System Image - Create in Windows 8

How to Create a System Image in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

A system image is an exact copy of a drive. By default, a system image only includes the drives required for Windows 8 to run, and also Windows 8 and your system settings, programs, and files. You could also select to include any other drive in the system image as well. When you restore your computer from a system image, it's a complete restoration; you can't choose individual items to restore, and all of your current programs, system settings, and files are replaced with the contents of the system image.

This tutorial will show you how to create a system image backup in Windows 8 and 8.1 to be able to use to restore the contents of your computer back to the state it was in when the system image was created if your HDD or computer ever stops working.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to create a system image.

   Note

System Images are saved in this format:

drive letter:\WindowsImageBackup\computer name\Backup YYYY-MM-DD HHMMSS

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For example: If your computer name is Brink-PC, your backup location is on hard drive (network or local) D: , and you backed up on August 29th 2012 at 1:53:41 PM (it will use 24 hour time), then your system image would be located in the folder below.​

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D:\WindowsImageBackup\BRINK-PC\Backup 2012-08-29 135341​

   Tip

Available Hotfixes for issues:

You cannot create a system backup image in an x86 version of Windows 8 that is running on a UEFI x86-based computer

If you want to keep multiple system image versions on the same drive or partition, then you can use either method below to do so.

METHOD ONE:
This method is usually better if you use a scheduled Windows Backup with an included system image to help keep multiple system images. Personally, I like using METHOD TWO below instead to keep multiple images and avoid having a large amount of restore points.

Change the maximum space used for system images on the drive letter you are saving the Windows Backup to by changing the maximum space used by System Protection for the same drive letter. This is the same setting.

You do not have to have System Protection turned on for the drive letter, but do need to adjust the maximum space to what you like.

The "max usage" size in System Protection does not limit how big a single system image can be. Only the size of the hard drive will limit the size of a single system image. It's only if you want to be able to keep multiple system images using this method that you would need to be sure to increase the "max usage" size in System Protection accordingly. The size of a system image can be quite large since it will include all system drives in the image by default plus any drives you have included.


METHOD TWO:

1. Navigate to the backup location above for where you saved a system image that you want to keep before creating a new system image.

2. Right click, or press and hold, on the WindowsImageBackup folder, and click/tap on Rename.

3. Rename it to something like WindowsImageBackup-Copy-1, press Enter, and click//tap on Yes if prompted by UAC.
NOTE: This way you can just easily change the 1 an the end of the name to 2, 3, 4, etc... for each new system image that you make a copy of.

4. You now have a different system image version that you can leave at this location to be able to keep multiple versions.
NOTE: When you want to restore a system image in a renamed WindowsImageBackup-Copy-1 folder in the future, then you must rename the current WindowsImageBackup folder first, then rename the WindowsImageBackup-Copy-1 folder back to WindowsImageBackup in order to be able to restore it. The WindowsImageBackup folder must be in the root directory of the drive, and not within another folder.

   Warning

• Only the Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise editions can backup to network locations.
• If you're saving your system images in a network location, you can only keep the most current system image for each computer. If you have an existing system image for a computer and are creating a new one for the same computer, the new system image will overwrite the existing one.
• You can only include drives formatted with the NTFS file system in a system image.
• You will not be able to include a partition or drive that you are saving the system image to in a system image.
• You will not be able to save a system image to any partition or drive that is included in the system image.
• You cannot restore a 64-bit system image on a 32-bit system.
• You cannot restore a 64-bit system image with a 32-bit Windows 8 installation DVD/USB or System Repair Disc.
• You cannot restore a 32-bit system image with a 64-bit Windows 8 installation DVD/USB or System Repair Disc.
• A system image that was created on a computer using UEFI cannot be restored on a computer using legacy BIOS. It can only be restored on a computer using UEFI.
• When restoring a system image from a dynamic volume, the drives (disk) on your computer cannot be formatted to match the layout of the drives included in the system image. To have full functionality, select a volume (drive letter) on a basic disk as your save system image to location instead.
• It is recommend to create a system image on a separate HDD instead of just another partition not included on the same HDD that is included in the system image for the best reliability. CDs or DVDs are just not as reliable.
  • See: Creating a system image on Windows 8 may fail if the CD/DVD is not formatted

OPTION ONE

To Create a Windows Backup of Files and Include a System Image

   Note

When you use Windows Backup to back up your files, you can also have a system image created each time your files are backed up on demand or on an automatic schedule.

If a system image was created through Windows Backup on an automatic schedule with the Include a System Image of Drives box checked, then you can set Windows to retain as many system images as it has space for on the backup disk or to only keep the most recent system image. If you're saving your system images in a network location, you can only keep the most current system image for each computer.

By default, Windows automatically saves as many system images as it has space for without taking up more than 30 percent of available space on the backup disk. Once the disk starts running out of room, Windows will automatically delete older system images to make room for the new system image.

   Note

In Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1, the Windows 7 File Recovery (aka: Windows Backup) feature in this tutorial is no longer available.

