Windows 10: Restore complete system image backup on laptop

When I try to recover my data from a system image backup I made from an external hard drive in Windows Recovery, it says I need to create a disk. However, the issue is that I am doing this on a laptop that doesn't have a CD/DVD-ROM drive. Aside from purchasing a portable one, how do I go about this? I'd rather just make Windows restore only the files from the C drive rather than the other partitions, even though the backup contains all of them. Perhaps the other partitions could be "removed" from the system image?

:)

 

laptop vista complete restore

Best thing I can suggest is backup any files you want and do a complete OS reinstall.

 

Windows 10 System Image Backup Suggested Features

Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7)

SUGGESTED CHANGES:

[Balance User Friendly implementation with RESOURCE USAGE, so that Backup and Restore doesn't become a RESOURSE HOG].

1. Eliminate ALL references to "Windows 7".

2. To the extent necessary, MANAGE "Windows Defender" and "File History" to PREVENT INTERFERENCE during SYSTEM IMAGE BACKUP.

3. Warn user to suspend 3rd Party Product SCANNING during Windows System Image Backup (ie: McAfee Anti-Virus Real-Time Scanning and Scheduled Scan ).

4. Show CURRENT FREE SPACE on selected Backup Location [ie: Iomega (F].

5. SHOW DETAILS should Expand current page, not create a new page.

6. SHOW DETAILS suggested FEATURES:

6a. Overall Completion Percent

6b. List of completed Activities

6c. Completion Percent of Current In-Process Activity

6d. List of Activities not yet started

I invite the Microsoft Community to comment on and add to this post to help improve the Windows 10 Backup and Restore Feature.

 

System Image in Backup and Restore

What is a system image?

A system image is an exact copy of a drive. By default, a system image includes the drives required for Windows to run. It also includes Windows and your system settings, programs, and files. You can use a system image to restore the contents of your computer
if your hard disk or computer ever stops working. 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.

Although this type of backup includes your personal files, we recommend that you back up your files regularly using Windows Backup so that you can restore individual files and folders as needed. When you set up Windows Backup, you can let Windows choose
what to back up, which will include a system image, or you can select the items that you want to back up and whether you want to include a system image. For more information about setting up Windows Backup, see

Back up your files.

If your computer contains several drives or partitions, you can create a system image that includes all of them by following the steps in

Back up your programs, system settings, and files.

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