create a system image in win7

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Page 1: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

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Page 2: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

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How to Create a System Image in Windows 7

The new backup utilities in Windows 7 are actually pretty impressive and creating an image will be possible in allversions. Today we take a look at creating a backup image of your machine without the need for a third party utilitylike Ghost or True Image.

You just just finished installing a fresh copy of Windows 7 on your computer and have it set up to your liking. One ofthe first things you should do now is create an image of the disc so in the event of a crash you will be able to restoreit to its current state. An image is an exact copy of everything on the drive and will restore it back to its current state.It’s probably best to create an image when everything is clean and organized on your system. This will make the imagefile smaller and allows you to restore the system with a smooth running set up.

Creating an Image in Windows 7

Click on Start go to Getting Started and then select Back up your files.

1-img

Next click on the Create a system image hyperlink.

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Page 3: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

Decide where you want to save the image. You can choose an external drive, burn to multiple DVD’s, or store it on anetwork location.

You can include other drives if you want as well but remember that will add to the size of the final image.

Page 4: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

At the confirmation screen notice the amount of space the image may take. If something doesn’t look right you can stillgo back from this point and make adjustments.

A progress meter is displayed while the images is created and backed up. In this example a disk of about 15GB in sizetook under 20 minutes backed up to an external drive. Times will vary depending on your system and where you’rebacking it up to.

Page 5: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

After the process is complete you get the option to create a system repair disc which you should do and make sure tosave it in a secure location.

When it comes time to restore the image, you will be able to use the System Recovery Options to get the system back.

Page 6: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

Image in Windows Vista

Vista Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise allow you to create an image, but Vista Home and Home Premium users donot have the option. The process is similar in Vista, type backup into the search bar and click on Backup and RestoreCenter.

Then click on Back up computer and the wizard will guide you through the process.

Page 7: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

By Mysticgeek on 09/24/09Tweet

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Conclusion

This is a extremely handy feature and it actually works well. It is also nice that the feature will be available in eachedition of Windows 7 instead of just the higher end versions. This will save you some money in not having to spend$50-80 on a third party utility. You should create an image when everything is fresh on your system so the image isnot too large and the essentials of you machine can quickly be restored. For instance I created an image after a freshinstall and putting Office 2007 and a few of my most commonly used programs. The entire image came in around 10GB which is easily stored on an external drive or a few DVD’s.

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Comments (91)

1. September 24, 2009 4:30 am

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Page 8: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

InDiSent

Awesome!!!

2. September 24, 2009 7:06 am

GoodBytes

This feature is only on Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate edition.

3. September 24, 2009 11:54 am

Mysticgeek

@GoodBytes:

The imaging feature was only available for the higher end versions of Vista, However, all versions of Windows 7include the imaging feature…even Starter edition :-)

4. October 10, 2009 3:41 am

Kathy

Can the image then be restored to a different computer (same model) as in a computer lab environment?

5. October 14, 2009 6:58 am

John Michaels

On NeoSmart Technologies there is download for the Windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit recovery discs. You may wantto put link in your article, because I find helpful this download.

Download: http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/windows-7-system-repair-discs/

6. November 10, 2009 3:56 am

ajay

I have tried to do a complete system image as well as a repair disk with my Windows 7 Ultimate OS. But I amreceiving ‘insert blank disk’ error message. but i am using new disks

7. November 25, 2009 12:27 pm

Ernesto

Very usefull thanks!!!!!

8. December 4, 2009 2:06 pm

Onlooker

You can only use a network drive location for W7 professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise; unfortunately.

I was bummed to find this out as I wanted to create an image for my laptop on a external drive attached to mydesktop.

Now I have to unhook it and hook it directly to my laptop. More work, less convenient.

9. December 17, 2009 11:26 am

hooroy

Excellent article! Have fun this Friday…

10. December 20, 2009 4:36 pm

Page 9: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

mark skinner

hi love the article on creating an image win,7 i may sound a bit thick or its late, can i/ or how do i get somearticles emailed to me or downloaded to my computer ..my bloody hands killing me writing it all down yours inkind anticipationm a skinnerps, i have signed up for your email service, keep up the good work.