If you like, you could use File History instead of Windows Backup, and a custom refresh image instead of System Image. You could also use a 3rd party program like Macrium Reflect or AOMEI Backupper instead.

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1. While setting up, changing the settings of, or creating a Windows Backup, check the Include a System Image of Drives...... box. (see screenshot below)​

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2. Afterwards, you can use Back up now or the schedule to create a Windows Backup including a system image.​

OPTION TWO

To Create a System Image without Windows Backup

NOTE: This option allows you to be able to create a system image on demand without going through Windows Backup in OPTION ONE.

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1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what Windows 8 you have.​

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2. In Windows 8 and Windows RT, open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Windows 7 File Recovery icon.​

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A) In the left pane, click/tap on the Create a system image link, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)​

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3. In Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1, open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the File History icon.​

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A) File History will do a quick "searching for drives" first. (see screenshot below)​

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B) In the left pane, click/tap on the System Image Backup link at the bottom, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)​

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4. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.​

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5. Select where you would like to save the system image to, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)​

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   Note

Only the Windows 8/RT/8.1 Pro and Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise editions are able to back up to a network location.

   Note

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You are able to save a system image to either one or more CDs/DVDs (not recommended), an external hard drive (best backup protection), any separate internal hard drive, or to a network location.​

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If you wanted to save the system image to one or more CDs/DVDs, then see the link below first:​

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Creating a system image on Windows 8 may fail if the CD/DVD is not formatted​

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6. Select (check) any drive that you would like to also be included in the system image, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: The grayed out checked drives are "system" drives that are required for the operation of Windows 8, and cannot be unchecked.​

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7. Confirm your system image backup settings, and click/tap on Start backup. (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: If your settings are not correct, then click/tap on the back arrow at the top left corner to go back and make changes.​

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8. Windows will now start creating the system image backup. (see screenshot below)​

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9. When it's finished in Windows 8 or Windows RT, click/tap on Yes or No for if you would like to create a system repair disc or not. You will not see this in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1. (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: For how to always hide or show this message, see this tutorial.​

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10. Click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)​

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11. If you like, you can now close the Windows 7 File Recovery or File History window.​

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Do a System Image Recovery in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Manually Extract System Image Files Using Disk Management in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to View and Manage Space for Backups in Windows 8
• How to Create or Set Up Windows Backup to Back Up Files in Windows 8
• How to Create a Custom Recovery Image to Use to Refresh Windows 8
• How to Enable or Disable Backing up to a CD or DVD in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Enable or Disable Backing up to Local Hard Disks in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Do a Repair Install of Windows 8 without Losing Anything
• Macrium Reflect - Imaging with
• How to Create a Bootable Rescue USB Flash Drive for Macrium Reflect

 

[Herr Klocka]

Hello,

I'm about to take a backup of my computer but I'm only having one external hard drive and I'm already using it for storing movies, music and documents. It's plenty of space left on the hard drive though so I can do a system backup without any trouble. But then I started thinking about whether a backup erases all the other data on the drive. Is that how it works or is it fine to make a backup on the drive anyway?

Best regards!

 

[orlando1974]

Hello,

I'm about to take a backup of my computer but I'm only having one external hard drive and I'm already using it for storing movies, music and documents. It's plenty of space left on the hard drive though so I can do a system backup without any trouble. But then I started thinking about whether a backup erases all the other data on the drive. Is that how it works or is it fine to make a backup on the drive anyway?

Best regards!

If you use something like Macrium Reflect, it will ask you where you want to store your system image. Just create a folder on your external drive and call it something like System Images... and save it there.

So the short answer to your question is yes you can make the backup to that drive as long as you have enough space available.

 

[Cliff S]

Hey Brink *removed* is an article about creating custom recovery images (1 or more) which I use(with all programs and apps installed) as second recovery option because it was done clean. For my first recovery option I have the Lenovo rescue system's onekey recovery(WSI & DSI files), and of course I made the recovery usb(can never have enough choices).

 

[Brink]

Hey Brink *removed* is an article about creating custom recovery images (1 or more) which I use(with all programs and apps installed) as second recovery option because it was done clean. For my first recovery option I have the Lenovo rescue system's onekey recovery(WSI & DSI files), and of course I made the recovery usb(can never have enough choices).

Hey Cliff,

Yeah, a "custom recovery image" is a nice option to use as well, but it's is not the same as a "system image" in the tutorial on the first page.

• http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/3610-refresh-windows-8-create-use-custom-recovery-image.html
• http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...deregister-current-custom-recovery-image.html
• http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...splay-path-current-active-recovery-image.html
• http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/9310-refresh-windows-8-set-custom-recovery-image-active.html

 

[Cliff S]

Oh I didn't notice you had also written a tutorial on it too, and more in depth. You're right, that's why it's my second choice and the onekey recovery system image is my first. Plus after system updates or driver updates an incremental system image is a whole lot easier and less time consuming, and most important UP TO DATE.

