Avatar of syssolut
syssolutFlag for United States of America

asked on 

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

I have a computer running Windows 7.  It crashed and now I have to re-install from a "Windows backup image".   I inserted the Win 7 DVD in and went to repair computer, but what do I do after that?
Windows OSWindows 7

Avatar of undefined
Last Comment
Seth Simmons
SOLUTION
Avatar of John
John
Flag of Canada image

Blurred text
THIS SOLUTION IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS.
View this solution by signing up for a free trial.
Members can start a 7-Day free trial and enjoy unlimited access to the platform.
See Pricing Options
Start Free Trial
Avatar of hypercube
hypercube
Flag of United States of America image

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!
Avatar of syssolut
syssolut
Flag of United States of America image

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
Avatar of nobus
nobus
Flag of Belgium image

Blurred text
THIS SOLUTION IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS.
View this solution by signing up for a free trial.
Members can start a 7-Day free trial and enjoy unlimited access to the platform.
Avatar of Ramin
Ramin

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".
Avatar of John
John
Flag of Canada image

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.
Avatar of hypercube
hypercube
Flag of United States of America image

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.
Avatar of syssolut
syssolut
Flag of United States of America image

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?
Avatar of John
John
Flag of Canada image

Yes so that you can use it to install
Avatar of nobus
nobus
Flag of Belgium image

what disk model do you have?  any chance it's an m2?
Avatar of syssolut
syssolut
Flag of United States of America image

ASKER

Nobus, this is a Seagate Sata.  250Gb.
Avatar of hypercube
hypercube
Flag of United States of America image

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?
Avatar of syssolut
syssolut
Flag of United States of America image

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?
Avatar of Ramin
Ramin

You can use the files created by Windows Image Backup  with System Image Recovery mentioned in my previous post.
Avatar of hypercube
hypercube
Flag of United States of America image

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.
Avatar of syssolut
syssolut
Flag of United States of America image

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?
Avatar of John
John
Flag of Canada image

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

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 ?
Avatar of syssolut
syssolut
Flag of United States of America image

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.
Avatar of syssolut
syssolut
Flag of United States of America image

ASKER

Ramin, yes there is
Avatar of syssolut
syssolut
Flag of United States of America image

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
Avatar of John
John
Flag of Canada image

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

So select it and point it to your that Image backup.
Avatar of John
John
Flag of Canada image

The key is stored in the registry
Avatar of Ramin
Ramin

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
SOLUTION
Avatar of hypercube
hypercube
Flag of United States of America image

Blurred text
THIS SOLUTION IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS.
View this solution by signing up for a free trial.
Members can start a 7-Day free trial and enjoy unlimited access to the platform.
Avatar of Seth Simmons
Seth Simmons
Flag of United States of America image

No comment has been added to this question in more than 21 days, so it is now classified as abandoned.

I have recommended this question be closed as follows:

Split:
-- nobus (https:#a42370253)
-- Fred Marshall (https:#a42374599)
-- John Hurst (https:#a42370043)


If you feel this question should be closed differently, post an objection and the moderators will review all objections and close it as they feel fit. If no one objects, this question will be closed automatically the way described above.

seth2740
Experts-Exchange Cleanup Volunteer
Windows OS
Windows OS

This topic area includes legacy versions of Windows prior to Windows 2000: Windows 3/3.1, Windows 95 and Windows 98, plus any other Windows-related versions including Windows Mobile.

129K
Questions
--
Followers
--
Top Experts
Get a personalized solution from industry experts
Ask the experts
Read over 600 more reviews

TRUSTED BY

IBM logoIntel logoMicrosoft logoUbisoft logoSAP logo
Qualcomm logoCitrix Systems logoWorkday logoErnst & Young logo
High performer badgeUsers love us badge
LinkedIn logoFacebook logoX logoInstagram logoTikTok logoYouTube logo