This is kind of an offshoot of my recent tale of down-converting from Windows 10 to Windows 7. I finally got everything in order, and even made backup images, using the Dism++ utility someone here suggested.
Well, this morning I got the dreaded "Cannot start Windows" message. I tried to restore from the image by choosing the "Restore from image" option in the menu, but goddamnit, there was no way to select the image I had made (which resides on another hard drive, identified as D: in my setup).
So my question is, how does one restore from an image should this happen? Can it be done through Windows (Windows 7, remember), or does one need some kind of 3rd-party utility to do this?
The image is too big to fit on a DVD.
Fortunately, this time I was able to use the "system repair" option. I wonder what the problem was; bad boot sector? some other disk problem?
Hello NoCforMe. The Windows tools for 'restoring from image' (or whatever they call it) is for system images created with Backup and Restore feature in Windows 7. As far as I know, it is in a different format than the .wim image created with Dism++. I rarely if ever use Windows tools for that purpose myself. I have never used the Windows Backup and Restore feature.
First thing that I want to know, can your computer boot from a USB drive? You can check for this in the BIOS.
On my computer, I have a dedicated BOOT partition. It contains only the boot files and no operating system. It also has a custom WinPE image that I can boot into to run backup and restore tools, partitioning tools, et. al. I do not know how your system is configured. I assume that your boot files are on your C: drive along with your windows 7 installation.
I am working on something at the moment I will PM more details to you.
1. Yes, can probably boot from USB. Don't know how.
2. So you're saying the files Dism++ creates aren't standard Windows image files? What the hell are they then?
The thing that mystifies me is how I could get a dialog during the "repair" process that says it wants me to select an image to restore from, but there's no way to select anything in it! The only option available is to somehow restore from a network, which isn't an option for me (no network here).
3. You mentioned "backup and restore tools". Do you mean like Dism++?
Let me put this another way: If one can somehow create a valid Windows image file (which is what I thought Dism++ was doing), how would you restore your system from it? And I don't see why I should need to mess around with booting from USB; after all, that file resides on a perfectly usable hard drive in my system.
Make this easy, please.
Quote from: NoCforMe on January 12, 2023, 04:02:02 PM
2. So you're saying the files Dism++ creates aren't standard Windows image files? What the hell are they then?
Yes they are standard
".wim" image files. The files used by the Backup and restore feature uses a
different format.
Quote
Now I'm wondering why I even bothered with goddamn Dism++ ...
I feel your frustration. It took me the better part of two months to figure out a way to painlessly reinstall backups from .wim image files.
So now I'm totally confused.
There are 2 backup/restore file formats?
What are the standard Windows backup image files, how do I create them and how do I restore from them?
What are the Dism++ files if they aren't standard Windows image files?
Quote from: NoCforMe on January 12, 2023, 04:11:47 PM
There are 2 backup/restore file formats?
Probably more. The .wim file format is a standard image format. Quote
... how do I create them and how do I restore from them?
Using the Backup and Restore feature? I have no clue.Quote
What are the Dism++ files if they aren't standard Windows image files?
Again, The .wim file format is a standard image format.
Quote from: zedd151 on January 12, 2023, 04:20:35 PM
Quote from: NoCforMe on January 12, 2023, 04:11:47 PM
... how do I create them and how do I restore from them?
Using the Backup and Restore feature? I have no clue.
Well, not sure why it's such a mystery: I just looked in Control Panel--> Backup and Restore, and it's right there. Even a dummy like me can figure out how to use it. I've got backup running right now. Even found out how to make a "repair" disc to restore from an image.
Quote from: NoCforMe on January 12, 2023, 04:27:37 PM
Well, not sure why it's such a mystery: I just looked in Control Panel--> Backup and Restore, and it's right there. Even a dummy like me can figure out how to use it. I've got backup running right now. Even found out how to make a "repair" disc to restore from an image.
Well, I never said it was a mystery. I just never had a need for it. :tongue: Let me know how "Control Panel--> Backup and Restore" works out for you.
Quote from: NoCforMe on January 12, 2023, 04:02:02 PM
And I don't see why I should need to mess around with booting from USB; after all, that file resides on a perfectly usable hard drive in my system.
In case of catastrophic failure. Always good to have multiple ways of booting up your system. I used to keep bootable CD's handy, but over time CD's/DVD's can get scratched up and rendered unusable. I always now have a bootable USB thumb drive handy for the worst case scenario.
Sure, I'll let you know how it works:
it fricking doesn't work! Started a backup 3 times now, backing up to D:, a 1TB drive that's 99% free space. Backup gets about 40% done, then says
QuoteThe last backup did not complete successfully.
Click the tell-me-more button and it says:
QuoteWindows Backup skipped backing up system image because one of the critical volumes is not having enough free space.
"Is not having enough free space"? That's not even good English!
So far as I can tell the backup image should take up ~3GB. So I don't know what they're complaining about.
So fork that bullshit.
So let me ask you again: if I create a system image file with Dism++, how do I restore from it?
You say it's a standard Windows format: does that mean that Windows Restore will recognize it if I try to restore it?
Edit = Profanity
In the meantime I'm going to content myself with making a system repair disc.
