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
    2011-10-29T00:34:35+00:00

    I was having the same problem...came here for the solution...and there wasn't any...but I figured it out:

    Restart your computer with external HD plugged in

    Click: Control Panel>System & Security>Backup & Restore>Recover System Settings or your computer>Advanced Recovery Methods>Use a system image you created earlier...

    At this point it says it can't find the back up...and it asks you to backup the files now...click SKIP and on the next page it gives you the option to restart or cancel.  Click RESTART.

    When the computer restarts it boots in recovery mode or whatever you call it and it is there I am able to restore the image....and you should too!!

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-01-01T23:12:48+00:00

    I didn't get it. What is the purpose of the command "mountvol" and what to do after that?

    1- do you mean to mound the .vhd image in a directory? if so

    2- How to mound it. Microsoft help system sucks. Everywhere I go I can't find the solution or even one exampl. One example for mountvol you can't find.

    MOUNTVOL [drive:]path option

    Please give example with letters and actual folder name etc.

    3- I converted the .vhd file to Acronis trueimage 12 but it failes to recover.

    please help

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-03-24T22:11:07+00:00

    ok guys i found the sollution .. tonight i had the same problem ..

    i found out that the system image file was in a subfolder .. like my image was in usb hard drive and placed in a seperate folder g:/YAHYA-pc folder  and inside this folder the windows image backup and my pc data was placed.. all u have to do is cut the contents and place them on the root folder ..

    hope this helps

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