Restore Complete Computer

How to Restore the Complete Computer from a Complete Backup and Restore Image in Vista​

   Information

A Windows Complete PC Backup image contains copies of your programs, system settings, and files. It is a complete system backup that you can use to restore the contents of your computer if your hard disk or entire computer ever stops working. This will restore the hard drive size and content back to exactly as it was when the Complete PC Backup was made. For more information, see: Windows Help and How-to: Restore your computer from a system image backup

   Note

BACKUP LOCATION:


A) If you want to delete or copy the entire WindowsImageBackup folder to save it to another location to keep a copy of it, you will need to open each subfolder in the WindowsImageBackup folder and grant access permission to them first by clicking Continue twice for eace folder. You will then be able to copy this folder like any other folder. You may want to do this because when a new Complete PC Backup is made it can overwrite the previous Complete PC Backup with the differences to create the new backup.

• Backups are saved in this format: (backup location)\WindowsImageBackup\(computer name)\Backup (year-month-day) (time)
• If the backup was done on Local Disk D: at 9/7/2007 1:00:50 PM (It uses 24 hour time), then the full backup file path would be:
• D:\WindowsImageBackup\Computer\Backup 2007-09-07 130050
• You would right click the folder Backup 2007-09-07 130050 and click Delete to delete that backup.
• To see what your computer name is, see: How to Change the Computer Name in Vista

B) To delete all but the most recent Complete PC Backup, you can use Disk Cleanup. You will just need to select the drive that the complete PC backups are stored on and select the More Options tab. For how see step 15 here: How to Use Disk Cleanup in Vista

C) To delete the Complete PC Backup completely, you just need to take ownership of the WindowsImageBackup folder and subfolders. Afterwards, you will be able to delete the folder.

   Tip

• This only applies to the Vista Enterprise, Ultimate, and Business editions.
• For SP1 news about changes to Backup, see: Technet.com: What’s new with backup and Restore on Vista SP1
• When you restore your computer from a Windows Complete PC Backup image, it is a complete restoration. You can't choose individual items to restore, and everything you’ve done since that backup was created will be lost. This includes new programs, settings, and all files like pictures and music.
• If you dual boot with Windows XP, then everytime you start in XP the System Restore Points and all except the most recent Complete PC Backup files in Vista get deleted. For how, see: How to Stop System Restore Points from being Deleted in Vista when Dual Booting with XP
• You cannot restore a 32 bit Vista version complete pc backup on a 64 bit Vista version, or the other way around.

EXAMPLE: Restore Complete PC Backup Notice
NOTE: When you click on the Restore computer button from the Backup and Restore Center in the Control Panel (Classic View), you will see the screenshot below. Just click Close and see how to to restore the computer below.

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Here's How:

1. Boot into the System Recovery Optionsscreen.​

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2. Click on the Windows Complete PC Restore option. (See screenshot below)​

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3. If you saved the backup image on a set of multiple DVDs, then insert the last DVD from the backup set when prompted. If not, go to step 8.​

A) Go to step 9 below.​

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4. If you have a saved backup image on a connected hard drive or another partition, then you will see this screenshot​

below.​

A) If you want to restore the latest backup, then click on Next.​

NOTE: The Restore the following backup is normally the last backup made.​

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B) To restore a different backup image, dot Restore a different backup and then press Next.​

NOTE: This is if the backup you want to use is not listed here and you have made other complete PC backups in this same location that you wish to choose from instead. If you have a backup from another location that you want to choose from, then it will need to be connected to the computer before step 1.​

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C) Select which backup to restore from the list and then click on Next. (see screenshot below)​

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D) Click on Finish.​

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5. Check the confirm box and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

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6. You will now see this screenshot below.​

NOTE: If you have the backup image on DVDs, have them ready. See step 3 above.​

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7. When done, click on Restart Now to finish. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: Your computer will restart and the restore will be done.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Extract Vista System Image Files Using Virtual PC 2007
• How to Create a Complete Computer Backup and Restore Image in Vista
• How to Do a System Restore in Vista
• How to Restore Backup Files in Vista
• How to Restore Previous Versions of a File and Folder in Vista
• How to Create a Vista Recovery Disc
• How to Reset the Last Backup Listing for Vista Complete PC Backup
• How to Reset the Last Backup Listing for Vista Back Up Files

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Geo.