11. December 22, 2009 7:47 pm

JonMCC33

I can confirm Mysticgeek’s statement that the imaging feature is available on all versions of Windows 7. I haveWindows 7 Home Premium and it is available to me.

12. December 31, 2009 10:40 am

Rich

I recently installed Windows 7 Ultimate on my laptop. I also installed a NAS (from Seagate) I went into Microsoftbackup and restore to take my initial backup. There is about 10gig of user files including a music library. Thebackup started running and it looked like it was going to take about 6 hours. The status screen showed the filesbeing copied and then it changed to saying Creating System Image of C. The whole process slowed down andafter running 18 hours shows that it is 75% completed. Is this normal. My laptop is connected wirelessly to therouter and the NAS is connected into the back of the router on a 10/100 port. Should it take this long? Any ideaswhat could be taking so long

13. December 31, 2009 1:54 pm

philoso4

While it appears that Home Premium edition will allow you to “setup backup”, it will not recognize any networkdrives. Onlooker is correct.

14. February 25, 2010 11:21 am

Noah

Is this applicable to WinServer 2008r2? I’m using that as an OS and the one thing missing is a native backuptool. Granted it is a server OS so I didn’t expect it, but it had so much of Win7 already, I was curious if it washidden somewhere.

15. May 2, 2010 3:36 pm

SendMail

Hi,

Can you pls tell me how can i make ‘System Image’ in Vista ? I have Vista Home Basic, Everyone now and then iuse to get BSOD. i am always scared of Installing New Softwares, I am totally Frustrated with Vista.?

Regards,

16. May 6, 2010 5:42 pm

spencer

when attempting to create a system image I get a notice that says backup failed. The reason I am given is “thereis not enough disc space to create the volume shadow copy on the storage location. Make sure that, for allvolumes to be backup up, the minimum required disk space for shadow copy creation is available. This applies toboth the backup storage destination and volumes included in the backup.” Explanation then goes on to giveexamples of space needed. I have a external HD with 213.49 GB of free space, this is certainly enough, cananyone advise? I have also gotten a error code 0×81000033.

Page 10: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

17. May 19, 2010 5:25 am

golfdude

I have around 200 gb on my main hd (RAID 1) and started a System Backup with System Image yesterday. I ambacking the data up to a 320 gb external hd. It has been running around 16 hours so far and is only 45%complete. Any ideas why this would take so long? I have checked my power settings and the cpu hasn’t shut off.Windows 7 UltimateQ6600 quad core8 gb ram

18. May 21, 2010 10:47 pm

Don

Thanks Guys! another Save, kept this computer out of the Landfill!!!!

19. May 24, 2010 12:57 am

A

Thanks a bunch

20. June 9, 2010 8:13 am

burt

First disc went fairly rapidly and store 53% of the data. Second disc slowed down when it got to the 79% spot itappears to have stopped. It hasn’t moved or given an error report in 12 hours.

21. June 9, 2010 8:20 am

burt

First disc went fairly rapidly and store 53% of the data. Second disc slowed down, when it got to the 79% spot itappears to have stopped. It hasn’t moved or given an error report in 12 hours.

1. June 22, 2010 4:16 am

archie lukas

Quote;“This feature is only on Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate edition.”

bum bum bum bum bum….BUM

2. August 5, 2010 9:42 pm

lokesh k.shm

this article is very helpful for me. thanx for this article

3. August 16, 2010 10:45 pm

julian casablancas

If I have 3 partition in 1 hard drive and only create a backup of my c: drive. When its time torestore, will it delete my D & E partition? I dont want to backup my D&E because they only hold movies andapps.

4. August 31, 2010 5:29 am

steve

Page 11: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

I just upgraded a dell laptop from vista home premium to a windows 7 home premium after, i resized a partitionto 40 gigs, and found out the image wants to be fifty gigs? is there any old windows folders i can delete to getthis image size down?? thanks!

5. September 7, 2010 6:38 pm

Jeff

Can this be used image be used on other computer that are identical, like Ghost or true image?

