Windows 10: System Image Recovery

Hi All,



I'm switching to SSD and I created a system image on the drive already. I tried going to system image recovery to boot using it, however when I click it, the screen goes blank. I'm pretty sure it's not a time thing, I gave it 8 hours. I'm pretty sure this is my next step, so I'm stuck.



Thanks!

Kevin

:)

 

System Image Recovery

It goes blank. Yes, I used "create system image" in the control panel to save it.

 

System Image Recovery

Windows Imaging doesn't always cooperate when restoring to another drive.

You can reinstall the source HD to capture the image externally using
Macrium Reflect is a Free and Easy To Use Backup Utility which will allow choosing any partitions to restore and then placing them wherever you want them on any other drive.

You can also do a
Clean Install Windows 10 which compiles the best install one can have which will stay that way as long as you stick with the steps, tools and methods given. This is a much better install than a factory install or Upgrade.

 

What did you use to make the system image with and what storage device did you save it to?

 

I used Windows "create system image", and I saved it to an external ssd.

 

So you have two SSDs? One external you are saving the image to and one internal that you are trying to move the OS to?

I recommend you use Macrium Reflect Free to create images and/or clone the OS to a new SSD:
Macrium Reflect Free

Whether using built-in Windows imaging or Macrium Reflect, making the image does not create the rescue drive needed to recovery it. The rescue/recovery drive must be created separately.

 

Macrium Reflect is by all accounts the better option, but I am more familiar with Windows own 'make a system image'. While it does offer to make a rescue drive at the end of making a system image, it can only make a CD. You can make a recovery drive on a USB with the separate Recovery Media Creator - go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Recovery and click 'create a recovery drive'.

You can (and I do) restore a system image without a recovery drive by booting to Advanced start-up, it's in Settings>Update & Security>Recovery. When it boots click 'Troubleshoot', then 'Advanced options' and then 'System Image Recovery'. It should then reboot and say 'Preparing System Image Recovery'. You then have to choose an account and give a password. It will then search for available images. Booting from a recovery drive it's more straight forward, there are less options to choose to get to 'System Image Recovery', it won't need a reboot or ask for an account or password.

I suspect that you are trying to use the first method, the Advanced start-up, and for some reason it is failing at the reboot step. I have no such problems but then I use external HDDs to hold my system images. Try making a recovery drive on a USB and booting from that.

I'm confused by this bit. Do you mean this image on the same SSD as you wish to restore it to? How many partitions do you have? The system image cannot be restored to the partition that holds it. It need to be in a second partition separate from the one which you are going to overwrite with the restored image, preferably the image should be restored from an external USB drive.