How do I re-install Windows 7 from Windows backup image

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There is a companion live CD that's needed instead called a System Repair Disk that you will boot from.
As I recall, it can be created from any Windows 7 system.

I also recall having trouble with this process but don't remember the details.
At least with the System Repair Disk and the media with the image, you should be able to move forward.

Good luck!

ASKER

But under the Windows backup image folder that was created for this computer, there is no "iso" file. There is a folder with the name of the computer, then under that there are three folders Backup 2016-03-11 041500 and a folder called Catalog and a file called Mediald. Under Backup there are two .vhd files. What do I point to?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

nobus

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I inserted the Win 7 DVD in and went to repair computer, but what do I do after that?

Select Repair Your Computer and Enter. select "en" for English and then in next menu select Admin and type Admin Password,
from System Recovery Options, select "System Image Recovery".
from System image backup menu choose "Select a system image".
point it to your DVD location and click "next".

Boot from another device and test the hardware and follow the directions above for burning an ISO. You may not have a good backup, in which case you need to start again with a fresh install.

Yes, there is no .iso file where the image is located or any other place.
When you open the Windows 7 Backup dialogs by selecting Backup and Restore
There is a selection on the left side called: "Create a system repair disc".
That's the one you need at this point. Not to be confused with "Create a system image" which you have already done.
As I mentioned, you can create one of these from any Windows 7 system.
So now you should have an .iso or a disk to boot from.

ASKER

I tried using UBCD but it would say cannot find any disk. But immediately tried booting to disk and it would start to boot to c: drive and get stuck on Chkdsk /r as clean disk.

SO John Hurst that Windows System Image just needs to be burnt as an .iso on a DVD?

Yes so that you can use it to install

nobus

what disk model do you have? any chance it's an m2?

ASKER

Nobus, this is a Seagate Sata. 250Gb.

I really wish Microsoft would pay more attention to English and overlapping terminology.
How many "OUTLOOKS" can you describe ??
- Outlook Express
- Outlook in Office
- Outlook.com

"System Image" is another:
1) There is "system Image" in the DISM context which means the image of the operating system as I understand it.
2) There is "system image" as in Windows 7 Disc Images (.iso files) which you can download.
3) There is "system image" in the drive backup context which means just that - and, more specifically, one that is generated from a running Windows system using the backup tools.
They clearly aren't the same thing.
The last one is a image of the entire hard drive. That's one important difference.

It appears that John Hurst is referring to the first two.
They won't work to restore the 3rd one as far as I know.
I am referring to the 3rd one which requires a System Repair Disk - which can be stored as an .iso.
Given that you have the 3rd one on a backup medium such as an external USB hard drive,
which is the sort of thing that I understand you have-
THEN you would boot the system from a DVD made from the System Repair Disk burned from the System Repair Disk .iso.
THEN, using the tools provided, you would restore the system image from the external USB hard drive onto a new hard drive in the computer.

Does this clarify?

ASKER

The files in the WindowsBackupImage are a folder called Backup 2016-03-11 041500 and a folder called Catalog and a file called Mediald. There is no .iso file. So when I a go to Control Panel to BAckup snd Restore and run "Create a systems image" why isn't it an image file? Is there anyway to run an image off those files listed above?

You can use the files created by Windows Image Backup with System Image Recovery mentioned in my previous post.

syssolut:

There is no .iso file

. YES, that's correct. I've been trying to affirm this back to you.
What is needed is a SEPARATE .iso file > DVD that will be used to boot the system for recovery.

Like this:

(External Drive) Windows Backup Image ------ > COMPUTER <------ (DVD Drive) Boot DVD (from .iso) called "System Repair Disc"

The System Repair Disc is built from a running Windows system using:
a selection on the left side called: "Create a system repair disc".
(as I mentioned in https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/29068730/How-do-I-re-install-Windows-7-from-Windows-backup-image.html?anchorAnswerId=42370974#a42370974)
You create this system repair disc - presumably as an .iso and maybe directly as a DVD.
If it's an .iso then you burn it onto a DVD.
Then you boot from that DVD.
The tools provide for bringing the original image back onto, say, a new hard drive.

ASKER

I have the Widows 7 Repair disc. So when I get to the box that has Repair Startup at beginning,or try to bring back to an earlier point, which one do I choose?

I suggest you try the repair option . Make sure your documents have been backed up

So when I get to the box that has Repair Startup at beginning,or try to bring back to an earlier point, which one do I choose?

Can you take a photo of that screen and post here ?

Is there a System Image Recovery option ?

ASKER

John I tried the startup repair but it says it cant repair it. I don't mind re-installing except I have Office on the hard drive, but don't have the 25 digit key because it came loaded on the computer.

ASKER

Ramin, yes there is

ASKER

Is there a way to find out the 25 digit key for Outlook even if you can see the files on an external drive

I am not sure where you can turn to know if no record of the key

So select it and point it to your that Image backup.

The key is stored in the registry

I don't mind re-installing except I have Office on the hard drive

Try this,

run NirSoft’s ProduKey and point ProduKey software at that HDD.

NirSoft ProductKey:
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

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