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

 

[betaupsilon]

You could see if the other programs in the tutorial may be able to recover more first.

Hi Shawn,
It does appear that my other lost partition still exists. Neither Partition Wizard nor EASEUSE found it, but the adjunct to PW, Power Data Recovery utility, recognized the proper directory structure. It appears the contents are indeed intact. However, even though your tutorial said the utility is free, it is not for anything above 1 Gb. I will dig around, but I thought I would check with you if you know of other freeware that does not put a cap on the data recovery.

Thanks for the help so far.

 

[Brink]

I'm not aware of any off hand.

 

[golem]

Is there any way to determine size of originally imaged disk? A friend just handed me a computer with a new SSD and was hoping I could set it up for him using a WindowsImage that was made a few years ago of the original HDD. I'm assuming it was at least a 1TB drive while the SSD is 250GB. No matter what which process I use it fails at point of backup.

 

[Brink]

Hello Golem,

I'm not aware of a way to tell what the size of the hard drive was for a system image when it was created.

You might see if you may be able to use the method in the tutorial below to restore the system image.

System Image - Recover a Broken Windows 7 System Image

 

[golem]

Thanks for the reply Brink!

Looks like a slick and relatively simple work-around, will give it a try.

 

[Brink]

I hope it helps.

 

[brownbeardad]

Image Restore timeframe

I started an image restore yesterday using the above tutorial. Everything seemed to complete well. After 30 minutes, the image restore progressed to the end of the graphic. Then the message "Windows is restoring your computer from system image. This may take from a few minutes to a few hours. Restoring disk (C)..." started over a second time. This second (?) image restore is about 31% completed after 22 hours and 36 minutes. I calculate the image restore may be completed in 72 hours and 29 minutes from start. Why did the image restore restart and is progressing slowly?

 

[Brink]

Hello Alan,

If you had and corruption or drive issues, that could account for why it may take so long to complete.

 

[brownbeardad]

Thanks Brink. I have moved this post to backup and restore section. I will check the system image for corruption.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello Shawn I am considering reinstalling 7 on my main desktop because it keeps dropping out long posts back to the forum, opening new tabs in the middle of typing an email and sending it to Drafts plus a lot of extremely irritating things. I find myself having to type a reply like this post/reply in Word and then copy paste very quickly into the forum.

I have tried just about everything I can think of sfc, chkdsk, reinstalling Chrome – including resetting that as John suggested, many malware scans including the Kaspersky rescue disk, keeping the clutter down with CCleaner even down to reseating gear and making sure the inside is clean checked the PSU drivers etc etc ad nauseum and nothing works.

So my concern is that I have an image of the machine but am thinking if it is something to do with the programs OS or what am I going to be putting back what the dickens it is that s driving me nuts because it is something to do with this machine and my others are all ok.
So unless you have any suggestions I will do a clean install probably not using the image. .

Edit: The one thing I haven't done is hard drive test (Samsung 500GB 850 EVO)

 

[Brink]

Hey John,

I suppose you could do a test with Chrome in incognito mode to see if it could be an extension/add-on causing the issue with the browser.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yes mate I have tried just about everything now and I think the in cognito option was one of the things that John suggested but no go.
To add insult to injury I have just spent the last 6 hours reinstalling 7 on to a spare drive and then tried to set up a dual boot which I thought would be handy now that I am getting quite used to using the 10 machines.
Now wanting to keep everything honest and above board I thought I had better contact Microsoft to see what I could do with the OEM key. I did get round to asking Microsoft (somewhere on some sub continent) if I could use the OEM key that I stupidly used on a separate drive on my small laptop not knowing I was entitled to a free copy for that machine - which I eventually installed the dual boot with no problems at all on the original 7 install drive .
I explained that I had only installed and not used it (the 10 install) much and would really like to be able to use it on this machine instead. But $230-odd later they refused maybe because I sounded like some awful criminal or something or just didn’t like the sound of me. Now while I know that sort of money is not that a great deal to me it would be all the same if I were some poor soul who was nearly broke and could not afford another key.
I shall just keep 7 on this machine now and maybe use the other clean install drive because yet again I ma having to type this in Word and copy / paste to the thread reply. I just hope that some M$ executives have one or two bottles of nice red wine on me I just hope he or she doesn’t spill it on themselves:sarc:.

