System Image Storage and Restore Strategy

[Shizniticus]

I've been creating Windows 7/8 System Images and saving them to a large external drive.

After the image is created, I typically go into the E:\WindowsImageBackup folder and move the sub-folder named E:\WindowsImageBackup\PCNAME into another folder named E:\IMAGES , where all other system images are stored.

So now I'm going to actually use this image to restore an image and I'm running into problems for various possible reasons that I've read on similar threads here.

For this initial restore job, I'm trying to take an image that was created from a laptop with a non-ssd 500GB hard drive, to an SSD drive that is only 100GB. The image backup itself is only about 50GB and the total drive space used on the original drive was about 60GB.

- I've booted with a Win 8 system repair disk I created on that laptop

- I'm able to get into the restore and see the image on the external drive but get generic error "An error occurred while performing the recovery"

My question is, is there a strategy, any strategy using (preferably) built in Windows tools, or some other purchasable program I can use, that will work with all these system images I've created or am I pretty much screwed and they're worthless?

 

[richc46]

The experienced people here use the free Macrium Reflect
Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download
Back up entire hard drive on an external. It will save you in any disaster, except hardware. If it is a hardware problem, In which case the key may not be valid.
This software can be used going forward and not for any of your previously saved images.

 

[Shizniticus]

Do you know personally if Macrium will work directly with my standard windows created images?

 

[richc46]

No I do not.
You may want to start using Macrium in the future for your images, however.