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

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• 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

 

[Brink]

You're welcome b100d.

Sorry, but no. You will not be able to restore a system image from a USB flash drive.

I wouldn't recommend moving a system image as well to avoid the potential of not being able to restore it. They are real sensitive to any corruption.

I agree that Macrium Reflect is another good option.

 

[Guiri]

I have a question about this part, if I may. Under Option 1:

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. (...)
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.

That doesn't seem to work on my PC, it only keeps one version, the last one. Where do you set that? If I click the link 'can set' I see this



but although it says "Select how Windows retains older system images" these two options hardly enable you to keep more than one image, especially the last one.

On my PC the window looks different:



but with a maximum of 27.94 GB and 67 GB on the C: drive, not even one image would fit! :huh: (the drive where the image is backed up to is 3 TB with 2.1 TB free space.)

What's going on?

 

[Brink]

Hello Guiri,

That's only if you have a system image included to be created while you are creating a Windows Backup instead.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8872-backup-files-windows-8-a.html


To be able to keep multiple copies of system images using the tutorial on the first page instead of with Windows Backup, you could need to use the workaround in the yellow TIP box at the top of the tutorial on the first page here.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Guiri]

Hello Guiri,

That's only if you have a system image included to be created while you are creating a Windows Backup instead.

Sorry, maybe I am slow today but I still don't understand. Yes, I am talking about the situation where I include a system image with a normal backup. But you write: "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." I don't see how, except for the workaround. Not via OPTION ONE.

Even Windows itself says "Select how Windows retains older system images" but then you can select between
a) only one image or
b) delete all images
in your screenshot (in my opinion that means 0 or 1 image) and in my screenshot:
a) leave it up to Windows (with a maximum in GB that is not even enough for one(!) image) or
b) keep only the latest.

How can I set to retain e.g. the last 5 images?

 

[Brink]

Yeah, it's a bit of a catch 22 isn't it.

That's why I use the rename method in the TIP box. It's a much more reliable way to keep multiple system images without worrying about them being deleted.

 

[Guiri]

Yeah, it's a bit of a catch 22 isn't it.

That's why I use the rename method in the TIP box. It's a much more reliable way to keep multiple system images without worrying about them being deleted.

OK, but what made you write "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." then? Was it a preview copy you based this on and Microsoft changed it later?

 

[Brink]

No. It applies to all current Windows 8 editions. I was saying that it was a catch 22 for you instead.

By default, when system images are included in a scheduled backup to be created, Windows automatically saves as many system images as it has space for without taking up more than 30 percent of available free space on the selected backup partition/volume. Once the disk starts running out of room, Windows will automatically delete older system images to make room for the new system image. 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.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8930-backups-view-manage-space-windows-8-a.html

 

[Guiri]

No. It applies to all current Windows 8 editions. I was saying that it was a catch 22 for you instead.

By default, when system images are included in a scheduled backup to be created, Windows automatically saves as many system images as it has space for without taking up more than 30 percent of available free space on the selected backup partition/volume. Once the disk starts running out of room, Windows will automatically delete older system images to make room for the new system image. 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.

OK, that is clear but then please help me with this:

My system disk C: is 238 GB (I deleted the hibernation file so now 54 GB is occupied and 184 GB is free) Please see next screen shot:



A system image would then be 54 GB and worst-case 238 GB, correct?

So suppose it is now 54 GB and together with the 'normal' previous backup data, the total backup size on D: is apparently 61.37 GB (12.92 + 48.45(?)). See next screen shot.



I have more than 2 TB free on my backup drive D: as you saw in the first and second screen shot. Then why is it saving only one system image on my drive and does it say that the maximum is 27.94 GB?



2 TB free on D: means (if Windows only wants to occupy 30% of that, let's say 650 GB) it should at least be able to keep 12 system images, no? Where do I go wrong in my thinking? Where does the 27.94 come from?

 

[Brink]

I agree with that, and something is indeed not correct with the math.

Please go ahead and post a screenshot of Disk Management showing the full layout of the D drive to see if something may show as a reason why it's not letting you use the full amount of free space that you should have available.

I have a few questions or items to check to see if they may be part of the issue. If yes to any of them, then that would be more free space that has been allocated for it, and no longer available for use by anything else.

1. Did you move any user folders or profiles to D?
2. Did you move the page file to D?
3. Do you have System Protection turned on for D?