 

[bodza]

first hello to everyone, my first post...

second sorry if this has been answered already but i currently just don't have time to read all messages in this thread

and third, question:

i created system image of my win 8 pro to USB hdd. it all went fine. now i want to copy it from hdd to backup server. it gives me "access denied" on .vhdx files and i can't copy them? i tried to copy image to my hdd on laptop and it also gave me access denid...

any ideas??

 

[Brink]

Hello bodza, and welcome to Eight Forums.

It's not recommended to move system images. Doing so will usually break them and make then unusable to restore. Instead, it would be best to save the image to your backup server when created.

 

[bodza]

thank you for the answer.
i don't understand why would it break if moved but ok...
i couldn't move it, anyway...
could you explain me a bit why it could break when moved?

i tried to make backup directly to server but i couldn't. it kept failing to do so...

 

[Brink]

Moving a system image often causes issues that prevent it from not being able to be restored. It's just a reliable method.

If you like, you might give Macrium Reflect Free a try to see how it works for you. It's much more reliable.

 

[bodza]

well now its late for macrium...

i already made image of my windows 8 pro and upgraded to win 8.1 pro. now i wanted to move 200GB image from USB HDD to backup server but i can't...

maybe i'll try it next time i create backup...

thanks!!

 

[Autobahn]

Moving a system image often causes issues that prevent it from not being able to be restored. It's just a reliable method.

If you like, you might give Macrium Reflect Free a try to see how it works for you. It's much more reliable.

I have created an image in Windows 8 but have heard about Macrium Reflect free.
Is Macrium easier to use, or does it create the image quicker?
I'm just wondering if it worthwhile installing Macrium?

 

[Brink]

Hello Autobahn,

Macrium is more flexible which makes it easier and more reliable. It's certainly worth playing with to see how you like it.

 

[Cliff S]

I don't need anything flexible really, I just want make incremental system image backups like windows 7's own backup has. Which would be closest to it? Macrium or AOMEI Backupper. I just want to set it for the 3rd Saturday in the month (after the patch Tuesday updates have settled in). Right now I've been using OneKey Recovery, but to make a new backup I have to delete the prior one, or it fails half way through. It's made by CyberLink and good enough for recovery but I get sick and tired of having to delete everything(can only be done after a fresh boot, immediately, as soon as the desktop loads and most of the programs still have to load). So I need to know which one is simple, fits my needs, has a recovery disk (in my case I prefer a DVD), and hopefully free(if I like it,m I usually donate when I can as with all software).

 

[Brink]

Macrium and AOMEI are both great options for this, so I would say use the one you like the best.

 

[Cliff S]

First of all, I'd like to thank Brink and David Bailey for all their information on using Macrium Reflect, and the others at this thread that also participated in the Q&A's, they helped me make a decision of downloading and using AOMEI Backupper or Macrium Reflect.

So I chose Macrium because it seems to be the most used/recommended recovery software here in the Designer Media forums and
elsewhere(sort of like the Ccleaner of recovery software). Before downloading and installing I thought "Here we go, now I'll have 10,000 questions to set it up like I want!". But the opposite proved to be true, Everything is pretty easy because it takes you through step by step the first time and the pop-up balloons explain what each thing is.

I now have it set up like I did Windows 7's system image backup. I then made the recovery usb(also recovery DVD in case something happens to the thumbdrive) and ran a complete backup and recovery to test it. Worked like a charm the first time thru, and it's amazingly fast:View attachment 56655 and the recovery only took 9:04minutes.

 

[Cliff S]

Oh and one more thing: Now I have a good System imager, I've uninstalled the last of the Lenovo bulkware from my computer(keeping only the Realtek and Blacksilk drivers from Lenovo), and now it boot with BIOS time (3.5 sec) to desktop(Instantaneous BAMM)

 

[Brink]

 

[Cliff S]

I was preparing my other PC (the ASUS laptop w/Win 7) for Windows 10 Tech preview/upgrade and got rid of the MBR made a fresh install in EFI and found out Windows 7's own system image recovery doesn't work with UEFI so I used Macriums recovery disk and it worked like a breeze(did a quick recovery after making the image to be sure)---the point is the more I play with this tool the more I want to kick myself in the rump for not getting it years ago...now I have my Win 7 GPT image that I can restore to if 10 doesn't want to function correctly on my laptop or if something goes haywire during the upgrade.

 

[SIW2]

Yes, it works well. It used to be the only viable free kid on the block. There are several good free imagers now. They all operate in a fairly similar way. When you know to use one, you should be able to use any of them.

 

[Cliff S]

It's a shame Microsoft didn't only not improve their system image backup, they eventually dropped it all together. Ok theoretically with the custom refresh image (

recimg /createimage C:\CustomRefreshImages\Image1

) one shouldn't need it...but I prefer to have at least one "off line" virgin image and a monthly incremental too. It's a crying shame, that they make us search for a 3rd party solution.