6. September 29, 2010 12:12 pm

ken

Thank you for addressing this topic so clearly. I found it easy for anyone to follow. I previously made a restoredisk and followed it up by creating an image as well to a portable usb drive ($80 200G). This article helped meknow for sure that I made the right decisions in protecting my wife’s new Dell laptop. Thanks so much!

7. October 14, 2010 4:16 pm

Brian

What would be useful would be for the imaging application to offer an extra option for where to store the diskimage – on the disk itself. Since it knows how much space is needed, it could offer to automatically repartitionthe disk, creaming off a separate lump for the disk copy.

8. November 6, 2010 2:52 am

brian

before I image my system, I make sure no viruses malware or relevant problems exist. For those of you havingerrors in creating a image, First I would wipe the drive (format) and reinstall all programs needed and dontbrowse the internet except to update windows. Then create a image!!!!!

9. November 6, 2010 11:29 pm

Nature

thank you sir your information……………………….

10. November 25, 2010 4:35 am

Marcus

Bear in mind….

At any given time, Windows 7 can and WILL put system information unique for full functionality in Windows 7 inthe 100MB system partition, which will render all your Windows 7-made backups 100% useless. For example, avirus that access the partition will thus make the backup obsolete.

Ghost-image W7 can only be made from an external boot-disk, or software that also clones and copies the100MB partition info. Everything else is waste of time.

Marcus, System Engineer.

11. December 8, 2010 1:26 pm

slyaii

After I followed the instruction and save my image to my network…say \\Server\Restore\Backup

I then made a rescue disk and booted from the rescue disk…following the wizards to the last screen of Re-imageyour computer >> Search for a system image on the network.

I manually typed in \\Server\Restore\Backup then type in my credentials and nothing happens…

Page 12: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

12. December 8, 2010 5:52 pm

Vale

Hi guys,I’ m having the same problem as slyaii. System image succesfuly done on a network drive. I try to restore theimage, but when I got the screen asking for the network path, I type it in, it ask for my credentials and thennothing happens…Any clues?

13. December 9, 2010 7:55 am

Qureshi

I want to create image of windows 7 professional and want to restore/deploy on other machine. Can i be able todo that by using the windows 7 built-in utility. if not can anybody help me out the way to create image using anythird party software. I tried to create image using Acronis but its not working. Need help please

Thank you!

14. December 13, 2010 7:03 pm

slyaii

@Vale,

I finally got it to work vale. The files inside of WindowsImageBackup, you do not need to include in your path,just the folder before it. For example, my image is stored in…

\\ServerName\Folder\Folder\WindowsImageBackup

just type this

\\ServerName\Folder\Folder

and that should do it.

15. December 22, 2010 8:56 pm

Curly

I’ve been trying to make a system image on Windows 7 (64 bit) but it says it could be up to 400+ GB, which isobnoxiously large. Any tips on making this smaller aside from deleting files?

16. December 26, 2010 11:43 am

mike

@ Curly….My 64 bit W7 image is about 56gb and that includes about 8gb’s of photos.

17. January 5, 2011 3:19 am

haris

can i use the image running at vmware..??

18. January 15, 2011 8:49 am

Robert Carnegie

To make the system image smaller, make the Windows volume smaller, for instance:

- Resize the Windows volume to use less than the whole disc. Problem 1 – you should attempt this only whenyou have already made a backup of everything. Problem 2 – you may need to use a non-Windows tool such asGParted Live to do this, automatically moving some tricky parts of an NTFS volume away from the volume end.And remember Problem 1.

Page 13: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

Then you can create one or more separate disk partitions to put other files in instead of them being on C.

- Also, put the Windows page file on a partition other than C. It’s only temporary storage of currently runningprograms, and you don’t need to back it up, you can create a new one. I think a fixed size is a good idea so thatit doesn’t get fragmented, and also that ideally it would be one of the first things on the physical disc. But whatsize? Well, can you afford to commit to permanent swap file use 3 times the RAM in your computer? Or 4 times?No one knows how much is or isn’t enough, but find out the price of your hard disk and then the percentage ofthat that I’m proposing that you assign to this use. Perhaps $10, for instance. Also, if you’re trying to apply thisto a FAT32 formatted volume, remember that files there can’t be larger than 4 gigabytes, but with some secrettrickery, you can have more than one swapfile on a volume.

