Restore Complete Computer

How to Restore the Complete Computer from a Complete Backup and Restore Image in Vista​

   Information

A Windows Complete PC Backup image contains copies of your programs, system settings, and files. It is a complete system backup that you can use to restore the contents of your computer if your hard disk or entire computer ever stops working. This will restore the hard drive size and content back to exactly as it was when the Complete PC Backup was made. For more information, see: Windows Help and How-to: Restore your computer from a system image backup

   Note

BACKUP LOCATION:


A) If you want to delete or copy the entire WindowsImageBackup folder to save it to another location to keep a copy of it, you will need to open each subfolder in the WindowsImageBackup folder and grant access permission to them first by clicking Continue twice for eace folder. You will then be able to copy this folder like any other folder. You may want to do this because when a new Complete PC Backup is made it can overwrite the previous Complete PC Backup with the differences to create the new backup.

• Backups are saved in this format: (backup location)\WindowsImageBackup\(computer name)\Backup (year-month-day) (time)
• If the backup was done on Local Disk D: at 9/7/2007 1:00:50 PM (It uses 24 hour time), then the full backup file path would be:
• D:\WindowsImageBackup\Computer\Backup 2007-09-07 130050
• You would right click the folder Backup 2007-09-07 130050 and click Delete to delete that backup.
• To see what your computer name is, see: How to Change the Computer Name in Vista

B) To delete all but the most recent Complete PC Backup, you can use Disk Cleanup. You will just need to select the drive that the complete PC backups are stored on and select the More Options tab. For how see step 15 here: How to Use Disk Cleanup in Vista

C) To delete the Complete PC Backup completely, you just need to take ownership of the WindowsImageBackup folder and subfolders. Afterwards, you will be able to delete the folder.

   Tip

• This only applies to the Vista Enterprise, Ultimate, and Business editions.
• For SP1 news about changes to Backup, see: Technet.com: What’s new with backup and Restore on Vista SP1
• When you restore your computer from a Windows Complete PC Backup image, it is a complete restoration. You can't choose individual items to restore, and everything you’ve done since that backup was created will be lost. This includes new programs, settings, and all files like pictures and music.
• If you dual boot with Windows XP, then everytime you start in XP the System Restore Points and all except the most recent Complete PC Backup files in Vista get deleted. For how, see: How to Stop System Restore Points from being Deleted in Vista when Dual Booting with XP
• You cannot restore a 32 bit Vista version complete pc backup on a 64 bit Vista version, or the other way around.

EXAMPLE: Restore Complete PC Backup Notice
NOTE: When you click on the Restore computer button from the Backup and Restore Center in the Control Panel (Classic View), you will see the screenshot below. Just click Close and see how to to restore the computer below.

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Here's How:

1. Boot into the System Recovery Optionsscreen.​

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2. Click on the Windows Complete PC Restore option. (See screenshot below)​

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3. If you saved the backup image on a set of multiple DVDs, then insert the last DVD from the backup set when prompted. If not, go to step 8.​

A) Go to step 9 below.​

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4. If you have a saved backup image on a connected hard drive or another partition, then you will see this screenshot​

below.​

A) If you want to restore the latest backup, then click on Next.​

NOTE: The Restore the following backup is normally the last backup made.​

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B) To restore a different backup image, dot Restore a different backup and then press Next.​

NOTE: This is if the backup you want to use is not listed here and you have made other complete PC backups in this same location that you wish to choose from instead. If you have a backup from another location that you want to choose from, then it will need to be connected to the computer before step 1.​

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C) Select which backup to restore from the list and then click on Next. (see screenshot below)​

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D) Click on Finish.​

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5. Check the confirm box and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

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6. You will now see this screenshot below.​