Thank you,
Shawn

 

[OSUMatthew]

I have a general knowledge question--

I'm running a copy of Vista Business x64 on 2 500 Gb SATA hard drives run in RAID 0. I ran a complete PC backup and made a copy to an external 1.5 Tb hard drive.

I want to replace my two 500 Gb Hard drives with another 1.5 Tb Hard drive. BUT since the backup image is that of a RAID 0 Vista installation, will it properly recreate itself onto a single hard drive? Or will the fact that it's made from a RAID 0 image interfere with that?

 

[Brink]

Hello Matthew, and welcome to Vista Forums.

No, it will still restore Vista just as it was when the backup was completed. The only problem you might run into is that you will need to uninstall the RAID drivers and install the motherboard chipset driver afterwards since you would not be using RAID anymore.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[OSUMatthew]

Thanks Shawn for your prompt assistance! You were absolutely right--everything restored itself perfectly. This is a fantastic feature for people who don't want to hassle with reinstalling all their programs, and yet another reason I love vista :D

However, a quick side note in case anyone else runs into the problems I did--

When I tried reinstalling Vista, the installation aborted itself after I entered the product key, and I received an error message stating something like "Windows could not initialize the startup engine. Please restart installation and try again." Not the exact wording, but close. After googling around and searching the forums, I couldn't find any specific help on this error message or a specific solution. Then I remembered reading somewhere I needed an updated chipset driver for my motherboard (Nvidia 680i SLI) since it apparently does not natively support 45 nm CPUs (I just recently upgraded to an Intel Q6600 quad core). So, I put the new drivers on a flash drive, installed them, and was able to proceed with the installation and eventual restoration of my computer. Point being, remember to watch out for any necessary drivers when reinstalling your OS, especially if you get a nonspecific error message like mine (kind of a unique and quirky case, but it happens).

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Mathew. Thank you for sharing your results.

Shawn

 

[cyclo]

Hi Shawn, first of all thanks for your very informative tutorials.

I have a question regarding my own setup. I have a 500 GB Seagate hard drive partitioned into C (250 GB for OS and Apps) and D (250 GB for Data) drives. I used Vista Ultimate's Complete Backup to backup both drives (actually partitions) into an external drive (eSATA).

I am now planning to upgrade from the 500 GB Seagate to a new 640 GB Western Digital drive mainly because I am hoping to get more performance plus a little more space from the new drive. I intend to format the new HD and again create 2 partitions (C - 340 GB for the OS and Apps and D - 300 GB for Data).

My question is would complete PC Restore automatically restore the backups from the old drive and partitions to this new drive and partitions that I will create? Or should I just let complete PC Restore format the drive for me? If so will it automatically create the partitions for which I then need to resize later?

 

[Brink]

Hello Cyclo,

It will only restore the backup and not any of the partitions. You will need to create the partitions first on the drive. The easiest way is do it from your Vista installation disc. Just go through like you doing a clean install of Vista and select the Custom and Advanced Drive Options, then shrink and format your partitions to size. Next, back out of the installation, or continue. Afterwards, do the restoration on each partition.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[cyclo]

Well I finally completed my first Vista Complete PC Restore, migrating from a 500 GB drive (2 partitions) to a 640 GB drive (2 partitions). I had my backup on an external eSATA drive.

There were hiccups along the way. During my first attempts the restore fails with and error message that I now could not remember. I finally got that to work by changing the SATA channel (on the motherboard) to which the new hard drive was connected from 1 to 0. The old 500 GB HDD was originally connected to channel 1.

I found out that the Vista complete restore would format the new HDD and create partitions which are mirror copies of the original drive which was not my intent... I wanted a bigger C (System) partition. However, instead of re-running complete restore and restoring to one partition at a time, I decided to use the excellent Linux based open source partitioning software gParted (LiveCD iso free from Sourceforge). This tool allows you to move, resize, add, delete partitions. However you might need to repair the Vista System Partition (which happened in my case) after using gParted so it is best to keep the Vista Install disk handy.

To those interested, here is a link in How-To Geek on using gParted partitioning software: Using GParted to Resize Your Windows Vista Partition :: the How-To Geek

 

[Brink]

Thank you Cyclo for posting back and sharing your results.

