Windows doesn't seem to see my restore Image

[skylos]

Hi,
windows 7 and I have created some time ago an image, stored on Z:
(check attachment)

Now, when i go to restore the image Windows claims it cannot find any image

Can anyone help me out?

I used to be able to create and restore images with no problem. Why this, now?

Thanks

 

[marsmimar]

Did you put WindowsImageBackup on your SSD or your SATA drive? A screenshot of Disk Management may offer additional info.

Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[skylos]

It's a 200 GB sata drive split in two paritions Z and Y. There are other hard disks of course.

Do check the attachment for the two partitions of this disk.

 

[marsmimar]

Are you using the System Repair Disk to access "Windows Complete PC Restore"? Sometimes the Repair Disk has better luck finding system images.

If you still can't locate your system image, you could try searching for the backup.



Your screenshot in Post # 1 shows "( Z: ) > WindowsImageBackup > deleted >". Without giving up any of your personal info, is the deleted info part of the file path to that system image?

One final thought. The native Windows 7 imaging tool is not the most reliable. Many people have reported problems creating and/or restoring. A free alternative is Macrium Reflect. It's highly recommended on this Forum. One of the members has an excellent tutorial.

Imaging with free Macrium - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[skylos]

First of all, thanks for trying to help.


I had already tried out your suggestions.

For some reason, it cannot see the image. :/ It used to work just fine (once upon a time...)

Even when I point to the location, it doesn't see it.

\\Ga\z\WindowsImageBackup\Ga\Backup 2017-04-17 160443\
\\Ga\z\WindowsImageBackup\Ga\
\\Ga\z\WindowsImageBackup\

whichever I pick of the three I get the same error message.

Can Macrium Reflect restore images made with W7 itself?

thanks

 

[mjf]

Assuming Ga is your computer name this looks ok except you should have a MediaID file under the Ga folder. Windows should ideally be able to locate the WindowsImageBackup folder in the root of Z.

Although I have used Windows inbuilt system imaging extensively in the past without problem, others have experienced problems with autolocation of the image folder. If you want to simply extract important files from your image vhd (under the Backup... folder) you can use this tutorial.
System Image - Extract Files Using Disk Management

In future you may want to try this much more flexible and reliable imaging program used by myself and many forum members.
https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

 

[SIW2]

You can restore it using wbadmin command in winpe/winre

Another way is to mount the vhd (e.g. in windows disk management). Assign a letter to the mounted vhd.

Then use the copy function of a partition manger to copy vhd to HD partition.

 

[mjf]

If you must try to restore your image but jump through a few hoops then this approach should show the key steps. Note you would be using Macrium V6 (free) now.
recovery to smaller hard drive
From memory I believe Windows image restore uses wbadmin anyway.

It is recommended that you always have more than one image on more than one storage device.

 

[SIW2]

No need to jump through all those hoops. Mount the image and use copy function of a partition manager. Not difficult, and fairly quick.

 

[mjf]

To use Disk management you need a running Windows OS. Then you would need to be able to copy the mounted partition onto the existing Windows OS partition while the system is running (using say Partition Wizard mini tool) - can you do this?
If you use a bootable partition manager like Partition Wizard again how do you attach/mount the vhd since you don't have access to the Disk management utility?

This is what pushed me down the Macrium system imaging path in the old link I posted above.

 

[SIW2]

Then you would need to be able to copy the mounted partition onto the existing Windows OS partition while the system is running (using say Partition Wizard mini tool) - can you do this?

No, you don't need to do that.


Use a decent boot media that includes mmc , etc. I have posted them often enough.

x64

17514x64-v3.iso


x86

A23x86.iso


( Some partitioners e.g. pguru will mount vhd files without using diskmgmt, and clone that mounted partition. If you do it that way , then the OS drive letter of the restored image needs to be fixed - I have provided a function to do that in my boot media )


In addition, for those who want to create boot media themselvers, I have also posted in other threads a little batch that will make it for you. In spite of the name, it also works for x86.

NEW7x64UPD.zip

 

[mjf]

Well that's jumping through hoops IMO for many and some trust in your boot media. I'd suggest you be a little more explicit in offering OPs an option to try your boot media and provide directions on what they need to do once they have downloaded some ISO.

I think many would prefer simple direct guidance using recognized third party tools.

 

[SIW2]

Boot it up and you get desktop, start menu, etc.

If you can use windows, you can use the boot media. Take a look at it for yourself.

Or you can use NEW7x64UPD.zip and it will incorporate any of the popular imaging/partitioning programs that you have in your running OS.

 

[skylos]

Hi guys and again, thanks for trying to help.

My system is both bootable and workable. It's just that it doesn't work 100% correctly. I think there is some spywhere hidden, to say the least. And this is why I want to recover the full system from my image.

So, are there more detailed instructions to try out this solution?

You can restore it using wbadmin command in winpe/winre

Another way is to mount the vhd (e.g. in windows disk management). Assign a letter to the mounted vhd.

Then use the copy function of a partition manger to copy vhd to HD partition.

 

[SIW2]

Boot the media linked to in my previous post.

EITHER

1.When you get to the desktop, open disk management. Mount the vhd.

Give the mounted vhd a lettere.

Open Aomei partition assistant. Select partition copy wizard. Copy the mounted partition to unallocated space. Fix OS letter.

OR

2. Open pguru, mount vhd, clone vhd contents to partition. Then to fix os letter: open NT6Repair, point the dropdown at the letter you cloned TO, click FIX.



i ) Select open virtual disk




ii) Browse to vhd




iii) Rt click mounted vhd and select Clone



iv) After cloning , Fix drive letter:select letter you cloned vhd TO



You can also use NT6Repair to create boot menu .

 

[z101891]

SIW2---I downloaded the NEW7x64UPD.zip file.
It will not complete with my Paragon Hard Disk Manager 14 Professional. I let it search for LAUNCHER.EXE for 24 hours and it does not find it. Launcher.exe is in the exact place it should be.

 

[SIW2]

Probably I made an error in one of the batch files.

EDIT:

I forgot to include an .ini file.

You can copy and paste the following code into a text file, save it as getpmexe.ini and put it in the BIN folder.

getpmexe.ini

ENVI TEXEPATH=d:\launcher.exe
BROW TEXEPATH,,Select LAUNCHER.EXE,exe
EXEC =!CMD.EXE /C ECHO set exepath="%TEXEPATH%">"%CurDir%\setexepath.cmd"
ENVI TEXEPATH=