Windows 8 - Backup & Recovery - Windows 7 File Recovery

Hi Guys ,

I thought that I would try backing up my operating system (s), using the Windows 7 File Recovery, option available in the control panel.

The top left-hand corner of the Windows 7 File Recovery page provides the option to "Create a System Image"

I have had no problems performing this action; in fact I have completed the process twice - Once, with my desktop, and once, with my laptop!

The process takes about 15 minutes, creating a folder, called "WindowsImageBackup" on my external hard drive (Different drives for laptop & desktop)!

What concerns me a little, is that there is no way of verifying the backup!

More alarming, is when I checked the Properties of this folder (Both desktop & Laptop), I find the details incomprehensible!

16 bytes 4.00 KB, (4096 Bytes) 1 File 5 Folders!

Looking at my C drives (Operating System) my laptop is 44.00 GBs; my Desktop 51 GBs

It looks as if the details (size of the backup) are hidden - I tried copying one of these folders onto a Flash Drive, and received a message, advising the Flash drive was not large enough!

All this does not give me too much confidence in the backup!

So what is going on !

Mine says the same thing. If you doubleclick on the WindowsImageBackup folder it will give you the message that you don't have permission - just click to continue. Drill down a couple more levels and you will see all of the catalog/backup files and it will list the sizes of each. I've never had one fail in Win7 and Win8 when restoring an image backup.

I basically have two images for each computer (one with clean install and all apps installed and configured and one that is current.) Worst case scenario would be having to go back to the first one but at least I wouldn't have to reinstall all of my apps.

Thanks for this info, kcmike! Gives me a little more confidence!

Interesting that you say that you back up clean, and then your current (presumably with your software, and drivers); I was under the impression that you could only have one backup - When I tried, it advised it would overwrite my existing backup, not giving me the choice of changing the name1

I would do a manual image backup from within the Windows7 file recovery control panel. You get the option to select which drive to backup to.

OK, understand!