In addition, what do have the maximum usage for system protection set to?

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...nge-maximum-disk-space-usage-windows-8-a.html

 

[Guiri]

Thanks for your time Shawn!

I agree with that, and something is indeed not correct with the math.

Please go ahead and post a screenshot of Disk Management showing the full layout of the D drive to see if something may show as a reason why it's not letting you use the full amount of free space that you should have available.

Here's DM:

I have a few questions or items to check to see if they may be part of the issue. If yes to any of them, then that would be more free space that has been allocated for it, and no longer available for use by anything else.

1. Did you move any user folders or profiles to D?
2. Did you move the page file to D?
3. Do you have System Protection turned on for D?

1. No, I didn't, everything is still on C:
2. Yes, I did. The page file is 5,627,904 KB, hopefully never used with 16 GB of RAM.



3. No, not on D:, only on C:

In addition, what do have the maximum usage for system protection set to?

In addition to all that, I also moved C:'s FileHistory to D: - currently 1.52 GB.

 

[Brink]

Ok, not bad so far. A few more follow up questions.

What is the max size set in System Protection for the D drive instead?

In the Advanced Settings in File History (Control Panel), what is the "size of offline cache" set to? This is how much space is allocated for File History. It's 5% by default.

 

[Guiri]

In the Advanced Settings in File History (Control Panel), what is the "size of offline cache" set to? This is how much space is allocated for File History. It's 5% by default.

I put it at 20%.

What is the max size set in System Protection for the D drive instead?

At first I thought you were asking a strange question, because the System Protection in D: is switched off, as displayed in my previous post. Nevertheless I took a look:



Quite a surprise: here's the 27.94 that we saw as the maximum for system images! That can't be coincidence!

I increased it to 20% (558.88 GB) and will see if now I will get more saved system images.



To be honest, I actually expected that slider to be disabled and ineffective if the system protection for that particular drive was off but apparently it isn't. If this solved my problem (and I am confident now that it has), you are a genius.

I'll report back when I know more...

 

[Guiri]

First indications are positive...





Thanks a lot, Shawn!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

The max for system protection also sets the max for system images created using Windows Backup.

 

[Guiri]

You're most welcome.

The max for system protection also sets the max for system images created using Windows Backup.

I will never forget that.

 

[Brink]

It would have been nice if MS made that more clear. I don't think I've seen any MS documentation that helps to specify that.

 

[Guiri]

Hmm, tried it now for two daily backups but I am not sure it now works as advertised:







The D:\[computername] folder contains all separate daily backups but as displayed above WindowsImageBackup contains only one image...

 

[Brink]

Guiri,

The "some files were skipped" message indicates that a folder you have selected to be backed up no longer exists, and is why it was skipped. You can click on Change Settings to change your backup settings to no longer include this missing folder, and no longer get this message.

Open the "Backup....." folder in your bottom screenshot, and post a screenshot showing all the files in it. The larger sized .vhdx file(s) in this folder would be the system image(s). I had more than one large one to indicate multiple system images, and hopefully you will as well.

 

[Guiri]

Guiri,

The "some files were skipped" message indicates that a folder you have selected to be backed up no longer exists, and is why it was skipped. You can click on Change Settings to change your backup settings to no longer include this missing folder, and no longer get this message.

Yeah, I know. But the folders do exist, they are linked folders of Music and Photos from the HTPC Public Library, included in the Library of this computer. They are not backed up from this PC (logically) and although I would prefer to see a green bar instead of orange, the only other option would be to copy everything over to this PC. But for maintenance reasons I prefer to have them centrally on the HTPC. Unfortunately there is no option to exclude them from the backup on this PC, other than to deselect the whole libraries but that would also exclude files that I do want backed up.

Open the "Backup....." folder in your bottom screenshot, and post a screenshot showing all the files in it. The larger sized .vhdx file(s) in this folder would be the system image(s). I had more than one large one to indicate multiple system images, and hopefully you will as well.

There are indeed multiple images but just from C: and the System Reserved partition on Disk 0, both only of today...

 

[Brink]

Actually, that's just one system image. This below is what you would see if you had 2 system images saved.

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Do you still have max disk space set in System Protection to allow enough space for more than one image?

If the image was to be created through Windows Backup Schedule, then it wouldn't create one unless there were changes since the last one created.

You might try creating a separate system image to see if it get's added.