System image restore failed

Anonymous
2011-02-22T18:58:50+00:00

Hi, I have a system with a C:drive (a SSD drive that Windows runs on) a E drive (ordinary hard drive) an external drive used for backups and a CD/DVD drive.  The C drive died.  My computer supplier (it's less than a year old) told me to extract the drive, I sent it to them, and after a long wait received a replacement.  That's now installed and running.  I have Windows on it anc can access the files on my other drive.  But I cannot get the system image from my external backup to copy back across.  I keep getting "The system image restore failed.  Error details: The disk that is set as active in Bios is too small to recover the original system disk.  Replace the disk with a larger one and retry the restore operation (Ox80042407).  But the replacement disk is the same as my original which died.  It also wants to reformat my E drive, which is rather worrying, as there was no problem with that.  This is after having followed its previous instruction to boot from the Windows Install disk.  Desperate for help.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | 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

78 answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2011-02-23T18:43:06+00:00

    The computer was built to my own specification, so that's my mistake, though I did ask them if the specification looked OK.  Anyway, here's what I've just done:  made a copy of the system image files, from the F:(external) drive onto the E:(internal data) drive.  Disconnected the E drive.  Tried the Microsoft recovery options again, changine the order of the boot disks in the BIOS.  Gone out and bought a CD/DVD RW drive and replaced the previous one - checked that it works OK, it does.  However, now I cannot boot from the C: drive or get windows running - I'm almost back at the problem I had two weeks ago when my computer supplier told me my hard disk had failed, and I took it out sent it back for them to replace.  i.e all I see at start up (after the graphics card splash screen) is a blinking cursor on a black screen (if I detach the external F drive I get:  Reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot media...)  I can boot from the Windows install disk, but that only gives me the repair or reinstall Windows options.  I can't run windows in order to download and install Acronis.  Unlike the previous occasion where my C drive was diagnoise as probably dead, I can still see it in the boot options in the bios.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2011-02-23T13:26:04+00:00

    Suggest you contact the supplier and ask why a new computer was equiped with a read on CD/DVD drive. If they will not replace it then you should replace it as new DVD+/-RW drives are typically 25 US dollars or less.

    JS

    http://www.pagestart.com

    Never be afraid to ask. This forum has some of the best people in the world available to help.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2011-02-22T21:16:16+00:00

    Create the Acronis "Recovery/Rescue" disk and then boot from the rescue disk and see if it is able to locate your backup.

    Is that a virtual disk?  I can't create an actual physical CD, as my CD/DVD drive is read only.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2011-02-22T21:05:08+00:00

    You only want to restore the C: drive yes?

    If that is the case you install Acronis on the C:\Windows drive. Use it to convert the Windows 7 Backup files (Download the User's Guide).

    Place a copy Windows 7 backup files on the E: drive since that is your data drive. Since the E: drive is not part of the process, temporarily disconnect the data cable to that drive.

    Create the Acronis "Recovery/Rescue" disk and then boot from the rescue disk and see if it is able to locate your backup.

    JS

    http://www.pagestart.com

    Never be afraid to ask. This forum has some of the best people in the world available to help.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2011-02-22T20:49:34+00:00

    OK I see them, but my F drive (portable external drive) is virtually full, so the only place I could put a copy is on my E drive.  Please see the other part of my question above.  Where would I install Acronis if a System image restore is going to wipe my C and E drives?

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments