Search Results for '\"system image\'

VHD in Windows 7. This little known feature that is now built-in to Windows is what finally persuaded me to switch back whole-hog from Ubuntu to Windows. Windows 7 has made data backup and restore a dream compared to earlier versions. There is no need to clutter up your PC with heavy backup add-ons, free or otherwise. Because the included system backup tool is so good, I merely use the lightweight and free MS Synctoy for data backup. I found that rather than make a separate image and data backup, all I need is to make a system image file on an external USB drive. It’s very quick–it took me less than two hours to make the initial system image of my 500 gig notebook hard drive. Windows 7 backup images are compressed, so the resulting image file is only around 250 gigs–but will expand fully when restored to my system drive.

Your data can be backed up separately with Windows Backup and Restore tool, but there is a little known feature of that single system image that makes the time- and space-consuming dual system and data backups uneccesary.You can mount the system image, which is seen as a .VHD (Virtual Hard Drive) file in a subfolder of the WindowsImageBackup on your external drive. In the Computer Management console (which must run as administrator for this to work), if you right click on Disk Management in the left pane, you can mount that .VHD image as an extra hard drive. You now are capable of copying anything to and from that VHD duplicate of your system drive, provided you don’t make it read-only when mounting it. If you Dig deeply enough into the MS Technet site, you can find many scattered details about .VHD files.

I schedule a Windows Image backup once a week, but if there are any important files to backup in the meantime, I just copy them to the mounted system backup VHD, or wait for the scheduled daily Synctoy backup to take care of it. If you have to replace any corrupt system files on your C: drive, you can choose a restore point via “Show more restore points” in the System Restore wizard, and use a restore point that is located in the VHD. If you have an hour or so, you can restore your whole system, including the latest data, with this same image.

I mentioned that I used the free MS Synctoy on a daily schedule. I have it set up to copy new files directly to the system image VHD. Then, if needed, I can re-image my system, and all of the most recent work will still be there. I’ve been using this system for three months now, with no problems. As a believer in redundancy, I do keep a copy of my system images on an off-site drive, and I replace those VHD files with updated ones once or twice a month. I’m a photographer, and I make my living with my cameras and computers. I don’t take chances.

First question is what did you use to make the image with? Some image software like Acronis True Image and Shadow Protect have a universal or bare-metal restore component or plugin that will help integrate/update the HAL of the image so it will work on a completly different system. If you used a freebie image maker, you probably won’t have or get that option.

If that is the case, you’re stuck with trying to install XP fresh and finding the drivers needed, which may also be next to impossible on a new HP i7 Win7 64-bit.

One other possible way involves changing the SATA controller to IDE emulation (if the option exists in the BIOS) if the old XP system was indeed IDE, and then using something like the UBCD4Win CD to replace the current IDE driver in XP with a generic one. That will allow the system to boot into XP but you may still have a lot of problems finding all the drivers for everything else from there PLUS, you may have to reinstall Win7 if the SATA controllers are not discrete enough to allow IDE emulation on one while keeping the other(s) in AHCI mode.

The option with the best chance of working and not causing any performance issues I think may be to get a IDE to SATA PCI card. That way it would all be independent of the SATA controllers already there and there would be a known interface procedure that should all be provided for with the software that comes with the PCI interface card.

If you ever got it to work, then and only then would you have the relatively easy task these days of setting up the booting options (I love EasyBCD).

If the old system is SATA also, you would still have the problem of trying to find compatible SATA drivers for the current system and get back to the need for a bare-metal restore option to get them incorporated. You may have a system that is pre-built and too up-to-the-minute modern to make it possible to get a system image of XP working.

Yesterday I ran into the same problem you describe with Windows 7 64-bit ultimate. After restoring an image I’d made of a brand new machine (testing for the inevitable), I tweaked the machine configuration some more and attempted to create a new system image. The system generated the same errors you describe. As my backup drive was nearly full, I blew away the original image and was surprised when the new space on the drive didn’t fix the problem. I purchased a larger external drive and it still had the same problem.

Long story short, I then did some Google searching and found the issue was with a hidden partition on the machine, a 100-MB hidden partition. I took their advice and turned on compression on the 100 MB partition and backup started to work. Of course, it seems I cannot find that exact link again (it was two or three pages in), but the link below describes some of the issue.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itprogeneral/thread/894f0901-811d-4270-955e-2962c2a4bc4d

I advise anyone using MsBackup in Windows 7 to stop doing so immediately.

I created a full backup of several hundred gigabytes to an external drive, and verified it.

Unknown to me, Windows7 then created a scheduled job to perform a weekly backup.

When this job first tried to run, the external drive was off, so the job failed.

2 weeks later I tried to restore a single file from my backup, but MsBackup reported there were no backups available, even though the external drive was on and even though I could see all the backup files the original backup had created. I believe the failed scheduled backup job may have destroyed some catalog or internal registry link to this backup, thereby rendering it completely useless.

Hi,
Yesterday I ran into the same problem you describe with Windows 7 64-bit ultimate. After restoring an image I’d made of a brand new machine (testing for the inevitable), I tweaked the machine configuration some more and attempted to create a new system image. The system generated the same errors you describe. As my backup drive was nearly full, I blew away the original image and was surprised when the new space on the drive didn’t fix the problem. I purchased a larger external drive and it still had the same problem.

Long story short, I then did some Google searching and found the issue was with a hidden partition on the machine, a 100-MB hidden partition. I took their advice and turned on compression on the 100 MB partition and backup started to work. Of course, it seems I cannot find that exact link again (it was two or three pages in), but the link below describes some of the issue.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itprogeneral/thread/894f0901-811d-4270-955e-2962c2a4bc4d

John

Clint,
The index errors I was having were file system errors. What I ended up doing was to backup My Documents, address book, and drivers. I had a good system image from a week ago to fall back on. A repair install of XP did not solve the issue, so I did a complete clean install and did a full format in NTFS prior. I think this was the key as so far after recovering my system image, I have had no issues. A few reboots to sort out some minor driver issues and restoring the small amount of data from the last week and I am in good shape. I can only assume that the file system had become corrupted, as in the last two days I could not log off or shutdown(even overnight).

I have had no end of trouble since automatically downloading the updates of 9th Feb. I have even gone to the extent of reformatting the hard drive in the latest attempt to get things running smoothly again. Firefox is prone to freezing and won’t run at all in Sanboxie and the crowning glory was the refusal to recognise the system image I had carefully stored to mitigate any such difficulties. Much cursing and swearing ensued. I have now switched off the automatic update function, which is a pain for a simple soul like me. If I can figure out how to run everything on Ubuntu, it’s looking increasingly attractive.

Once you do this format, after reloading the OS and apps the way you want them, the first thing to do is create an entire system image so if this happens again you can save lots of time reinstalling apps and bringing data back.

Thank’s Ted, Paul
I have a Gateway laptop, and don’t have an “out of the box” copy of Vista. I have what they call a restore disk, that they made for me when I bought my computer over 2 years ago. Geek Squad put my files and folders on an external HD so I could take advantage of a special they were running to get the back-up and the HD for 155.00 rather than just paying the 99. for the back-up to CD’s. I went that route already back in November –I had spilled water on my keyboard, luckily I had the drop and spill protection at the time, so they fixed it free, but I still had to pay for the back-up.
I am really interested in backing up my computer –Programs, OS and all– like a shadow or ghost copy. –can that be accomplished with Vista Home Premium? Geek Squad said I couldn’t do it.
I don’t have the foggiest idea how to start this so you’ll have to pretend you are helping your great-grandmother, I hope I’m not asking too much.

If you are absolutely sure you have backed up everything I would start from scratch with a format and clean install. This will remove any malware that may be the source of your problem.
Failing that you can try the repair option, but if the installation is really corrupt or the hard disk unwell it may not fix it.

When do you get the message asking for the CD? Maybe we can sort it out without repairing.

cheers, Paul

Once you do this format, after reloading the OS and apps the way you want them, the first thing to do is create an entire system image so if this happens again you can save lots of time reinstalling apps and bringing data back.

OK, I found the answer. As usual, I didn’t read the help screens thoroughly! Apparently, if the backup image is done via the scheduler, it might keep the old copy, but if you create it via the “Create System Image” link on the Restore page, then it writes over the old one, if any. Following is the quote from the help page:

“Keeping different versions of system images
If you’re saving your system images on an internal or external drive, or on CDs or DVDs, you can keep several versions of system images. On internal and external hard drives, older system images will be deleted when the drive runs out of space. To help conserve disk space, you can manually delete older system images. For more information, see What backup settings should I use to maximize my disk space?

If you’re saving your system images in a network location, you can only keep the most current system image for each computer. System images are saved in the format of driveWindowsImageBackupcomputer name. If you have an existing system image for a computer and are creating a new one for the same computer, the new system image will overwrite the existing one. If you want to keep the existing system image, you can copy it to a different location before creating the new system image by following these steps:

Navigate to the location of the system image.

Copy the WindowsImageBackup folder to a new location.”

Bolding is mine. Apparently, the first bolded text applies to backup images done as part of a scheduled backup (like Clint’s). The second applies to the manually done ones, like mine.