NOTE: If you have the backup image on DVDs, have them ready. See step 3 above.​

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7. When done, click on Restart Now to finish. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: Your computer will restart and the restore will be done.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Extract Vista System Image Files Using Virtual PC 2007
• How to Create a Complete Computer Backup and Restore Image in Vista
• How to Do a System Restore in Vista
• How to Restore Backup Files in Vista
• How to Restore Previous Versions of a File and Folder in Vista
• How to Create a Vista Recovery Disc
• How to Reset the Last Backup Listing for Vista Complete PC Backup
• How to Reset the Last Backup Listing for Vista Back Up Files

 

[Blaydrnnnr]

I've been watching this as well, I'm very inexperienced in backing up this Vista rig, and have been trying to learn a few things... I just bought the discounted Acronis 11, but you say it wont read SATA drives when using the bootdisk?
My HD's are as follows...
2-500GB SATA 32 MB in RAID0 ( with the OEM factory image from HP )
1-1TB SATA 32MB ( storage )
I am needing to do a backup badly and was thinking of keeping a copy on the storage drive, but I'm still figuring out how and what to save.. thanks for the post.

 

[Harry230]

Hi,

I tried True Image 11 Home and it worked fine if backing up files from within Vista OS.

But you really need this image backup software so that when you have a hardware fault it will restore an image to a replacement drive. Vista has a few limitations too, but seems to work quite well. I think very critical of drive numbers, so if restoring to a pc make sure that the total drives numbers are the same as when the image was saved. I have found it to be quite good and from what I can see compression is almost 50% for the saved image.

True Image was great, easy to use within Vista, but to test it for complete fail you need to build a bootable disk so in the case of failure a user can boot and restore a saved image to a replacement drive.

Problem I found when using the bootable disk was it wouldn't see any of my hard drives and gave the error message: "E000101F4 - Error: Acronis True Image has not found any hard disk drives"

If you put that error message into google then many unhappy responses are returned regarding use with boot disk and SATA drives. I found that sites such as wilderssecurity.com seemed to have Acronis support people giving advice. eg. www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=202296

Check it out yourself with that error code but I am glad I have vista ultimate 64 working now which is why I purchased it initially. I also noticed acronis true image 11 maybe didn't work too well with HP machines.

Good luck with Acronis..

regards,

Harry.

 

[Blaydrnnnr]

Yes, I have seen this too.. that the boot disk wont recognize SATA drives? Thanks for the heads up on the HP thing.. I have to admit.. I bought it, THEN remembered that my third drive came with Acronis disk manager and when I tried to use it, I never did get it to work, so when I bought this version, 11, it told me to uninstall the disk manager that came when I installed my 1TB Seagate 32MB SATA drive. ( My third drive for storage ) I have yet to try it, and now I'm hearing there may be an HP issue.. ( go figure ) and a boot disk that may not work on my SATA drives. HMMM..

PS.. thanks for the link.. It looks as though Acronis asked for info.. but I didnt see any reply or resolution there... I will have to do some searching at the Acronis site to see if theres something to help this...before I try...the backup will be good to have.. but a boot disk would really be peace of mind.

Sorry Brink...you can bump this to the Acronis thread if you wish.. didnt mean to hijack....

 

[farooque]

I have done everything ... but when I try restore the complete backup from my backed up DVD .. it say my backup is created in x64 and I am restoring this to x86 system .... wondering what did I made wrong

 

[Brink]

Hello Farooque,

That would be the problem then. You cannot use a Complete PC Backup from a 64 bit computer on a x86 (32 bit) computer. You can use one from a x86 (32 bit) computer on a 64 bit computer though.

You will only be able use that backup on a 64 bit computer.

Sorry,
Shawn

 

[farooque]

Excuse me .... I did my backup DVD from my existing Vista ultimate SP1 x64 running OS .. and I tried restore it with existing installed OS condition , Formatted, Broken Partition, RAW HDD ... still it say I am using x64 backup on x86 machine... now how can I make a x64 backup if I had a x86 MACHINE ?

 

[Brink]

Farooquu,

Sorry, from your first post it sounded like you may have been trying to restore it on another computer that was not 64 bit.

Are you using a 64 bit Vista installation DVD to boot from to do the backup restore with?