But rant over.

 

[Brink]

If you do a clean install, be sure to create restore points before installing or changing anything. This way if this should happen again, you'll be able to do a quick system restore to hopefully undo it.

In addition, check to see if this happens again after installing and changing anything to see if that may have been the culprit.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Thanks Shawn but I have opted for a straight clean install and am just hopping mad with Microsoft at the moment as I just posted in another thread. As far as I am concerned they can keep their precious 10 software I will just keep this machine for 7.

But thanks once again for your concern, time and patience which right now I am running on empty with - however you manage to do what you do is a source of inspiration to me, and it is only for you and some of the other fellows who keep me sane

 

[Brink]

Let us know if you want to try W10 again.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well mate I found this fellow on EBay who is selling that original upgrade key for $10.98 as he says he gets it for wholesale price

But I did a stupid thing and started downloading the ISO and then thought hey IDIOT you already have it - closed it down and wrecked my 7 install so am doing it all over again - that is the sort of gung ho nitwit I am

I might just trial it on a spare 250GB SSD I have just out of curiosity before I have to download all the updates of course

 

[Brink]

At that price, I'd say the key is most likely illegal.

 

[Layback Bear]

John, as far as I know, you can't buy a legal COA key by itself. Upgrade or otherwise.
A legal COA key comes with a Microsoft DVD all in one package.
As you know I'm no expert but my understanding is a company that buys keys from Microsoft in volume (wholesale) must use the keys and they are not for sale on the open market.
The ISO or DVD is free or a low cost.
The $140.00 I paid for Windows 7 Pro is for the use of the proper COA key not the DVD Windows 7 came on.

Jack

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yep Shawn and Jack I know I am just testing this character out because he sounds pretty cock sure of himself and well we can do without these people doing this.

So I am guessing what he has worked out is having done the upgrade himself and knows that code/key has just directed me to the site we know only too well and is selling that info on - am not sure of whether to report him to EBay frankly.

Now as for the 10 dual boot on this machine I might give it a miss because I am already out $230 for the OEM I foolishly put on the small laptop forgetting I had signed up that machine during the "free" period and anyway this one has Home Pre on it from when I built it.

It has as you both may know has had awful problems posting back on the forum namely the typed stuff just disappearing and after many scans checks etc etc ad nauseum I finally did clean install on a cleaned spare SSD the install which in itself has been a nightmare after three goes yesterday alone has left me in a real fix with I think it is updates causing it to crash. So I have only done a few and am going to leave the rest because I couldn't stand another install right now.

So even if I wanted to make this a dual boot I am stuck again laying out good money after bad.

So I must say that the Microsoft call centre in whatever obnoxious place it is was way out of line denying me the use of the OEM I did buy and I think that after dealings with the support line in the past the attitude and frankly rude manner in which I was spoken to was in stark contrast to whoever I have contacted in the past. Needless to say whoever that was was not from an English speaking upbringing and the last few times - a while ago admittedly - I had to contact Microsoft of anything I was always treated politely and usually by a person who spoke with a strong American accent.
That attitude is also the reason why I use LibreOffice now because I have also been denied activating my retail Office Home and Student program ever again simply because I have loaded it on different drives at various times during the past.

This has left a bad taste in my mouth at least as I have always used and paid for Microsoft products and it does make one feel one is dishonest and the devil may care stuff well not to my liking at all. I have to say that the Microsoft customer care has been guilty of apathy in that department and what I feel is a low blow by what has happened to me, and I would assume quite a few people like me.