Has anyone here ever used this successfully to fix a broken system?
Quote from: NoCforMe on January 12, 2023, 05:00:09 PM
So let me ask you again: if I create a system image file with Dism++, how do I restore from it?
I run Dism++ from WinPE to restore backups. But my setup is quite different than yours so...If your computer is bootable, run Dism++. Go to Recovery -> Run in WinRE. When you reboot, Dism++ will run in 'boot mode' you can restore by clicking File->Apply image it will take some time for this to complete. When you exit Dism++ your computer should now reboot into the restored OS.After all this time I would have thought that you would be doing some research on this topic for yourself so you don't get stuck in a predicament such as this. I spent the better of two months perfecting the backup and restore system that I use.
No, I mean, what do I do if my computer isn't bootable? Like what happened this am. Turned it on and it said it was unable to start. How do I restore from an image (which is sitting there on D:) in that case?
Quote from: NoCforMe on January 12, 2023, 05:19:06 PM
No, I mean, what do I do if my computer isn't bootable? Like what happened this am. Turned it on and it said it was unable to start. How do I restore from an image (which is sitting there on D:) in that case?
Seems you need a rescue CD of sorts in that scenario. Get a hold of a program called PEBuilder from Aomei. That is what I used to create a bootable CD or USB with. It boots into a mini OS of sorts complete with desktop and Windows explorer capabilities. From there you can run Dism++ or any other tools needed. Thats how I started before my current backup system.Alternatively, do a google search for "restoring from windows .wim images" for other methods ... Quote from: Google ResultsAbout 84,500 results
David,
Acronis used to have a free version which I think was for Seagate hard disks. I always found the Windows backup a pile of crap but I have successfully used the Acronis backup for restoring a boot partition.
Have a look here. https://www.seagate.com/au/en/support/downloads/discwizard/ (https://www.seagate.com/au/en/support/downloads/discwizard/)
I think you must have at least one Seagate HDD in your system. PS : Go to the US site, this one is for OZ.
From the Windows Recovery Environment you can use the Microsoft command line tools:
diskpart.exe to format partitions.
bcdedit.exe to add or remove windows installations to/from the BCD store.
dism.exe (not to be confused with Dism++ which is from an outside vendor) to restore backups from .wim images and to create backups to .wim images.
These are all command line tools. Using them is error prone (one typo can screw things up) unles you have batch files already for dealing with them. I have only dabbled with them until I found imho better options that work well for me.
You will have to do some rersearch for yourself on exactly how to use these Microsoft command line tools with your system configuration. These are just some more suggestions. As with any other suggestions that will modify your system, use at your own risk. There is plenty of documentation on the internet for using these tools. It is highly suggested that you search for it. There may be some command line tools that are not mentioned here that may help you as well.
In general I find third party tools (gui based) a lot easier to work with than Microsofts command line tools. You will have to do some research on your own, to see what fits your own particular needs the best.
As a LAST resort, since you are pretty much a neophyte in regards to the techniques that I use, you can always reinstall the operating system the hard way by running the OS installation DVD. BUT that should be considered the NUCLEAR option as it would remove your settings, drivers, etc. And basically you would be starting from scratch.
Quotedism.exe (not to be confused with Dism++ which is from an outside vendor) to restore backups from .wim images and to create backups to .wim images.
That wouldn't be too bad, assuming it works. I have the .wim images, so it shouldn't be too hard to restore from them, right? Need to nail down any options, syntax, etc. I'm comfortable with running stuff from the command line, even dangerous operations.
Yeah, I know all about that last resort: did it 2-3 times. Never again! (I hope.) It takes forever to build the system back up to where it once was.
Quote from: NoCforMe on January 13, 2023, 06:50:36 AM
That wouldn't be too bad, assuming it works. I have the .wim images, so it shouldn't be too hard to restore from them, right? Need to nail down any options, syntax, etc. I'm comfortable with running stuff from the command line, even dangerous operations.
The best bet would be to search Microsoft for information about the mentioned command line tools. This will help with switches, options, etc. for all the tools mentioned.
:biggrin:
> diskpart.exe to format partitions.
You learn to use it carefully. I needed it recently to format micro sd cards for my 3D printer as it would not accept NTFS formatting (M$ licence issue).
Hutch now i got curious about my tablet memory menu
Mount sd card /unmount sd card
Format sd card
If format with android device should work format for 3d printer and what file format sd card ends up with ntfs, fat32, something else ?
Is it an option to make bootable 128gb usb stick with one partition .wim file as reserv if the .wim file on hd is corrupt?
I found older 8gb sd card in usb converter, possible to format as bootable?
Its from older thrown away phone i had
I own an old Android tablet but it rarely ever gets turned on. Occasionally I need to look at something that is too small for my eyesight on a mobile phone so I use the ancient tablet that Google updated and it does the job. I can access the Internet with it via a travellers WIFI gadget that plugs into my normal router with an ethernet cable but with multiple 32 inch screens, a tiny tablet is a poor choice.
I am used to two fingers move apart =zoom and screen mirroring to smart tv screen when at home with my two 10.2 inch tablets
But i hate fiddle with insert tiny micro sd , without become irritated = risk of break things with my strength