- Also, study how to disable the hibernation function and thus (the only way to) remove hiberfil.sys from C. Up toWindows 7 and beyond, the file has to be on C if it exists, 7 makes it initially 75% of your RAM size and probablyat least half of one backup DVD that you don’t need to use.

It would be nice if Windows’s own backup ignored the unnecessary contents of these huge files, but it doesn’t.

Of course you are limited to 4 “primary partitions” on one hard disk using MBR, and you’ll almost certainly have aterrible time trying to make Windows boot from GUID partitioning work, unless you’ve already got it. But if youdo use an “extended partition”, it can contain several volume partitions in one.

19. January 18, 2011 1:55 am

edward de la cruz

I just bought a new pc with windows 7 & i created a system repair disc which took about half an hour but know iam in the process of creating a system image Its been doing this for about 17 hours & i am only half waythrough. Is this normal or is there a problem with my pc?

20. January 19, 2011 5:11 am

Debra

I have a pc with windows 7 & I am not able to process a backup or create a system image. I insert the first dvdand it arrives to 31% and it’s remained at 31% for about 27 hours & I am only on the first dvd. Please advise. Iam curious if something is running in the background which could be interferring with the backup process. If sowhat could it be and I will manually shut it down. Also it says that the backup could require more than 300GB. Isthere a way to compress the image so that it takes up less space?

21. February 1, 2011 4:31 am

imran

can i use ths disk for os install in other systems

22. February 2, 2011 10:13 pm

bob

it seems that if you want to make more than one system image backup, it will overwrite your original and youcan’t make sequential ones (very lame). Also, Marcus is spot on, if you get a bad virus and want restore yoursystem image, you MUST have created the Boot DVD when you made the image, Windows, once infected, cannotbe used to to restore an image, you need the BOOT DVD!

23. February 13, 2011 12:14 am

Khariullah

thanx alot. and that is really great i really needed that.

24. February 17, 2011 11:27 am

daniel

for those of you who with the less than ultimate or professional win7 os’s and complaining about it not being able

Page 14: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

to image to a network share, you can always map your network share “as a service” using something likeautoexecnt (spelling) which will make the mapped networked drive look like a local drive ;)

25. February 18, 2011 1:21 pm

Rony

Folks My Windows 7 Ultimate x64 drive is 44 GB but when i create a system image it says that it needs 206 GBspace to back up.It backs up my 2nd hard drive as well, which is 200 GB.I just want to back my C drive how can i do that?i tried by unplugging other drives during the installation but still it backs up the 2nd Hard drive.I did it with Ghost 15 too the size of the back up is 180GB and it took 3 hours to back it up.Isn’t there any way that i can just backup the C drive?I don’t have 200GB extra space for the back up.

26. February 19, 2011 3:16 am

ahamd faisal

thanks. can i use this iamge to run on any other new PC .

27. February 22, 2011 6:14 pm

Oswald Xenton

Does creating a system image results in saving a single file on the chosen partition (for example creating animage of C: on D:) or does it erase the whole D: and records a C: image on D: erasing all the data on D:?

Thanks.

28. February 22, 2011 8:38 pm

eCarsBay

Thanks a lot!

29. March 7, 2011 12:16 am

MouZ

Good one. Highly useful.. thanks

30. March 9, 2011 8:55 pm

Matthew

I think it’s probably worth updating the article to say that you need not create a “system repair disc” if youalready have a Windows Install disc, or OEM, because the repair features are built-in.

Excellent article though. It’s nice to have all the pics because it makes it easy to follow at a glance. ThanksHowToGeek :)

31. March 14, 2011 3:10 am

Susanta

I have one querry ….please help me out ..

Suppose I have made the image of the C: drive and I have D: and E: drive as well …

if i run the image file files are avalable D: and E: it will get affected ??

32. March 16, 2011 10:34 am

Page 15: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

parthiban

to Susanta : no it wont get affected ….. only C: will be restored to your previous state …D: and E: drive will notget affected by this.