I think it may have worked if you had created the two formated 650 GB partitions, then did the restore with step 5 left unchecked to not format. It should have then restored to the 650 GB partition leaving it's size intact and be restore with the old hard drive's content.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[cyclo]

Hi Shawn, you are right... I missed un-checking that option in step 5 of your tutorial. I actually formatted and partitioned my new drive to the sizes I wanted but because I did not un-select that option on step 5 it got reformatted and repartitioned again to the size of my old drive. It could have saved me that extra resizing the partitions step with GParted.

The good news is I was able to try out and play with GParted which is also a great tool which goes beyond Vista's built in options in Storage Manager which only allows you to extend the outer most partitions but not the inner ones.

Cheers and next time I will pay attention to those options!

 

[Brink]

No problem Cyclo. That is how we all learn how to all these extra little tricks. The hard way.

 

[chugaslug]

Hi Brink,

I think you may have already answered my question but I will ask just to make sure. I recently raided both of my raptors in raid 0. Before that a made a complete system restore of my C: drive. I got vista to recognize the raid so the only thing left is to restore the data. After a bit of trial and error the system restore finally reinstalled into the new raided C: drive. Once vista got to the loading screen vista BSODed and i think the program it stopped on was CBLStor.exe unfortunately the BSOD does not stay long enough for me to read it. Now I have not been able to get around the BSOD so is that as far as I will get with the restore? And if so, could I restore a single drive save all the files, not in windowsimagebackup, onto a removable hard drive, raid the drives and then put all of the data onto the new raid?

Thanks in advance,
Matt

 

[Brink]

Hello Matt, and welcome to Vista Forums.

I'm afraid that I am out of practice when it comes to RAID. Was the Complete computer backup made with the drives in RAID. If not, then the restored Vista is probably having problems without the RAID drivers included in it.

You should be able to restore onto a single drive though.

Shawn

 

[chugaslug]

Ok thanks for the prompt reply. That was what is hoping the problem wasn't but oh well there is always away around little setbacks. Anyway great tutorials and thanks again.

-Matt

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Matt. I hope it goes as smooth as it can with the workaround.

 

[microdude431]

Just did this today to transfer my data to my new hard drive. Thanks for the tutorial.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Microdude431.

Shawn

 

[AKwheelz]

Brink! You still helping people with this forum!? I am halfway through the process of replacing my main hard drive (which was going bad) with a new one and performing the complete system restore. Everything appeared to go better than anticipated, backed up, replaced hardware, restored (from installation disks I created from Vista) back to factory settings and software, and now... a little speed bump. I backed up my computer, both C: and E: (HP Recovery) to the second internal HD, D:. The backup is 72 GB. I tried the complete restore booting from the HD, it found my backup file, but then gave the error that it needed to boot from disc or dvd in order to restore the C drive, which makes sense. So I did, however, the disc I created did not present the "repair" option to use the complete restore. I found a website where a gentleman knew a lot about the issue and offered Vista recovery disk images for Vista x32, x64, and Windows 7 to be downloaded. Worked great! Saved the image through a Torrent file, burn the disc, booted from it, and sure enough, the repair option! But again, disappointment, the backup file on my D: drive was not found this time. I'm shuffling info now to make enough room on my external (takes for ever) for the "WindowsImageBackup" folder. Maybe it'll recognize the backup files from the external? Maybe I ought to partition my new HD so I can have room there? I haven't done that before, but it would be nice to have an area that I could move files to that I don't want to loose in this process. Anywho, I'm a little worried that it didn't recognize the backup file and wondered if you have any thoughts that could get me restored? Much appreciated.

-Brandon

 

[Brink]

Hello Brandon, and welcome to Vista Forums.

If you cannot get your system image back to restore, then you may be able to still extract any files you need from the system image VHD file using Virtual PC 2007.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/247873-system-image-extract-files-using-virtual-pc-2007-a.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[malbarsk]

Your tutorial is missing something. I went through this process but my backup is on a second hard drive, F-Drive. The OS is on C-Drive and the Recovery is on D-drive partition (only 2gb). I wanted the recovery process to access the image on F-drive but there was no way of specifying that in the recovery screens. Any fix?