D) Most Recent system image 9/1/2011 6:31:54PM and states my computer name.
As my time zone is GMT +10:00 and it is showing current time zone GMT -8:00 i assume this is the correct one as the time i saved would be about right if i add 18 hours to it.
I still dont know why its showing Location as New Volume (D: )

This is referring to booting from a Windows made system repair disk which you make
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

Hey mjf

so are you saying i'm using the wrong method?

In the "Re Image your Computer" window and click on Advanced and then Install a driver i click on the "Look in" Drop down box it shows all the drives available etc. it shows C drive , New Volume D drive and E & F as CD drives. These are not the normal drive letters. It seems they have been rearranged somehow. The thing is , it it showing D as a HDD but if i select that image location it says "The System image restore failed. No Disk that can be used for recovering the system disk can be found."

What the??

 

[mjf]

Roo Boy,
Assuming you are following the Brink advice then you are spot on track.
Hang on......
You can boot ok from the DVD but it's a drive letter issue isn't it??

When you boot from a DVD all your drive letters don't often match the letters when you boot from Windows. So forget about the drive letters just look for the image and the disk name.
And image times will be screwy as well doing this from Australia say.

 

[Brink]

 

[Roo Boy]

Hi mjf,

I'm trying to use the OEM Win7HP Disc.

I can boot from this CD and then get to the repair section.

It can find the image i created but when i click on it it says that "The System image restore failed. No Disk that can be used for recovering the system disk can be found."

When i put the original C drive back in and click on my computer the New Volume is showing as F drive but shows as D when new HDD is attached. Also the optical drives now shows as D & E but with new HDD they show as E & F.

Im stumped

edit: ok i see you comment on the drive letters but why wont it find the image i created when i try and run it - it shows as being there but then fails if i try and use it

 

[Brink]

You could Create a System Repair Disc to boot from and use instead to do the system image recovery as outlined in the tutorial.

 

[Roo Boy]

ok brink, will give that a bash after dinner.
thanks

 

[mjf]

As suggested try the "System Repair Disk" as the boot DVD which I was going on about before editing my response.

But it looks like the reimage program is locating the image - Correct??
Then when you try to restore the image it says basically it can't find a disk to restore the image to I think. Check that your restore location is correct remembering the drive letter thing.

 

[Roo Boy]

Hi Guys,
Well i sorted it out finally after hours on end, pulling hair out and kicking the cat (havent got a cat so not sure whose it was)
When i opened back up and restore in control panel I noticed some oo the details in back up location were not correct. So i clicked on "back up now" and got that part done. Then went back to the steps in the guide - booted from system repair disc and it all went through fine.
Im now using the new HDD with the system image on it. So all is well.
Im actually getting longer start up times now which is odd as this drive is faster than the previous one so i'll have to work that one out.

Just wanted to say a huge thanks to Brink and also thanks to mjf for assisting. I reckon i'll be right the second time around as i know what to look for.

Cheers

 

[Brink]

That's great news Rod. I'm happy to hear that you got it going.

 

[mjf]

Good you got it working. I still recommend using a second imaging app now and again for security.

 

[Roo Boy]

thanks guys.

One thing that happened was that i used CCleaner including the registry clean option once the new drive was up and running as i didnt do it before i did the imaging and then rebooted but it must have done some damage as the reboot failed as BOOTMGR was missing. So i had to put the repair disc in and fix that.
Its never happened before using CCleaner which i use on a weekly basis.

 

[Winefly]

"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 step 7 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."

If I restore from an Image of a MBR partition to a GTP partition, will it reformat to MBR? Sorry, im a noob....

 

[mjf]

During the reimage process you will see a screen with a Reformat tick box towards the top left. This has to beOnly when the box is ticked will your full disk to be formatted with a partition structure the same as when it was imaged.
If it is ticked and greyed out (cannot deselect) then you will lose data on other partitions.
So if you can leave it unticked your other partition data should be fine.

Edit: Maybe a poor choice of words.

 

[Brink]

"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 step 7 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."

If I restore from an Image of a MBR partition to a GTP partition, will it reformat to MBR? Sorry, im a noob....

Hello Winefly,

As MJF pointed out, you could use step 8 or 9 in the STEP TWO section to exclude specific disks and partitions from being affected by the system image recovery.

Yes, it will restore the system image backup to the HDD exactly to how it was when created. In your case, back to MBR.

 

[mv808]

Hello...first post.

Back story: Clean install to 64gig SSD, nothing but system image on HDD. Had to restore because I messed up while trying to change default user folder locations.

Restore went fine, just wondering if I should have chose to first reformat the C: drive which was an option. What's the difference between choosing to reformat and not. Would it have made much a diff in my case?

Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello mv808, and welcome to Seven Forums.

It wouldn't have made any difference. Windows 7 will format whatever drive or partition it's restoring the image backup to by default. Steps 7, 8, and 9 are for if you wanted to exclude any partitions or HDD(s) from being included in the restore process to prevent them from being formatted or deleted. That's all.