where to put backup system image?

[foxxkat]

hi, i've backup hdd image using built-in backup & restore utility and moved the backup image to usb hdd. just so happened that win7 Ult 64-bit got corrupted last night and i've been trying to re-image since, without success.

the issue is the restore utilit couldn't find my backup image file. and the odd thing is it doesn't allow me to browse to the image file but instead having to connect to "network". where should i copy the backup image file to so that the restore utility can have access to it and re-image the hdd?

i've chosen advance recoery options, and asked to reboot. have tried all that i can find on the web on how to re-image and they all seems pretty easy but somehow it doesn't work for me.

if reboot, it will load recovery console and says windows cannot find a system image on this computer. attach the backup hard disk or insert the final dvd from a backup set and click retry. alternatively, close this dialog for more options.

i've re-installed win7 and trying to restore to the image i created but still having same issue.

any pointers?

tia

 

[Brink]

Hello Foxxkat,

The problem happened when you moved the saved backup from it's original location to another location. When you do this, the backup will no longer be able to be restored from.

You might see if you may be able to manually extract any needed files from the system image backup using the tutorial below though.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/24771-system-image-extract-files-using-disk-management.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[zx81]

hi, i've backup hdd image using built-in backup & restore utility and moved the backup image to usb hdd. just so happened that win7 Ult 64-bit got corrupted last night and i've been trying to re-image since, without success.

the issue is the restore utilit couldn't find my backup image file. and the odd thing is it doesn't allow me to browse to the image file but instead having to connect to "network". where should i copy the backup image file to so that the restore utility can have access to it and re-image the hdd?

i've chosen advance recoery options, and asked to reboot. have tried all that i can find on the web on how to re-image and they all seems pretty easy but somehow it doesn't work for me.

if reboot, it will load recovery console and says windows cannot find a system image on this computer. attach the backup hard disk or insert the final dvd from a backup set and click retry. alternatively, close this dialog for more options.

i've re-installed win7 and trying to restore to the image i created but still having same issue.

any pointers?

tia

If you used Backup and Restore from Windows 7, your system image will be stored in the WindowsImageBackup folder of your selected backup media.

You have moved the backup image to your usb stick. How did you do this?
What file did you move to your usb device?

You can try to find the WindowsImageBackup folder, and move the image backup file back to there, it might work.

zx81

 

[foxxkat]

Thanks Shawn for your quick response.

That's a bummer, didn't know moving the backup file would result in this. No wonder I tried all sorts of restore/recovery methods and all cannot see the backup file on the usb hdd and on internal partition. I've tried the tutorial, but it doesn't work because i'm trying to copy from mounted VHD to C: which is active and a lot of instances it does not allow me to copy.

looks like I have to reinstall from scratch

 

[foxxkat]

If you used Backup and Restore from Windows 7, your system image will be stored in the WindowsImageBackup folder of your selected backup media.

You have moved the backup image to your usb stick. How did you do this?
What file did you move to your usb device?

You can try to find the WindowsImageBackup folder, and move the image backup file back to there, it might work.

zx81

Yes i used B&R from Win7, and it's stored in WindowsImageBackup folder. Now that i think of it, i think i didn't move it after all BUT when i create an image backup, i specify to save it to (western digital ext hdd) MyBook directly. and it's showing as MyBook:\Backup\WindowsImageBackup\...

there 2 files with .VHD ext and one of them is 12gig in size, so i'm pretty sure that's my backed up C: image. and a bunch of other files with .XML

the original install of Win7 no longer worked (cannot boot at all) so i tried to boot from Repair Disc created from Win7 to try re-image the C: but everytime it couldn't find the backup file.

So i re-installed Win7, boot into desktop and use the restore/recovery to try the same but again cannot find the image file, even after i've copied the .VHD and .XML to D: and E: (partition and 2nd internal hdd)

 

[Brink]

Thanks Shawn for your quick response.

That's a bummer, didn't know moving the backup file would result in this. No wonder I tried all sorts of restore/recovery methods and all cannot see the backup file on the usb hdd and on internal partition. I've tried the tutorial, but it doesn't work because i'm trying to copy from mounted VHD to C: which is active and a lot of instances it does not allow me to copy.

looks like I have to reinstall from scratch

You might try this method to extract needed files to see if you may be able to.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/23196-system-image-extracting-files-using-virtual-pc.html

 

[UKMedia]

Thanks Shawn for your quick response.

