How to Create a System Image Backup in Windows 7
One thing that was introduced into Windows Vista and and became more available in Windows 7 is the built-in capability of creating a full backup image of your system so that it can be restored back when Windows becomes corrupt or not bootable. One good thing about using the Windows built-in system image backup is you don’t need to install any third party software such as Acronis TrueImage or Macrium Reflect and all Windows 7 users have it immediately to hand.
If you’re unsure what system imaging actually does and how it could help you, a system image is an exact copy of your system drive that gets backed up and saved into a file. If your system develops problems later on that can’t easily be fixed, you can use this backup to restore the computer back to that earlier point in time. If you’ve ever use the System Restore option, System Imaging is like that but restores the whole drive not just certain files.
Although the Windows Backup and Restore tool is pretty basic in terms of features, and the speed is not as fast as third party drive imaging software, it is good enough for most normal situations and the backing up or restoring can be achieved in several different ways.
Here are a few points to note when using the System Image function:
- Try not to change the partition structure of the backed up volumes or the restore could fail. Although system imaging is supposed to be able to reformat to the previous layout, this is a common cause of a restore failing.
- System Image will backup and restore ALL files on the system and you cannot at any point select individual files or folders. You will however, have the option to backup any files before a restore if using the Control Panel.
- Backup to network is not available in Windows 7 Home Premium or Home Basic.
- Only NTFS formatted partitions can be backed up. Make sure if you’re saving to USB sticks or portable hard drives they are NTFS formatted.
- Imaging is available in Vista Business, Enterprise and Ultimate but not in Home Premium or Basic. Go to Control Panel -> Backup and Restore Center -> Back up computer. You cannot backup to network in Vista.
- Windows 8 still has this feature in Control Panel -> Windows 7 File Recovery.
- Don’t mix 32-bit and 64-bit discs on your operating system. For example, if you have a 32-bit Windows installed you will need a 32-bit repair disc or 32-bit Windows install DVD to perform a restore.
Creating a Windows System Image
Here we’ll show you how to create Windows 7 backup system image, the steps for Vista and Win 8 compatible versions are broadly the same. You can only do this from within Windows itself. There are a few ways of running the Windows Backup and Restore Tool which will also allow you to create a repair disc or backup files and folders, choose 1 from any of the following:
Use a third-party imaging software
1. Acronis
Acronis is a third-party imaging software that allows users to create an image backup of their system files and software. This backup tool also integrates an anti-ransome software technology to add an extra layer of protection when backing up system files. One great feature of this software is that users can back up their entire system as a single file, making it easy for them to recover their data on any device.
To create a system image, first download and install the software. Open the application and select the Backup option on the menu pane. You can create custom backup plans by either backing up the entire system, certain disks and partitions, or specific files and folders.
Click the “Add backup” option and select your preferred storage site. Furthermore, you can choose a mobile device or a cloud service to store your information. After selecting your storage, click “Options” to choose your preferred backup method.
2. Aomei
Another popular Windows 7 imaging tool is the Amoei Backupper. This utility tool has a backup feature that transfer’s the system’s image file into a convenient storage. After installation, select the “Backup” option of the left pane and choose “File Backup”. Additionally, users can customize the backup session with a Task Name to help them keep track of all backup processes.
Next, choose the “Add Folder/ Add File” option to choose which data you’d like to back up. You can easily drag and drop files into the application’s interface. For additional control over the backup process, users can choose the “Filter settings” to add source folders. Once all these are sorted, click “Ok” to select the destination path and click “Start Backup” for the process to begin.
3. IDrive
This light imaging tool can back up entire systems, including the operating system, programs, and boot files. Users can also use the tool to back up their data securely in the IDrive cloud, making the entire process quick as it does not require additional space to create a local copy. To use the software, users have to sign in to access the cloud account.
Next, click the “Clone/Computer backup” button to begin the imaging process for your Windows 7. Choose “Entire Machine Backup” to back up the entire system and select “Cloud backup” to save all data to the cloud or ”Encrypted local backup” button to choose a target backup drive. Next, choose a schedule by clicking the “Schedule Backup” button and then save the changes. To create a physical backup, click the “Encrypted Local Backup” button. Select your preferred storage and click “Schedule Now”.
- Click the Start orb and type backup into Search. You should see Backup and Restore appear in Programs, press Enter.
- Click the Start orb -> All Programs -> Maintenance -> Backup and Restore.
- Go to Control Panel and select Backup and Restore from an icon view, or System and Security -> Back up your computer in Category view.
