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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

200+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

95 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-12-28T02:09:05+00:00

    I have a solution that might work for some people. It might have been posted earlier but take it as a double check.

    I have a 3TB WD Mybook, I made system images for windows 7 laptop and desktop, the location was not changed (WindowsImageBackup) and nothing added to the folders. in addition to this folder, there were other backups/files in the hard drive.

    The system was working fine without any problems and I just wanted to test restoring the system image of the laptop.

    The first attempt: hard drive connected to USB 3,,, restart PC,, use system repair ,, I get the error (Windows cannot find a system image on this computer).

    I tried restarting/ retrying multiple times without success.

    Solution: shutdown the pc, remove the hard drive, start the pc and start the system repair. selected the system image restore and it searched for system images and couldn't fine any ( the hard drive was not connected). 

    I connected the hard drive to a USB 2 port and pressed retry multiple times. after pressing retry multiple times the system images were found (both the desktop and laptop).

    After that I could use the system image.

    Points:

    • connect the storage to USB 2.
    • do not connect the hard drive from the beginning, connect it at the final stage.

    good luck

    Thanks, this was the key to all of these troubles...

    Not sure if it was the usb2.0 or the waiting to plug the drive in part, but it finally worked after pressing retry a few times, just as described above.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-12-24T22:02:13+00:00

    jjster6, next time you make a "system image", try putting it

    on a DVD with an .iso file extension.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2015-10-29T23:55:39+00:00

    The problem for me ended up being the name of the recovery image. When I created it the default name was <host name> WindowsImageBackup. I booted my computer into gparted on a sub drive and renamed the recovery image on my external usb drive to just WindowsImageBackup. I rebooted, selected my CD-ROM drive containing my recovery disk, and this time my recovery image appeared just like it was supposed to. 

    I had also attempted copying the recovery image to the local drive but recovery failed. I was only successful restoring my usb drive. 

    Hope this helps.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2015-08-08T16:12:34+00:00

    Today I was prompted to Upgrade to Windows 10. In the installation after the read agreement decline accept I was expecting the options like install cancel, are you sure yes no, go back.. I refused to restart to start the upgrade installation I searched for ways to cancel Windows 10 upgrade, removed windows updates kb 33*** and kb29***, went to the folder windows/system/GWX was not there, went to windows WinSxS deleted all folders/files with gwx in but still after 3  reboots Windows 10 was still installed. Inside Windows 10 for the first time: No Antivirus system tray icon ****, system is slow responding or click functions not at same location wgaf. Insert Win 8 installation disc attempt system image recovery, Cant find system image. :( powering on and off rebooting several times maybe the USB drive is visible inside Win 10. Startup repair diagnose is triggered by me yanking the power cord out repeatedly and a button: return to previous build appears: yeah to good to be true? nope it first freezes but resumes after a power on/off and yippiekayey mf Win 8.1 is back with Antivirus. Great weekend hours and worries lost tnx Microsoft :P

    Win 8.1: Scanner dont work, Norton Ghost dont work, and finally I find out that Windows system image recovery dont work either. H5AF https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnZmd4HRDm8

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments