Windows 7: How to Restore Windows 7 Partition or Hard Disk Partitions from a System Image
In our earlier post we covered to how to create a system image out of Windows 7 partition, in this post we shall discuss how we can restore or recover Windows 7 partitions from the system image / system snapshot which was already taken.
How to Restore / Recover Windows 7 Partition or Hard Disk Partitions from a System Image
Warning: All the below mentioned methods will overwrite the existing data so it is highly recommended that you take backup all your data before you proceed with the further steps.
There three ways in which you can recover the Windows 7 hard disk partition and other partitions they are:
- Using the advanced recovery options that can be accessed from control panel.
- Using the system repair disc or original Windows 7 DVD.
- Using the boot options of Windows 7.
For recovering a Windows 7 partition or any other hard disk partition using system image we can use any of the above three methods. All the three methods lead you to the system recovery program of Windows 7.
Method 1: How to use the advanced recovery options from Control Panel
1. Go to Start Menu >> Control Panel >> System & Security >> Backup and Restore >> Recover System Settings on your Computer
2. In the window that comes choose the ‘Advanced recovery methods’
3. Now Windows 7 offers two options one is to restore the computer from the system image and the other is reinstallation of Windows 7. In this case we will choose ‘Use a system image you created earlier to recover your computer’ option.
4. Click the restart button to restart the computer and to start the recovery or restoration process.
Now the computer will reboot into recovery mode you can start the recovery process, for further detailed information refer to the instructions below.
Method 2: How to Restore / Recover / Repair Windows 7 using System Repair Disc
The system can be recovered from the system image using the system repair disc also. Refer to our earlier post on how to create a Windows 7 system repair disc. To use the system repair disc, set your computer to boot from CD or DVD and then insert the system repair disc and start the computer. The computer will now boot into recovery mode and the recovery process can be started, detailed instructions for recovering the system from image is provided towards the end of the post.
Method 3: How to Restore / Recover / Repair Windows 7 using boot options
Restart the your computer and using the F8 key access the Windows 7 advanced boot options choose the ‘Repair Your Computer’ option and the system will boot into the recover mode. The detailed instructions for recovering from system image is given below.
Instructions for recovering or restoring a Windows 7 partition from system image:
1. As mentioned above you can access the recovery mode using any of the above three methods. Once you are in recovery mode the system will first ask you to choose the layout of your keyboard, choose the keyboard layout that you are asking. In this case we have used US keyboard layout.
2. The system presents two options they are ‘Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows’ and ‘Restore your computer using a system image that you created earlier’. You have to choose the second option of restoring the computer from a system image.
3. The system provides two options here and it by default it selects the latest image that was last taken but if you wish to select the system image of your choice then you can use the second option which allows you to manually select the system image.
4. In this example we are using the first option which uses the system recommended image. Now select the option ‘Format and repartition disks’ as the data in the entire partition will be deleted and the hard disk will repartitioned as it was during the time when the system image was taken.
When you had taken the system image you may have taken the image of additional partitions of a different hard disk along with Windows 7 partition. If you would like to exclude any of them then you have to exclude them in this step.
5. After you have made your choices hit the next button to start the system image restoration process but before that system displays what tasks it is going to perform as a summary and also warns again that the data will deleted choose yes to continue.
Now the restoration process begins and may take a couple of minutes to few hours based on your disk size. Once the restore process is completed the system will automatically restart.
That’s it now Windows 7 has been successfully restored from the system image.
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I’ve partitioned my boot drive into C: and a D:. C: is the boot partition and has program files while D: has all m Libraries and other user files.
I took an image of C: and had it save to a physical second drive E:
If I do a restore, I’m concerned about Step 4, above. I don’t care if it formats that portion of the drive before it restores C: to it. But, I’d be sick if anything happens to the existing D: partition.
Step 4 indicates that after the image restore that physical disk will not contain my current D: contents.
David-
Did you include your D: drive when you took the system image?
I just did an image of the C: partition.
Once I’m comfortable with the features, I’ll probably use Win7 backup to cover the folders/files on the D: partition. (on other systems I’ve used Acronis TrueImage which allows me to drag/drop individual files from an image – really nice but won’t currently work on Win7 64-bit).
If I do a restore of the C: image and put a ck in the “Format and repartition disks” box, I’m concerned with what will happen to my D: partition which is on that (physical) drive.
Thanks
David…
Hi, do you know if it is possible to recover a system image to a different partition on the same drive? i.e. I made the image from C: and want it restored on D: (so I don’t have to install everything a second time for my D: test partition).
I was wondering if I was to make a backup of a system with a 60GB partition and to restore it on to a system with a 150GB partition (or larger) would it be as simple as not ticking the box in step 4 or would some serious stuff go down and everything stop working properly?
Well, I have a different problem. I don’t know when, but the multi-boot options available during the booting of Windows 7 disappeared and I get an error during boot. \boot\bcd and 0xc000000f error. When I use the installation disc and repair, it repairs and I’m able to login to Win7. Then using EasyBCD I’m able to add WinXP and Ubuntu to the boot options. for the first time I’m able to boot to XP, but the second time I get the same boot error of \boot\bcd error. But both Win 7 and XP are working fine after i enter into them first time after repair. The problem is only when i try to boot from second time onwards. Can you please help!
dear sir, nowhere on the web have I found instructions as how to restore a system backup image to a NEW HDD, on the supposition that the original win 7 system disk failed and was not recoverable. Various blogs have highlighted this problem with no solutions to date. Any ideas
thanks / bill
I’ve got same question as Don
I Have 2 partitions on one physical HDD. I installed windows 7 on one partition and i want to clone it to the other (by making a backup and restoring it to the other partition)
How?
Thank you for replying. I had read your article already but it does not indicate how to use the system image that I already have and back it up to a new hdd. I have tried, successfully, to use the system image to backup to the same old system disk. However, the question is still that it is not possible to back it up to a different physical hdd.
A worst case scenario, my hdd packs up and does not function and has to be scrapped. I purchase another hdd and install it in the computer. The system image does not recognize the hdd and the restore procedure stops. I forget the error message it gives just at this moment.
Do you have any ideas about this case. Other blogs have also reported that they dont have solutions at this time.
Thanks – bill
Bill Day poses an excellent question. How does one back up or restore (in this instance) an image to completely restore Windows 7 on a new hard drive? This is a valid scenario as it’s usually the hard drives that fail and require such actions. Is this capable with Windows 7 backup software or is a 3rd party app required? If so, any recommendations?
Hi; I get up to your last image (Restoring disk C: …) but the blue bar doesn’t grow and there is no disk C: activity after a few seconds. Is this correct? Thanks, Robert
Any Idea how to restore the image to a new HDD. My Windows 7 machine started giving me warning. “The hard disk is failing, take a back up”. I did take a back to a USB drive. Installed the new hard drive. Inserted the original DVD and selected to restore computer option. Now when restore, it goes through all the steps above. Once I click on Restore , it fails. Error is something like the hard didsk is not matching. Isn’t that stupid? Microsoft have to grow up….
Any help is appreciated.
can anyone tell me how can i exclude drive D from system image? i only want to backup drive C, and i cant cuz somehow drive D is system drive. Note that windows and all program files are on drive C.
The one question that keeps coming up and has not been answered is:
“how to restore a system backup image to a NEW HDD” IMO this is by far the most important concern. One thing for sure is, one day, your hardrive will fail, if you can’t put that image on a different size, brand or type of drive, then whats the point. At this time, I have spent many hours trying, It appears it can’t be done.
I reboot into Acronis to create a system image. That can been restored from to Any HDD. There is always Ghost. I was on her looking to see if the I could avoid the rebooting to do a back ground system image but if i can’t restore to another disc then this feature is now useless.
What if i decided to RAID 0 my main drive and restore i can’t. Why backup then.Microsoft is always doing this, give one with the left hand take 3 from the right hand. You’re never ahead. Is this what they keep learning at these focus groups.
so how do you restore from an image that was saved to a network location?
Perhaps there’s hope of recovering to a NEW Hard Disk Drive, for those who’ve made system images, recovery disks, and backups–
System recovery of Windows 7 onto a new,blank HDD can usually be done in this way, so long as System Recovery/Back-up/System Image disks are available:
1)Turn off the PC (press and hold power button 5 seconds until completely off 2) physically install the new hard disk drive 3)With only AC adapter in use, ensure that all other devices are removed or disconnected before the recovery process. 4)Install the new operating system with the following 5 steps a)Power on the PC b)Insert the recovery disc into the CD/DVD drive c)Power OFF the PC with the recovery disc left in the CD/DVD drive d)Power ON the PC to launch the Windows recovery application from the disc (if the PC doesn’t boot to the disc, changes in CMOS are needed). and finally, e)Follow the on-screen instruction for installation of the original operating system, drivers, and software.
Anyone who purchased a downloadable WIN7 at Microsoft and redownload at no extra charge (until the software is no longer being supported) by logging onto their account. It can take hours, but it’s available. Best of luck-