33. March 16, 2011 10:38 am

parthiban

Mr.Oswald Xenton

pl’s think practicallyyou are saving an image file of C: to D: ..D: acts as storage unit .it never deletes the contents of D: drive.do it and give your feedback

34. March 16, 2011 10:42 am

parthiban

Rony check whether you have selected your second drive for backup while chosing the “drives to backup” if it isthen uncheck it and chose only C: for backup and also save this backup in some drive other than C: drive.

35. March 16, 2011 10:47 am

parthiban

hi Debra , i think u have selected all the drives from your system for backup to an DVD since content is more youcant write it to an external DVD. so,while going for backup select only the drive were Operating system isinstalled and save this image to an additional drive either your D: or any DVD …then proceed with your process

36. March 22, 2011 5:14 am

mauri

I just clean-installed Win 7 Ultimate. I used Driver Genius Pro to find and install the latest drivers for my ToshibaSatellite. Disc image creation was fast (around 30 min or so) on my Internal Hard Drive of my Dreambox, whichis hooked to my wireless router. Thank you very much for this simple guide! Keep it up guys. You make our liveseasier. :)

37. March 28, 2011 11:25 am

Mufn8r

I’m doing the Backup via the System Image option. I am on my fifth DVD and everytime it asks me to insert anew disk it tells me to label it the same as the first! For example; “VISTA -PC 3/28/2011 7:30 AM 1″. How am Igoing to be able to distinguish the disks if they are all labeled “… 1″? I have a bad feeling the backup is looping.

Also, as a testament to MS’s incompetency, I had an issue with an install of Windows 7 Home Premium thatwouldn’t boot. I tried EVERY option via the Repair Disk but nothing could save the Operating System. I had to gobuy a new Hard Drive! At that point I lost what little faith I had left in the Windows franchise.

38. April 1, 2011 9:24 am

MikeC

Maybe you can help – I unfortunately have a RAID 0 array and a drive is failing, if I do a full system backup withWin 7 Pro to an external drive, create a boot disk then disable my raid, will I be able to restore the system on toa singe drive? The original Win 7 disk is gone and the system was pre loaded with XP or Vista then upgraded toWin 7 Pro. My main concern is losing my Win 7. I still have my Win key and activation number.

39. April 1, 2011 6:21 pm

RickyTay

Page 16: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

When you use system image disks will it restore everything including software programs, data etc. or do you haveto reinstall the programs.

40. April 1, 2011 6:23 pm

RickyTay

Further to my earlier comment actually I wanted to restore the Windows 7 program only as I think the program iscorrupted and leave other programs and data alone.

41. April 20, 2011 5:09 am

Niranjan

Good Very usefull

42. April 20, 2011 5:10 am

Niranjan Reddy

Good Very usefull

43. April 20, 2011 2:37 pm

thudson

Can I use this to make an exact copy to a new computer. I have a computer running windows 7 pro and amreplacing it with a new windows 7 pro computer. I want to move everything from the old computer to the newcomputer. Can I use this to do that? Will it mess up drivers and such? I am switching from an HP to a Lenovolaptop but have a ton of programs that I don’t want to have to re-install. So with that said will this work for me?

44. April 26, 2011 7:31 am

Pedro

Hello everyone,

I have not gotten any straight answer to my question and help needed and as I see more like me needs to knowas well. Can we make an image and then use that image on a brand new hard disk? I bought a Hybreed disksupposed to be faster and I want to make exact copy of my hardsik to the new hybreed and replace it. Can anyone please comment.

I/we would appreciate very much

Thank youPedro

45. April 26, 2011 7:34 am

Pedro

Hello me again, forgot to mention, when I tried it I get like an error saying “if I remember well “, Newconfiguration detected and windows would not start. Both harddisks are 500 gigas.

Thanx

46. May 7, 2011 3:28 am

eowyn

How do I get a system back up image for a new hard drive that has not been set up with Windows before? Can Idownload one?

47. June 3, 2011 10:41 pm

Page 17: Create a System Image in Win7

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/[11-Feb-12 1:34:29 PM]

Ivan

David Pogue, in his excellent book “Windows 7 – The Missing Manual” , writes this:

“If you were thinking of using a system image to turn a new PC into a replica of your old, crashed one, bewarned: You can’t restore a system image to a new PC’s hard drive it it’smaller than the old one. (Yes, even if thedata on the backup drive would easily fit the target drive.)