That's a bummer, didn't know moving the backup file would result in this. No wonder I tried all sorts of restore/recovery methods and all cannot see the backup file on the usb hdd and on internal partition. I've tried the tutorial, but it doesn't work because i'm trying to copy from mounted VHD to C: which is active and a lot of instances it does not allow me to copy.

looks like I have to reinstall from scratch

Hi

Have you tried selecting the option 'Select another backup to restore files from' in the backup and restore centre and then browser network location?

Next option. Have you tried double clicking on the backup file within windows explorer? This will normally start the restore.

Regards
UKMedia

 

[foxxkat]

You might try this method to extract needed files to see if you may be able to.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/23196-system-image-extracting-files-using-virtual-pc.html

Nope, have spent the last hour trying this method but am not able to. Maybe i got something wrong in using virtual PC, i installed XP virtual pc and have only 1 option (XP), unlike the screenshot which has many others.

Hi

Have you tried selecting the option 'Select another backup to restore files from' in the backup and restore centre and then browser network location?

Next option. Have you tried double clicking on the backup file within windows explorer? This will normally start the restore.

Regards
UKMedia

Yes, i've practically tried every options available from Win7 restore/recovery features, including requiring booting into "DOS" kind of console. Browsing network location doesn't point to other partition or ext usb hdd that's holding the image file. it points to network, which has nothing.

i also tried clicking on the backup file, but it does nothing. i did another "create backup" as a test, and it created a folder with a special icon. clicking on that will start restoring. i then thought i can copy the real image file (12gig size) into that folder can try again but alas it doesn't work. it doesn't restore my C:

 

[foxxkat]

i found a solution by use of Acronis (something which i've been using since XP days and stopped since Win7 comes with recovery which i thought has matured enough)

http://kb.acronis.com/content/3648

it simply allows you to browse to the image file!
i'm actually restoring now and don't know how it will go because it involves System Reserved Partition which i not sure to assign a drive letter or not and also all the drive letters are mixed up.

i downloaded a trial from here

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

 

[UKMedia]

You might try this method to extract needed files to see if you may be able to.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/23196-system-image-extracting-files-using-virtual-pc.html

Nope, have spent the last hour trying this method but am not able to. Maybe i got something wrong in using virtual PC, i installed XP virtual pc and have only 1 option (XP), unlike the screenshot which has many others.

Hi

Have you tried selecting the option 'Select another backup to restore files from' in the backup and restore centre and then browser network location?

Next option. Have you tried double clicking on the backup file within windows explorer? This will normally start the restore.

Regards
UKMedia

Yes, i've practically tried every options available from Win7 restore/recovery features, including requiring booting into "DOS" kind of console. Browsing network location doesn't point to other partition or ext usb hdd that's holding the image file. it points to network, which has nothing.

i also tried clicking on the backup file, but it does nothing. i did another "create backup" as a test, and it created a folder with a special icon. clicking on that will start restoring. i then thought i can copy the real image file (12gig size) into that folder can try again but alas it doesn't work. it doesn't restore my C:

I had a similar problem in Vista sometime back, whereby the backup log file got corrupted. At that time there was a Microsoft article on how to rebuild this file but I've run a couple of searches and can't find a Win 7 version.

I assume that the file '<username>ID.bin' is the equivilant log file within 7. Have you still got the original bin file?

Sorry, I can't be of more help.

Regards
UKMedia

 

[noyb]

The problem happened when you moved the saved backup from it's original location to another location. When you do this, the backup will no longer be able to be restored from.

Doesn't this make it worthless ???
I'm still using Acronis .. and always save a backup Image in Two different Externals...
And have had to move them to a bigger external.

 

[Brink]

Hi Noyb,

It just seems that everytime that anyone moves the backup, it can no longer be found and becomes useless. You could also create a new backup at a new location if the space runs out at the old location.

I agree that this built-in backup feature in Windows 7 is basic and limited without having all of the nice features that Acronis does, but it is free and works great if not moved.

 

[ghostcorps]

Just to be sure...

Hi Guys,

I recently broke my installation and have been trying to do the same thing. namely, restore from a system image.

Am I right in understanding the above, that windows 7 has no way shape or form of using a backup image if the OS becomes corrupted and requires reformatting?

