Windows 10: System Image Recovery can only find one image. But there are others.

The documentation for the built-in system imaging is poor (if any). What you say makes sense, the 'WindowsImageBackup\%ComputerName%' folder is seen as a single 'backup' of 'ComputerName', within which may be stored one or more images of varying dates.

I use the built-in System Imaging regularly myself - but I wouldn't recommend it. Its most common failing is that just when you need it the most it fails to recognise an image as being restorable. It is now officially a deprecated feature and even Microsoft recommend you use something else.

Features removed or Deprecated in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update

By all accounts it still exists in the Spring Creators Update (1803) that's about to be released, but it can only be a matter of time before it is removed. During its stay of execution you should look into using something more reliable, such as Macrium Reflect (free).

 

Hi,

On my Acer laptop there are two system images contained in D:\WindowsImageBackup\%ComputerName% (Win10 resides in C: ). Their folder names are:

(A) Bachup 2018-02-18 034639

(B) Backup 2018-03-28 105044

I wanted to do a System Image Recovery, using the earlier image A. But the Recover Wizard can only found the later image B after I clicked on the "Select a system image" radio button.

I tried renaming the folder B, but no luck.

But I noticed something. I copied the whole WindowsImageBackup folder to the root directory of an external USB HDD and deleted the image B sub-folder under this newly copied WindowsImageBackup folder. Then I did System Image Recovery again. This time the Recovery Wizard still lists, under the "Most recent system image" column, image B on the external HDD, along with the image B on the local computer.

That led me to think that maybe the Recovery Wizard determines the available system images by consulting some records in some files, i.e., not by enumerating the available image folders. But that's only a guess.

Anyway, is it possible for the earlier system image A to be available?

Thank you.

:)

 

Windows 10 system image recovery can't find system image

The only way to know if system image is corrupted or broken is by trying to do a system restore. You may want to contact your manufacturer so that they can provide you a
Recovery Media.

 

Windows 10 system image recovery can't find system image

I had reinstalled windows using the media creation tool but image recovery still can't find system image. How can I check if the system image is corrupted and is there any chance to fix it?

 

The Windows Built in backup software is a bad choice to use and lots of people are having the same problem as yours. The possible problem might be:

• If you move the backup folder to another drive.
• The Windows backup created many files and if one of the files is corrupted/damage.

Having said that, may I ask the reason why you want to restore from A backup, is there certain file(s) you want to restore or you want to restore a complete backup ? If the former then it is easy to selectively restore. If the latter then it is more complicated but it can be done.

 

"...I copied the whole WindowsImageBackup folder to the root directory of an external USB HDD and deleted the image B sub-folder under this newly copied WindowsImageBackup folder.I copied the whole WindowsImageBackup folder to the root directory of an external USB HDD and deleted the image B sub-folder under this newly copied WindowsImageBackup folder..." If I understand this correctly, I think the pointers that Windows Image Backup & Restore would be looking for -- are no longer in the original place, rather, those pointers are now in another place -- and Windows B&R does not know how to go to or how to use those newly-relocated pointers. If I misunderstand this situation, others will correct me *Smile

 

Since I can't find an editing function for my post, here I would like to clarify on the following statement I made:

"This time the Recovery Wizard still lists, under the 'Most recent system image' column, image B on the external HDD, along with the image B on the local computer."

By "local computer" I mean the D: partition of the HDD of the local computer, where the original two system images are stored. The external HDD is connected to the same computer indeed. So, it's also a component of the local computer, not a remote device.

@ topgundcp:

When the later image B was created, Win10 was in a terrible mess at that time (as it still is now). So I would like to go back to the earlier image A.

 

Not clear what you have done to it. Yes, if you can see the .vhd file for image A, you can restore it manually using any number of tools. That is one of the advantages of the .vhd format.

You could borrow my boot media and use dism gui for example.

You would then need to use NT6repair to create the boot files and menu. ( That takes a couple of seconds)

Lastly, still using NT6Repair, Fix the drive letter of the restored image.

All the above tools are in the boot media.

Here:
16299x64-v2.iso

 

I found image A.

From the "Select a system image backup" dialogue, I clicked on the "Select a system image" radio button, pressed the Next button. In the new dialogue only image B was listed. (That's the problem I had.) But here I selected image B anyway, clicked on the Next button. In the new "Select the date and time..." dialogue I saw image A in the list.

Thank you, guys.
@SIW2:

It's really good to know that .vhd file is applicable to other restore utilities. Very useful information. I do appreciate it.

 

You are aware system image backup is a deprecated feature ie MS intend to drop it and recommend using 3rd party tools.

I strongly recommend you use the forum favourite - Macrium Reflect Free - see tutorials in tutorial section.

The backups are about 30% smaller as well.

 

Great to know that. Thanks.