Hope this helps!

48. June 21, 2011 9:03 am

Ahmed Ali

DearI have windows 7 pro it is image DVD contain of windows 7 pro and office 2010 but the problem is that DVD justworking with MAC address that was added beforebut now I wanna add more MAC addresses to this list how can you help me please it is very important think

Note:- it is a licence Software

best regardsAhmed Ali

49. July 6, 2011 10:58 am

Tom Aresin

it sucks, it actually does not work at all !!! at least, not for me!!!win7 pro, fully up to date, an attempt to create image of 100gb c partition to another partition with 160gb freespace fails – due to insufficient space!! wow!!!it took msft a couple of decades to engineer their failure to a perfection ….win7 and the whole msft simply sucks – the macrium and easeus can create the same image with no problem atall in about ten minutes, taking all of about 11gb for each image …oh, how i wish i was young again, and capable of ditching this whole microsoft garbage ….but who knows – i “might” live long enough to see a usable linux, or perhaps some other os, who knows – i’ll justkeep waiting …

50. July 12, 2011 9:38 am

Tipu Pasha

Extravaganza ! Thankz Alot

51. July 20, 2011 1:55 am

Gil Salazar

I used the image from one pc and successfully restored it to another identical hardware PC>. however thenetwork will not connect. DHCP will not get an IP address. There are no driver errors showing, everything lookslike it should work, It just won’t connect to the network. Should I have used sysprep in any of the imaging steps?

Would be an awesome addition to imaging if the network works :) any help is greatly appreciated.thanks~Gil

52. August 4, 2011 3:39 am

Dark Phoenix

Kudos to TheKid7 at WilderssecurityForum for giving me this link. I just went through Hell trying to get 4 majorpopular imaging tools to backup and restore an image of my windows home premium 64 bit system, and none ofthem worked except for this built in image tool in Windows 7 ! Paragon Backup & Restore Advanced 2011,Macrium Reflect Free Edition, EaseUS ToDo Backup, Acronis True Image 2011 Home Edition – none of themwould work for me !

Most of them use the VSS shadow copy technology that win 7 uses so I realize now those programs are little

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more than front ends for the tools already in windows 7. No need to buy those at all if the same or betterfunctionality is already in windows 7.

53. August 9, 2011 1:45 am

Joe

How can you be so exited about this piece of cr*p?

I have a 2TB disk, partitioned into a 100MB hidden system (by Win7), 100GB OS/Windows partition andremaining space data. I want to make a system image of the system and OS partitions and save on the datapartition. Not possible, Win7 insist on (1) making system images of ALL partitions on the disk or none and (2) isonly able to store system images on a separate physical disk.

How pathetic is that.

54. August 12, 2011 3:30 pm

Joe

It would be nice if you gave me/us instructions to make a backup with windows vista, 64 bit version.

55. September 6, 2011 2:46 am

Veeresh Patil

Hi,My Win 7 Profs OS is corrupted, I have taken the OS Image from the Other Laptop which is having the sameconfiguration, Is’t poss’l to Use that Image to restore my OS?

I have kept my OS backup image in the Portable Hard drive, While Selecting the Image I am not able to see thePortable drive only …:( Can any one please help on this ..:( :( …

ThanksVeeresh

56. September 8, 2011 12:04 am

JOe Dempsey

Veeresh

YOu can probably only use that image to restore to an identicl laptop. It has to have the same hardware. Forinstance it copies system files and if you have say an nvidia card on one laptop and an ati on the other , then thesystem files will not be compatible. You might also have trouble trying to copy an image from an AMD PC to anIntel based pc.

57. September 13, 2011 7:33 am

Collin

Thanks a lot :) Gonna try it 2night

58. September 16, 2011 2:28 am

Mighty Curious

Has anyone TESTED his or her system image file by actually restoring? Part of me wants to do this to be sure thefile works… but part of me feel downright scared…

59. September 19, 2011 10:00 pm

SDreamer

@Mighty Curious

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How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

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Yes it works. There was one account where it didn’t work for me, and I wasn’t sure if it was because thepartition wasn’t a primary partition. See I keep a system image on a separate partition on my laptop in the case ineed to restore to a fresh Windows 7 install with the essentials included. Comes in around 15 GB for me. It’sworked for me 3/4 times, where 1 time was from DVDs, 2 from primary partitions, and 1 failure when I tried it ona logical partition. I would test it though if you just made your system image, takes like 15 minutes to restorefrom the image.