Secondly, how would M$ suggest I store my backups if I want to protect myself from this happening again?

Also, if I were to have made the assumption that the OS is actually working and subsequently stored valuable information on it, would M$ reimburse me for the lost value? Having sold me a product that does not actually do what it is supposed to do... namely back stuff up in a way that can then be used when required. I would expect some kind of apology at the very least. Obviously, the only response would be along the lines of 'M$ takes no responsibility if you have not tried each and every feature to confirm it actually works prior to entrusting it with your data.'

Anyway, up until now I have almost been a convert... this OS was looking so good, and now...? I mean.. its not like adding a 'browse for image' button is hard.. ffs it browses the network why not the local HD?!?! Or does that only work if the OS was configured to use that exact location in the first place? I am at a loss... I have never ranted or flamed online in my life.. but I write this in the hope that someone involved sees it and gets offended by their own stupidity and oversight... Tell me who came up with the idea of restoring from a backup image on DVDs... I wan't to ask them if they have ever burned 90 gigs to dvds, then if they say yes I would like point, laugh and discuss the concept of secondary local hard drives with them.

 

[gregrocker]

On each of my Windows 7 installs, I make a primary formatted partition to store a backup image made by Win7 Backup IMaging. Then I copy that image to an external drive in case of HDD failure.

This is how it is done:

Type "backup" in the start box. In the Backup Center choose "Create a Backup Image"

If you would like to make a recovery partition to store the image, then choose DVD option to get the size. Using Disk Management, format a primary partition on another HDD unless you only have one.

Now return to the Create a Backup Image utility and choose Drive option and it will locate that partition (since it is formatted Primary) as available to save the Image to. In about 20 minutes you will have your backup Image stored there, and it will then offer to make you a bootable Repair Disk with the same Repair Console as is on your Win7 Installer.

Then copy your Image to an external drive so that if your HDD fails the image can be applied to a replacement HDD. I keep each of my backup images in a folder for its computer, then place that image in the root of the drive for auto-detection when I need to reimage.

You will never have to reinstall again. Just boot into the Win7 installer/repair disk Repair console and choose Recover Using an Image and it will detect the backup image, then reimage your HDD (or a replacement) flawlessly in 15 minutes.

 

[ghostcorps]

Thanks Greg,

The way you explained it, it sounds like it should actually work after moving the image? You suggest putting the backed up image in the root directory which was the first thing I tired, but it was not found. Are you naming the directory by the computers name or WindowsImageBackup?

Also, by copying the image to the external HDD, are you somehow bypassing the need to use the image from the original location eg. the corrupted local disk?

 

[gregrocker]

When I store the image externally I sometimes add to the file name if I store several in a folder, but always make sure that it is named WindowsImageBackup when placing it in the external's root for discovery.

Of course if you format a primary partition on an internal drive to store it, then it is never moved and easily detectable.

But I always back it up to an external in case of HDD failure, although the only failure I've had during reimaging so far is the external crapping out.

And storing it on another network computer is a very real option once you get the hang of it. I put it in the root drive for easy detection. EDIT: YOU NEED ULTIMATE FOR THIS NETWORK STORAGE, FROM WHAT I READ TODAY.

 

[ghostcorps]

Thanks alot! I wish you had of answered before all the other guys... It would have saved me a lot of ranting lol

Just to be clear. After creating a folder named WindowsImageBackup on the root, I copied the image folder '%computername%' from my backup location and restoration went ahead without any further tears.

Thanks again

 

[Cluent]

Thanks alot! I wish you had of answered before all the other guys... It would have saved me a lot of ranting lol

Just to be clear. After creating a folder named WindowsImageBackup on the root, I copied the image folder '%computername%' from my backup location and restoration went ahead without any further tears.

Thanks again

I'm not sure I understand what you were doing wrong before. Do you mind explaining? Does the vhd go into the root directory or into a folder named WindowsImageBackup in the root? Is there more than one file? Thannks!

 

[gregrocker]

From my experience, Win7 created image needs to be in the root of a primary formatted location and be properly named (or renamed back if you change name for storage) to be auto-detected.

 

[Cluent]

I just created a system image. It consists of directory named WindowsImageBackup with a bunch more directories and files inside. If I understand you right, as long as the directory WindowsImageBackup is in the root of a partition (eg G:\), then you're set to go? It's so simple, why was the OP and the others having problems?