Win 7 Pro boot disk can NOT find images

[trinaz]

Strange new issue here...when I boot to to my Win 7 Pro 64bit installation DVD...none of my various system image backups are visible.

They are on 2 HDD's in my box (and a backup usb external drive)...in the past they were always listed...but now none of them are present in the choose image restore window...

Strangely...the only image available/listed is for another PC on the network on a shared usb external drive

Any ideas on why my saved images are suddenly absent from the Win DVD startup screens while attempting an image restore ?

 

[SIW2]

One of the dangers of using windows system image gui.

If it loses track - a touch inconvenient.

Can you find them from the command prompt?

wbadmin get versions -backuptarget:h:

Obviously, replace h with the driveletter your images are on - that is the driveletter as seen from the recovery environment - not as seen from windows.

 

[mjf]

When you boot from the system repair DVD or install DVD external drive letters are temporarily assigned by the mini boot operating system. So what was on say K: when running windows may appear as L: from the boot disk.
This means you need to scout around a little. Choose the select an image option and refresh if needed. If it's a powered external HDD you can try turning it off then on and refresh the search.

To identify the letter of the attached drive partitions from the boot disk command prompt:
>diskpart
>list volume
>exit

you'll probably need the appropriate letter if using the wbadmin command.

 

[gregrocker]

Are they in the root of the drive and named only WindowsImageBackup and nothing else?

 

[trinaz]

Are they in the root of the drive and named only WindowsImageBackup and nothing else?

Yes all images are in the root directories of various drives and are named "Windows System Image" only. (image drives.jpg)

Ran:
To identify the letter of the attached drive partitions from the boot disk command prompt:
>diskpart
>list volume
>exit

and got the various assigned drives...different from OS system letters as stated. But none of the letters tried revealed any images...all said I think "error - no image found" ?

Directory prompt tho was X:\sources> Is this correct ?

Is - wbadmin get versions -backuptarget:h: correct - including only 3 spaces being used?

Is it possible to get a screen capture or copy from within the boot disk CMD command ?

The attached jpg(s) shows my system setup...all drives...files...and images accessible from within Windows ?

However...when I try to save/create a new image...the Image drive bu.jpg shows an error ?

Thanks....Tim

 

[trinaz]

Same issue - new info - please help

I followed the suggestions but no progess...I noticed today that the issue has to do with my USB external hard drive...

When drive is attached via USB cable...I get the attached error with no backups listed ?

If I eject the drive via widows eject USB devices and re-click "Create a system image" I do not get the error and all my drives are accessable...except of course the external USB

If I plug the USB back in...then the same error in jpg attached pops up

Now this external USB drive has been my main backup drive for over a year and this issue has never arose before ?

Any ideas on why the USB is causing the error and how to fix it ?

Thanks...Tim

 

[gregrocker]

Will Backup detect and save successfully to another internal HD?

Try running Disk Check on the external.

I would also try moving the data off the external, reformat it NTFS Primary then see if it is detected.

I had to reinstall when these backup error messages started popping up with no found solutions after a virus infection.

 

[trinaz]

Will Backup detect and save successfully to another internal HD?

Try running Disk Check on the external.

I would also try moving the data off the external, reformat it NTFS Primary then see if it is detected.

I had to reinstall when these backup error messages started popping up with no found solutions after a virus infection.

Sorry...above post was not as clear as it should have been....yes I can set Windows Backup/Restore to backup to any of the internal or external USB drives...no issues here

Also...I can also include a system image via normal Windows Backup and no problems...everything goes smoothly

The issue I am having is saving a separate System Image apart from the Windows Backup settings as in attached jpg...if I try to save only an image then I get the "no drives found" error jpg IF the USB drive is attached

If I detach the USB drive...then I can save an image (see jpg) to whatever internal HDD I choose...but I can no longer save just an image to the USB drive as I have for more than a year now in order to protect my images/backups from attack by disconnecting the USB when not doing the weekly backup and/or a specific image backup.

Will try first the reformat NTFS - Primary and post back...

Tim

 

[gregrocker]

It would be interesting to see if the solo image would be rejected without the full backup onboard the External. Perhaps you can wait to copy it back until you try one.

 

[trinaz]

Full backup with image is on a separate partition on the USB drive.