60. September 19, 2011 10:02 pm

SDreamer

My question is, now that I have it, can I just copy the image to an external hard drive to make more copies of it?I keep one on a partition on the sam hard drive, and another copy on DVDs. The same hard drive one is if I needa system restore away from home. Think of it like the system restore that comes with laptops these days, thefactory restore thing.

61. September 20, 2011 11:59 am

J Dog

Yo yo yo…

My compy that was rockin Win7 got nicked by some walking rectum at an event I had to work. Prior to this Iused my Seagate jammie to create a system image and then created the recovery CD as per Win 7 instructions. Ihave a back up lap top that has plenty of HD space but it is older and rocking XP pro. In addition my back uppiece is a DEL and the one that got jacked was a new Lenovo, (ugly f-ucker it was).

Query… Can I clone my stolen lap top onto the older one that has XP if I have the Win 7 image and recoverydisk? Please say yes. I need that shiznit like pronto.

Thanks!

62. September 26, 2011 9:11 pm

dijl

@J Dog

No.

63. September 30, 2011 6:54 am

Prince

Nice ONe IT REAlLy WoRKed For ME Me IN Windows 7

64. October 9, 2011 7:04 am

Bassel

Thanks ,Now I do not have to use norton ghost

65. October 13, 2011 11:56 pm

JUN

Thanks for the clear instruction on how to create image on windows 7.

66. October 15, 2011 7:35 am

John

Can i use it to restore settings even after formatting hard disk on windows 7 ultimate ?

67. October 25, 2011 9:42 pm

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How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

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dwtjan

I just got a new laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium. The last time I got a new computer that came with nodiscs, I did not make my own recovery repair discs before I crashed it trying to make a dual OS since I HATEDVista. Was not aware that Vista, at first, did not allow dual operating systems. Took me several weeks to receivethe paid for recovery discs from MS. So this time I wanted to do that right away. It was always stated beforethat this was a ONE TIME thing. It did not state that this time. But more importantly, I’m very excited to see Ican set up my pc the way I want to and then burn an .iso image to reinstall exactly as it was at time of creating.iso. (I reinstall OS too often!) Also no where did it say if there was a limit to how many times this could bedone. I’ve tried to find the answer by calling HP. Could not understand them and it sounded like a riot was goingon behind them. (Must have been out-sourced) I contacted MS online and got an IM tech, who then told me tocall MS. I called MS and they said to call HP. I would like to make an .iso as soon as I THINK I have everything Iwant completed. BUT I know I will very quickly realize there were other things I wanted to have on it. If I cannotuse this create an .iso image more than once, I know I will put off making an.iso until I’m SURE I have all thethings I want, which may be too late to as I’ll be using the laptop while I’m waiting to do this. CAN YOU BURNOR CREATE AN .ISO IMAGE MORE THAN ONCE? Thanks tons!

68. October 30, 2011 10:00 pm

Sebastien

I just create a system image through these steps.I do have one concern though. My C: drive is 68G and the system image is only 38G.

Is my WHOLE (all apps/settings) C: drive backed up or only windows files/config/settings?

I thought this image process would make a 1/1 bit copy.

I hope my thoughts are clear and you could easily answer my question.Thank you

69. October 31, 2011 7:48 am

Mr. WAB

Awesome and my friend done this for me the same which is mention here, now my system is secure, wheneverWindows need to repair or having problem i can run the image and it can be done by itself.

thanks

70. November 6, 2011 10:33 am

jb

I have have 2 of the same new pcs and one of which has all my programs and configurations can both with thesame windows 7 pro installed.

If I image the pc with all my programs etc. can I simply restore it to the other same new pc withoutwindows coming back and say it cant activate windows 7 or will not perform updates because it thinksthe product id has already beeen used?

Anybody try this yet?

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