Slideshow: Use System Image Recovery tool to restore your hard disk
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Accessing the Windows 7 File Recovery tool from the Start screen is easy
Accessing the Windows 7 File Recovery tool from the Start screen is easy
ntThis slideshow image gallery is also available as a post in the Windows and Office Blog.
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ntIn a recent series of blog posts, I’ve shown you how to use two of Windows 8’s new recovery tools, Refresh your PC and Reset your PC. While the Reset your PC tool will allow you to essentially start from scratch and the Refresh your PC tool will allow you to install a new copy of the operating system while retaining your data, you may also want to have a backup of your full system – data and applications – on hand, just in case you encounter a catastrophic hard disk failure.
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ntIf so, you’ll be glad to know that the tried and true System Image tool still exists in Windows 8 and as long as you have created a system image of your hard disk, you can use the System Image Recovery tool to recover your entire system in the event of a hard disk failure. In other words, if your hard disk goes south, you can purchase a new hard disk and use the System Image Recovery tool to restore your system to the state it was in at the time that you created the image.
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ntNow, keep in mind that for this type of backup to be truly effective, you need to regularly create new System Images so that in the event of a recovery, you will have a recent version of your system.
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ntIn this edition of the Windows Desktop Report, I’ll show you how to use System Image Recovery tool from the Recovery Drive to restore your hard disk. As I do, I’ll also show you how to create a System Image on a set of optical discs.
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ntWhat you need
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ntIn order to run the System Image Recovery tool as I’ll describe in this article, you’ll need to have created a Recovery Drive as I showed you in the article Create a Recovery Drive in Windows 8. You’ll also need a set of optical discs or on an external drive on which to create a system image of your hard disk.
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ntCreating a System Image
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ntAs I mentioned, in order to use the System Image Recovery tool you must have created a system image of your hard disk. As such, I’ll begin by walking you through the steps required to create a system image.
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ntTo create a system image in Windows 8, you’ll start by accessing the oddly named Windows 7 File Recovery window. (Why not just call it File Recovery or Windows Backup and leave it at that?) To do so, use the [Windows] + W keystroke to access the Search Settings page. Then, type Windows 7 File in the text box and click Windows 7 File Recovery, as shown in Figure A.
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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
Create the system image on a set of DVD+R discs
Create the system image on a set of DVD+R discs
ntIn a moment, you see the Windows 7 File Recovery user interface and you should select the Create a system image command on the left side of the screen to launch the creation tool. On the first screen you will need to choose where you are going to create a system image. For my example, I am going to create the system image on a set of DVD+R discs in the DVD RW drive, as illustrated in Figure B.
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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
Confirm your backup setting
Confirm your backup setting
ntWhen you click Next, you will be prompted to confirm your backup settings, as shown in Figure C. As you can see, in addition to the main partition, the System Reserved partition is also selected to be backed up. On my test system, which is pretty bare bones at this point, the system is indicating that the image will take up 36GB of space. (When the operation was complete, the system image, with compression, only required three 4.7GB DVD+R discs.) When you are ready, just click the Start backup button.
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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
To get started, insert the first disc and click OK
To get started, insert the first disc and click OK
ntAs Windows begins preparing for the operation, it will prompt you to label and then insert the first DVD disc This process is illustrated in Figure D.
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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
Make sure that you select the Don't ask me again for this backup check box
Make sure that you select the Don't ask me again for this backup check box
ntOnce you insert the blank disc, you’ll be prompted to format it. Make sure that you select the Don’t ask me again for this backup check box before you click the Format button. The operation will then format the optical media, as shown in Figure E.
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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
Creating a System Image on DVDs includes a verification operation
Creating a System Image on DVDs includes a verification operation
ntAs the backup operation gets under way, you’ll see progress indicators letting you know the status of the operation, which includes verification of the media once the backup portion is complete. After each disc is verified, you’ll be prompted to insert a new disc. This process is illustrated in Figure F.
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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
When you are prompted to choose and option, select the Troubleshoot tile
When you are prompted to choose and option, select the Troubleshoot tile
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ntLaunching System Image Recovery
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ntIn the case of a hard drive failure, you can restore Windows 8 by running the System Image Recovery tool from the Recovery Drive. While I am booting from a USB Recovery Drive, you can just as easily boot the Recovery Drive from the optical disc. (As a part of my research for this article, I ran the System Image Recovery tool after booting from an optical disc and the procedure is basically identical.)