Have one partition set for weekly backup...and one for system image only periodic backup

Also have another PC sharing this USB with 2 additional partitions...one for weekly...and the other also for periodic image only backups.

Four partitions total on the USB...2 for this PC and 2 for another PC...

 

[gregrocker]

Full backup with image is on a separate partition on the USB drive.

This may be your problem. A second partition on an external drive may not be auto-scanned by the reimaging utility. I am basing this theory on the fact that it takes a separate boot manager to access an external's second partition to boot.

 

[trinaz]

Full backup with image is on a separate partition on the USB drive.

This may be your problem. A second partition on an external drive may not be auto-scanned by the reimaging utility. I am basing this theory on the fact that it takes a separate boot manager to access an external's second partition to boot.

Sounds pretty resonable...but this arrangement has worked fine for over a year now with no issues. The only thing that has changed is that when I first couldn't find any images running the boot disk (my original post here)....I decided to install Acronis Home Image in case I could not get any images saved and/or could not "find" the saved images running the Windows boot/install disk.

After installing Acronis...the boot disk could find the images and...for a couple days...and I could save a separate image from the Backup/Restore in Control Panel ?

Will post back if I get this figured out...

Thanks for everyones help..!!....Tim

 

[mjf]

Full backup with image is on a separate partition on the USB drive.

This may be your problem. A second partition on an external drive may not be auto-scanned by the reimaging utility. I am basing this theory on the fact that it takes a separate boot manager to access an external's second partition to boot.

This is incorrect. All primary partitions are scanned for image recovery.

I am only aware that one partition at a time can be the scheduled backup partition. If you want another you use change setting.

The manual "Create a system image" can be done any time to any non (system,active,Boot) partition. All these images are available for reimaging.

 

[trinaz]

Thanks for all your efforts guys...

It appears this is a USB issue rather than Win Backup/Restore issue..or maybe combined ?

Repeatedly...if I connect the usb cable to the external drive...I get the error attached.

If I eject the USB drive...then I get all my HDD drives listed as backup devices (except of course the 4 USB partitions)

More confusing...once or twice all my drives showed up in Windows Backup/Restore .."Create a System Image" option...but I can not repeat this very often...

Mostly if the drive is attached...nothing shows up...if I eject the USB drive...all my HDD's appeqr...if I reconnect the USB drive and refresh and/or restart Backup/Restore...then no drives show up as in the jpg attached ?

If I backup to any of my USB drives...I'll have to bu first to the HDD...and then move to the USB

Weird thing is this just started to be an issue a week ago...previousuy all my drives showed up under "create a system image" ???

Thanks...Tim

 

[SIW2]

mjf,

This is incorrect. All primary partitions are scanned for image recovery.

Logical drives too.


Trinaz,

Uninstall Acronis.

Reboot.

 

[trinaz]

OK...was going to uninstall Acronis True Image Home 2011 anyway to see if that was indeed the issue..

But...after uninstall of Acronis...Windows Backup and Restore does not start....either thru control panel or any of the help file links....?

When clicking on Backup and Restore links...nothing happens...??

Is there an exe file somewhere I can try to click on directly...and if nothing works...how can I re-enable Windows 7 Backup and Restore functionality ??

Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

If you have Acronis True Image installed, using it's Tools you can convert a WIn7 backup image .vhd to an Acronis image .tib with much better flexibility to reimage it from the Acronis program or it's boot disk.

 

[SIW2]

That is another known issue with Acronis.

I do know a fix - just have to remember it - it has been a day of trying to remember stuff.

 

[SIW2]

Here is the fix View attachment WinSysImgRestore.zip

I just tried it - to find TrustedInstaller is the owner of that key. (At least it should be )

You will need to search for {B98A2BEA-7D42-4558-8BD1-832F41BAC6FD} in regedit.

Rt click the key>properties>security>advanced > make your username Owner, then give your username Full Control.

Merge the above .reg file.

Then go back to that key, untick your Full Control, go Advanced and make Trusted Installer owner again.

NB - when you go back to make trusted installer owner - it isn't listed.

Under Owner Tab, you have to click "Other Users or Groups", type in NT Service\TrustedInstaller then click Check Name, click OK and he will be listed so you can make him owner again.

Bit of a faff I'm afraid.