Now in the Backup and Restore tool, click Create a system image in the left pane.
This will open up the Create a system image window. Alternatively, you can get directly to this window from the desktop by using Win Key+R and typing the following into the Run dialog box:
sdclt.exe /BLBBACKUPWIZARD
Now select where you’re going to backup the system image to, which can either be to hard drive, multiple DVD discs or a network location if your Windows version supports it. Removable USB devices such as flash drives will show under hard disks. If you try to select another partition on the same physical hard disk you’re backing up from, there will be a warning about it because that hard drive failing will result in both operating system and the backup being lost. If you place ANY value in your backups at all, it’s strongly recommended to use a different physical device to save them to.
The next screen will offer to backup any other volumes you might want to include in the process, the main system partition and the small 100MB boot partition if present will be automatically selected and cannot be touched.
Note: Sometimes in a multiboot system, one of your other operating system partitions will be auto selected and grayed out so you can’t turn it off. This is usually the case when you install Windows 7 after another operating system and the bootloader system files are located on that partition and not Windows 7’s. Apart from some tricky methods of manually moving all the boot files onto the windows 7 partition and making it an Active / System volume, it is recommended to either accept the included volume or use another backup software.
At the final confirmation window, the Backup and Restore tool will tell you how much space it could take to create the backup and clicking the Start backup button will start the process. Depending on the amount of data to backup and the speed of the hardware, this could obviously take from a few minutes to an hour or more. If you receive an error at this point, you might like to read our article on a possible cause for a system image backup failure.
After the backup process completes, you will be asked if you want to create a system repair disc. This is highly recommended if you don’t have a full Windows install DVD to hand and can also be created later on from the Backup and Restore tool main window. If you would like to create a repair CD on a USB stick, please follow the repair disc to USB instructions in our post detailing how to do it.
On page 2 we’ll show you the various ways you can restore your system image.
Hi,
My question is whether we can create a system image in safe mode or with installation media using win 7 in-built feature ? please answer. Thanks & Regards. …
There used to be a way that you could mount the image you created under windows 7 ult however I can n longer find the proper details to accomplish this goal. The command console was how you did it and it is was kind of difficult to understand. It is not through the use of the disk manager since it always gives me the blue screen of death when I try to do this.
Hi, after much frustration this guide has been fantastic… Right up until the last step when I get the message ‘No disc that can be used for recovering the system disc can be found’.
I’m using an external hdd with the system image and the windows boot CD as per the previous page of instructions, and a new internal ssd.
Any idea what I might be missing?
Thanks!
Both internal (new ssd) and external (USB hdd with system image, previously formatted) discs appear to be labelled as C: could this be causing confusion? Completely amateur guesswork here I’m afraid…
Be sure that the image is in the root of your HD or USB or DVD. It happened to me that I put the image on a sub-folder and Windows recovery wasn’t able to find it. Then I just put the recovery folder made by the Windows Recovery program on the root of the USB and it was able to find it and restore my system.
Hope it helps.
Well done; well-presented and very useful. Given the recent outbreak of ransomware I am advising all friends to create backup and recovery images. For some, it is already too late! Your instructions will help in explaining the process. Thank you
1. I have a laptop. Can I create an image of my C-Drive to an external drive that is a new, blank “internal” drive?–or must I purchase an “external” drive to create an image to?
2. Will creating an image of my internal C-Drive to an external drive cause the external drive to be formatted to a C-Drive, with the exact same name as the internal C-Drive?
3. When restoring a system image to a new internal drive on a laptop, I presume I would have to first install a new, blank internal drive into the laptop (formatted as a “C-Drive”?), and then boot up following the instructions on how to restore a system image from an external drive.
I really appreciate the effort that was made by the author to clarify the steps in creating a system image–Thank you!
Using the built in Windows System Image tool you cannot clone the C drive to another drive as it stores the backup as compressed files. You can, however, backup to any other drives that have been formatted (internal/USB/external).
If you are looking to clone or copy your C drive you would be better off using something like Macrium Reflect Free.
What do you think of Zinstall Backup?
It seems to be a pretty good way to do this sort of full image backup automatically (so that you don’t have to remember to do it), and they claim to be able to restore to different Windows versions.
Would be glad to hear your take.
Thanks again,
Jimmy
Hi, I am creating a system image and by default it has selected C:, System Reserved and D: (which is a HP Recovery Partition). All my data is saved in E:. I have not selected the E drive as part of the system image. (I back up this partition up via alternative means.) My question is, if I restore from the system image will it level the E: drive untouched?
