System Image Recovery - Can't find System Image

Anonymous
2010-08-12T02:37:45+00:00

I am trying to restore a backup system image to my repaired PC.  It is wiped clean.  I have the "Repair Disc Windows 7 64 Bit" that I created in Windows 7.  Using Windows 7 Backup I have a system image backup on an external WD Essentiasl 1TB USB Hard Drive.

I insert the Repair Disc and start the system.  Get to System Recoevery Options.  I have the external Hard Disk with the system backup image connected.  Select System Image Recovery option.  Says "Windows cannot find a system image on this computer.  Attach the backup hard disk or insert the final DVD from a bckup set and click retry.  Alternatively, close this dialog for more options.  Retry gives me the same message.  Tried starting with drive attached, not attached, same result.  Click cancel.

Next option selected is "Select a system image."  No system image listed.  Hit refresh, still nothing.  Top of screen says "Click Advanced to add a network location or install a driver for a backup device if it does not show up in the list below."  I click on the Advanced tab.  Option to "Search for a system image on the network" or "Install a driver."  I select install a driver.  Find the right driver for the WD Essential hard drive (disk.sys and partmgr.sys) and when I click on them I get "The specified location does not contain information about your hardware."  Click OK.  Can't find how to load these drivers I am being asked for.

Funny thing is that on the screen where I search for driver I can see the WD Essential Hard Drive connected to the system.  I can also see the system image files but when I click on them I get the same error message, "The specified location does not contain information about your hardware."

Please HELP.  This is very frustrating!!!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Recovery and backup

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Anonymous
2010-08-12T08:41:31+00:00

While in Repair Mode, you have an option to open a Command Prompt. From there try the following commands:

Mountvol

(This command will show you all available drives, including your external disk)

dir Q:

(Replace Q: with one drive letter at a time from the letters that the mountvol command showed you, e.g.

dir D:

dir E:

etc.

until you see a folder "WindowsImageBackup" on the screen. Let's assume it is F:\WindowsImageBackup.

dir F:\WindowsImageBackup /s

(This command should show you the contents of the image folder, with files totalling more than 10 GBytes)

Now perhaps this image folder is missing, incomplete or inaccessible.

I have to add that I am disappointed with the native imaging facility under Windows 7. It is temperamental and its functionality is extremely limited. I recently bought myself a copy of Acronis TrueImage 10 and its is to the Windows imaging tool like a fully functional motor cycle is to a child's tricycle. Other brand imaging tools are just as functional - just make sure that they are certified for Windows 7.

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-04-06T20:57:25+00:00

    I see this old thread has really taken off.   

    It always seems to boil down to a large number of combinations that do not work.  

    All of those mentioned above.  

    As well as in general:    

    in my experience:

    1- Does not work from a usb drive sometimes (for no reason) backup media has to be on a SATA or IDE hard drive.  

    2- Does not work if you boot os media from a thumb drive need to be boot from a DVD. (also for no reason) 

    and especially with Windows7 and older server os prior to 2016.  

    Microsoft is incredibly annoying...   

    And I will note here for all that:  

    Built in backup no longer works in Windows10 if you have are doing EFI boot.   

    They "took out" support and flat out tell you to use a 3rd party backup solution (stupid lame and frustrating) 

    Microsoft has decided to no longer include backup software that works.  

    Worse yet on Windows 2016 server backup does  does not work correctly either.   

    When you do periodic incremental backups withing DAYS the backup disk FILLS UP and backups fail.  

    My only option has been to format the drive and start using the backup drive empty. 

    Then days later the drive is full again.  

    Again spend money on a 3rd party backup solution if you want something that works. 

    after you spent money on server licensing for a small business.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-04-07T04:09:49+00:00

    Interesting input. I have just built two systems (Windows 10 fully updated) with EFI boot with similar motherboards and processors. Each is different in terms of recovery options.

    System 1 MS system images and MS backup is available, the former is used to create images, but AIS backup is used for back up, it is better and is a one life time low cost investment. 

    System 2 Has Acronis True Image installed for creating and restoring images and also installed is Easus partition manager. MS image creation and MS backup is not accessible. I can only assume that Acronis is the cause of this lack of MS utility access.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-04-07T07:12:46+00:00

    I have back up disc but they are for the factory windows version 8.1. I upgraded to windows 10 from the web . I am attempting to set up back up but a I have only the backup on external hard drive in file history. will it have the same problem seeing it just ran

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-05-20T15:14:32+00:00

    What should I do to solve this problem

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