I’m so glad that’s all cleared up, now…well, maybe I spoke too soon…If I copy the folder to a new name, will it show up when I need to use it? BTW, that strike-thru on the previous post is because I read another help screen to see that I should use the “Recovery” screen to use an image, instead of the “Restore” screen to use my nightly file backups. I’ll bet that the Recovery screen will still just show me the latest image date, since my older copy will be in a place it won’t look for it….I’ll try it…

EDIT: OK, I think that Help could be better worded; instead of ‘copying’ that folder to another location (which would take 30 minutes or more), I just renamed that folder. Then, I did another image, and it created that same folder again with the new image in the same-named subfolders, etc.. The Recovery screen still just shows me the date of the latest image. I’m not sure what would happen after a restart; I didn’t want to go that far. But, I’m satisfied, for now!

EDIT: I really meant to say “after a restore“, not a restart in the last paragraph!

I use Win7 Home Premium, 64bit. I used ‘create a system image’ on the backup/restore control panel a few weeks ago, to write an image to an external drive (I:). Today, I did it again. But, afterward, I see that the latest image is the only one I have. The documentation in Win7 says it won’t delete the old ones until I get short on space. I have about 590G free, so that’s not why it deleted the old image

The built-in Windows back up will do multiple images but unfortunately you will only see this as you are
about to restore an image. It will give you choices based on date. (timestamp)
The images when viewed from explorer will only show 2 large files; WindowsImageBackup & CLINT-PC.(my setup)

I have 3 backups based on windows 7 64 bit, backed up to another internal drive.

I use Win7 Home Premium, 64bit. I used ‘create a system image’ on the backup/restore control panel a few weeks ago, to write an image to an external drive (I:). Today, I did it again. But, afterward, I see that the latest image is the only one I have. The documentation in Win7 says it won’t delete the old ones until I get short on space. I have about 590G free, so that’s not why it deleted the old image.

Further reading in the docs, I find that it won’t save but one image IF you are using a “Network” drive. Well, I’m connected directly to my ISP by cable modem (no router) so the recommendation when I first set up was to use the “Public Network” type. Other than that designation, I have NO network, whatsoever. Is that what Win7 backup is looking at, and using to determine if I am using a “network” drive? If not, why would it not keep more than one image backup? Thanks.

I d/l’ed the free Ultimate and recently installed it on my laptop. So far, I would rather be dead than run either Vista or 7.

The only “free” version was prior to the RTM version. There were many thing changed and fixed between the RC version and RTM.

If you don’t like the interface that is up to you. But it certainly does not seem as though you have not investigated the features very closely. Did you set up libraries of your own to shortuct getting to groups of files? Did you let indexing run on all your files and use the Start | search functionality to get by the many clicks and levels of a hierarchical organization? Did you pin favorite programs to the taskbar for easy access?

As far as backup goes, neither Configure Windows Backup nor The Storage Team at Microsoft – File Cabinet Blog : Learn more about system image backup says anything about configuring a tape drive as a backup device.

If you are very glad to be rid of Windows 7 so be it. Stick with what you like. See this video IT Dojo: Remove Windows 7 or Vista from a dual-boot configuration with the Bootsect for instructions on getting rid of the Windows 7 boot info.

Joe

--Joe

Thanks Curle! I downloaded the free program and ran it. It worked as well, or better, than Acronis. Since I have had to use one of my Acronis backups in the past, and that worked perfectly, I pray that Macrium would do the same. Have you had any experience using one of your Macrium backups to get your system going again? I created me their booting cd just in case too. Again, I thank you.

Ed

If you are always doing full backups and want to save some money you might look at Macrium Reflect free version – works very well with win 7, runs 1 small service (850kb of memory- for mounting/browsing images) and is quite quick to back up -it will back up full system images from within Windows see: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp
you can delete backups from Windows explorer and mount backups to browse with explorer to restore files – restoring a system image requires booting from cd.

Basically, I think it may be time for me to leave Acronis, since a couple years ago I had problems with them on another upgrade, and it took forever to communicate the problem and ultimately to get it fixed. Does anyone have a suggestion of another software program that will compete with Acronis?

If you are always doing full backups and want to save some money you might look at Macrium Reflect free version – works very well with win 7, runs 1 small service (850kb of memory- for mounting/browsing images) and is quite quick to back up -it will back up full system images from within Windows see: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp
you can delete backups from Windows explorer and mount backups to browse with explorer to restore files – restoring a system image requires booting from cd.

See Restore your computer from a system image backup & Windows 7 System Restore from Backup Image.

Joe

Thanks, I understand now that this is possible. But I still feel an independent solution like UBCD4Win with DriveImageXML is better.