Yes it will be untouched. Just make sure to not play around with or change the partition structure of the drive after the backup. That would be the only reason it might do something to E.
Does the recovery allow restoration to one partition? I think the screen said it would restore the ‘computer’ and I got spooked. I have other partitions I don’t want to mess with.
It will restore all partitions that affect the system, so it will restore C, the hidden boot partition and any others if boot files are on a separate partition as well.
I am trying to manage an image on 6 identical PCs (HP 840G1 with Win 7 Pro). Can I take an image from 1 machine and use it on the others? I realize I would need to change a few things like computer name and users. This would be much easier than using the WAIK tool set.
That should be possible although Windows might deactivate itself meaning you would have to reactive with the correct license. That would depend on whether you are using a full Windows license or one pre supplied by HP.
Using a system image, can I also restore my operating system from my current 32-bit Windows 7 (long story) to the 64-bit Windows 7 that came with my computer?
You can if you have a system image of your 64-bit Windows somewhere, or if you have a recovery partition which came as standard on your computer. If you have neither, you would need to install from scratch.
very good man
Your advice on the alternate way to start a system backup by sdclt /BLBBACKUPWIZARD got me out of a real fix as Control Panel “Backup your computer” has not worked since uninstalling Acronis 2011 which corrupted my system restore files.
I now have Acronis 2014 but like to have my Win 7 System Repair Disk being able to access the System Image backup just in case one of my Acronis backups were to fail.
I occasionally get a boot up message that Boot Mgr has failed or sometimes a Check Sum corrupted message after messing up my BIOS when overclocking so being able to recover when not able to boot up is vital.
Thank’s again
Chris,
Brisbane Australia
Unfortunately Windows system image does not work correctly. Rather than just creating a image of the Windows drive it wanted to include 2 terabytes from a hard drive used just for programs. Very disappointed, guess I’ll find a 3rd party solution.
You must disconnect all drives except system prior to backup or windows will expect all the drives connected to be present when restoring the system. AND, be sure to start the restore with the Last disk first or it does not restore. THEN, After restore the network name itself one higher number than before. It seems no way to reset the network to ONE only to rename it. Otherwise simply reinstall the system from the original retail install disk. It is frustrating that you must disconnect the auxiliary disks to restore the system. I try to make the system the smallest hard drive in the machine. If I could restore a messed up system with a single BRD that would be nice.
Simply great Ray! Thanks for sharing it. It really work for me.
this is what i have been using since Windows 7 was released and have had no problems.
It takes me on average 15 minutes to do a complete System Image Backup with Repair Disc for a 160 GB Hard Drive.
I don’t backup my Libraries as i have a 2nd partition for that.
I love Windows 7 Backup over 3rd party Software because i personally hate installing unnecessary software/bloatware which is usually common with 3rd party software.
The speed of Windows 7 Backup depends on your hardware. i.e. USB 2.0 or Firewire or if you’re burning to Disc.
this thing helped me recover from a major mess.
i wasn’t able to restore my system from System restore (i ran it from System Protection), quoting some problem with the antivirus program.
i ran the CD and it restored my system back like butter…….. !!! :)
thanks once again.
thanks buddy….
i am in a habit of curropting my os.
this tool will be helpful for me…
thanks again ^^
thanks ray. you’re blog is the best man, i visit most days. all the best…
Thank you, Ray
It’s a good tip
Raymond… you and your blog have helped me a lot. I’ve tried it and it works.
Ray, Great info.
great info ray! :D thanks!
hi, thank you for another excellent article!
I am under W7 dual booting with Vista (unused) and I hesitate to use this function for the time being satisfied with Paragon Drive Backup (Live CD), it would be a tool that fills a dual boot Windows disrupts Windows!
If I may Raymond, this shortcut works with me : %SystemRoot%\System32\sdclt.exe /BLBBACKUPWIZARD
Thank you very much:)
PS;I’m french, sorry for my bad English
Thanks RAY. Don’t need to run third party software after reading this article. You are the man ;).
thanks very much
I’m going to try this i recently had to reinstall everything due to a corrupt partition problem, and have been wanting to learn how to go about creating a disk image.
Nice article.
Great tip! Thanks a lot!
You are simply genius Ray!!!
Exceptional….
Thanks for the valuable knowledge again!!
:)
thank you :) never knew how to use this feature!
Thank you for the great info again Raymond! Great to see that you have a little time to write an article again.
You saved my PC :) Thanks a million …