You might also reset the BIOS back to factory default settings in case it somehow mistakenly ID your CPU as not being 64 bit anymore.

 

[farooque]

Farooquu,

Sorry, from your first post it sounded like you may have been trying to restore it on another computer that was not 64 bit.

Are you using a 64 bit Vista installation DVD to boot from to do the backup restore with?

You might also reset the BIOS back to factory default settings in case it somehow mistakenly ID your CPU as not being 64 bit anymore.

Hey .. that could be the cause .. cause how do the installation DVD realized that I am using an x86 pc while the installer DVD itself is x64 it self ... then may be I should try another vista x64 dvd or BIOS / CMOS default or may be the hardwire conflict ... my pc is not actually optimized for x64 but my processor does only .. I will let you know my full PC specification ..

Thank you

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Farooque. Please let us know how it turns out.

Shawn

 

[asoccerplayer99]

I'm a bit confused by what Harry said, so I guess I'll ask-

I'm using Vista Ultimate x64 on a computer with:
C: -250GB, OS drive
D: -250GB, music and general media drive
F: -500GB, storage drive for backups of both C: and D:

I used to use Norton Ghost for this kind of thing when I had XP, but my version wasnt compatible with Vista, so I switched to the built in Vista version.

My confusion is this: if I want to upgrade my C: drive to a new 500GB drive, will I be able to use the backup that Vista made for me to do it? Can I just pull out the old one, put in a new one, boot from the DVD, and restore the OS to the new drive? Or do I need 3rd party software like Harry suggested to do this? Thanks a ton in advance

 

[Brink]

Hello aSoccerPlayer, and welcome to Vista Forums.

You should be able to restore the Complete PC Backup onto any hard drive.

 

[asoccerplayer99]

Thanks! Is there an option when going from a 250GB drive to a 500GB drive to include the newfound disk space into the original partition? Or must that be done afterwards?

 

[Brink]

It will just restore the Complete PC Backup image onto the new drive with all of the new drive's space still there and available.

 

[AcidBurn89]

so if i install a new hard drive, and boot from the vista disc i can do a complete restore to that new drive if the image is saved on an external drive?

 

[Brink]

The Complete PC Backup Image can be saved to any drive other than the C: drive or partition. When you boot from the Vista installation disc to the System Recovery Options screen, you can then use System Restore to restore that backup image from that saved location (ex: external drive) to any other drive (ex: new hard drive). So yes you can.

 

[AcidBurn89]

The Complete PC Backup Image can be saved to any drive other than the C: drive or partition. When you boot from the Vista installation disc to the System Recovery Options screen, you can then use System Restore to restore that backup image from that saved location (ex: external drive) to any other drive (ex: new hard drive). So yes you can.

okay thanks!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome AcidBurn89, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

 

[geojoshi]

Brink,

I have a question regarding a complete pc restore. as you know most of the laptop manufaturing companies do not give out vista installtion DVD's. I also happen to be one of them. but fortunatley i have vista ultimate edition installed on my laptop. I have made a complete pc backup on an external drive.

My question is if i have a vista installation dvd from my friend will it help reinstalling my complete pc in case of complete crash..

Thanks in advance

Geo

 

[Brink]

Hello Geo,

Yes, you could from their disc if it's also a Vista Ultimate installation disc.

Another option for you is to boot into the Advanced Boot Options screen and select the Repair your computer option. From there, you would go into the System Recovery Options where you can select the Windows Complete PC Restore option to restore the backup.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[geojoshi]

Shawn,

Thanks a lot for a lighting fast reply, your tutorials are very good i have gone through most of them.. really nice. keep up the good work.

Best regards,

Geo

Hello Geo,

Yes, you could from their disc if it's also a Vista Ultimate installation disc.

Another option for you is to boot into the Advanced Boot Options screen and select the Repair your computer option. From there, you would go into the System Recovery Options where you can select the Windows Complete PC Restore option to restore the backup.

Hope this helps,
Shawn