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ntAfter your system boots from the Recovery Drive and you are prompted to choose an option, select the Troubleshoot tile as shown in Figure H.
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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
When you see the Troubleshoot screen, as shown in Figure I, select the Advanced options tile.
When you see the Troubleshoot screen, as shown in Figure I, select the Advanced options tile.
ntWhen you see the Troubleshoot screen, as shown in Figure I, select the Advanced options tile.
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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
From the Advanced options screen, select the System Image Recovery tile
From the Advanced options screen, select the System Image Recovery tile
ntWhen you see the Advanced options screen, as shown in Figure J, select the System Image Recovery tile.
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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
Choose Windows 8
Choose Windows 8
ntYou’ll then be prompted to choose the operating system that you want to recover, as shown in Figure K. Now, when performing a system image recovery operation, it seems redundant to have to select the operating system, but you must click the Windows 8 tile to get started.
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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
The Re-image your computer wizard
The Re-image your computer wizard
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ntThe recovery process
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ntAs soon as you click the Windows 8 tile, you’ll see the Re-image your computer wizard and the tool will immediately begin looking for media containing the system image, as shown in Figure L.
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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
Information required by the restore operation is saved on the final disc
Information required by the restore operation is saved on the final disc
ntWhen it can’t find the system image, it will prompt you to insert a disc. Take note that when restoring from DVD, you must first insert the final disc in the set, as shown in Figure M. The reason being is that when you create a system image, information required by the restore operation is saved on the final disc.
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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
When Re-image your computer wizard is ready to begin, it will display the system image details
When Re-image your computer wizard is ready to begin, it will display the system image details
ntWhen you insert the final disc, the Re-image your computer wizard will read the information on the final disc and then display the details of the system image, as shown in Figure N. As you can see, my system image is on drive F, it was created on 2/25 at 11:28 PM, and it is the image for the computer named Jovian-8. When you are ready, just click Next.
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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
The second screen in the Re-Image Your Computer wizard
The second screen in the Re-Image Your Computer wizard
ntYou’ll then see the second screen of the Re-Image Your Computer wizard, as shown in Figure O. As you can see, this screen provides you with several options. If you are restoring to the same hard disk, you don’t need to select the Format and repartition disks check box. (For my example, I selected the Format and repartition disks check box, just to see if that changed the process in any way. Other than possibly adding a little time to the process, the steps and the end result were the same.) If you are restoring to a new hard disk, chances are that the Format and repartition disks check box will be selected by default and will be unavailable. If that is the case, there is nothing to worry about as long as the new hard disk is of the same capacity or greater than the old one.
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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
Once the operation is set to begin, you'll be prompted to insert the first disk in the set
Once the operation is set to begin, you'll be prompted to insert the first disk in the set
ntYou’ll then be prompted to insert the first DVD in the set, as shown in Figure R. Once you do so, just click OK.
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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
If you happen to be away from your desk when the restore operation is complete, your system will restart on its own
If you happen to be away from your desk when the restore operation is complete, your system will restart on its own
ntIn a moment, the restore operation will begin and you’ll see a progress bar that keeps you apprised of the status of the restore operation. Depending on how big your hard disk is, the restore operation can take a few hours. As each DVD in the set is restored, you’ll be prompted to insert the next one.
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ntWhen the restore operation is complete, you’ll be prompted to click the Restart now button. If you happen to be away from your desk when this occurs, your system will restart on its own, as shown in Figure S.
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ntWhen, your system restarts, you’ll see the familiar logon screen.
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ntWhat’s your take?
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ntNow that you know how a System Image Recovery procedure works in Windows 8, you will be prepared if the time comes when you are forced to restore your computer. Have you performed a System Image Recovery procedure before? If so, what was your experience? As always, if you have comments or information to share about this topic, please take a moment to drop by the TechRepublic Community Forums and let us hear from you.
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ntAlso read:
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- nttReset your PC from a Windows 8 Recovery Drive
- nttCreate a custom recovery image for Windows 8’s Refresh your PC tool
- nttRefresh your Windows 8 system from a Recovery Drive
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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
