Solved [Urgent] Unable to restore from System Image

[Microbillgates]

Hello, I need to restore my computer from a system image but when I try I always get this message
"To restore this computer, Windows needs to format the drive that the Windows Recovery Environment is currently running on. To continue with the restore, shut down this computer and boot it from a Windows installation disc or a system repair disc and then try the restore again."

Solutions have told me to make a System Repair Disk. But the issue is, I have no way of creating a system repair disk. How am I meant to restore everything if I cannot use the disk method?

 

[Brink]

Hello Microbillgates,

If you like, you can also create a bootable Windows installation USB to boot from and do a system image recovery with.

You can use OPTION ONE in the tutorial below to download a Windows 8.1 ISO file.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

Afterwards, you can use the tutorial below to create a USB with the ISO file.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create-windows.html

 

[Microbillgates]

I'll try now. Sorry about all the rush and panic it's just that I need the computer to work on a school project. and that's due in on thursday

 

[Brink]

No problem. Please let us know how it went.

 

[Microbillgates]

Give me around 15 minutes

 

[Microbillgates]

Hey brink, I still get the same message.

 

[Brink]

Did you boot from the installation USB like below to do the system image recovery from?

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...overy-restore-image-computer-windows-8-a.html

 

[Microbillgates]

Yes I did. However it did not ask me for a user name nor password

 

[Brink]

In that case, you may need to refresh or reset Windows instead.

Did you just need to get any files from the created system image?

 

[Microbillgates]

In that case, you may need to refresh or reset Windows instead.

Did you just need to get any files from the created system image?

Yes, all my steam and origin games. School files and media. As well as large programs

 

[Brink]

You could use the method in the tutorial below to extract files from the system image, but it won't help with programs. Programs will need to be reinstalled.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/17524-system-image-extract-files-using-disk-management.html

 

[Microbillgates]

=/ ok. While I reset I would like to know why this error happens. It's the first time this has occurred as I have done a system image several times in the past

 

[Brink]

This error usually happens when there's an issue with the recovery partition. Normally, you could just boot from your installation media to do the system image from instead. I'm not sure why it would give you the same error when you booted from the installation media and not your Windows though.

 

[Brink]

This error usually happens when there's an issue with the recovery partition. Normally, you could just boot from your installation media to do the system image from instead. I'm not sure why it would give you the same error when you booted from the installation media and not your Windows though.

If you like, I find that using Macrium Reflect is a more reliable way to do system images in the future.

Imaging with free Macrium - Windows 7 Help Forums

MACRIUM REFLECT - Create Bootable Rescue USB Drive - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[Microbillgates]

Alright thanks. Should I still marked it as solved despite not getting a fix for the image?

 

[Brink]

It's up to you, but you could leave it unsolved to see if someone may know something else that may help.

 

[Microbillgates]

Will do, thanks anyway. Will keep the system image for 2 weeks.

 

[Microbillgates]

I fixed it! However I just need to reinstall the graphics driver
What I did
1: Installed a clean copy of WIndows
2: Install Reflect
3: Mount the VHDX where Windows and everything was
4: Backup the VHDX to a USB HDD using Reflect
5: Create a Reflect USB
6: Restored the Reflect Backup to my main hard drive
7: Booted to the 8.1 Installation USB
8: Fixed the bootloader.

 

[Brink]

Great news.