Unable to create system image.

[Tymauk]

Hey there

Wonder if anyone can help me out here!

I want to make a system image, using the 'backup & restore' in the control
panel. When I click on 'backup & restore' I just get a blank screen with a
link on the left pane 'control panel home'. No other links are visible.

I have googled the problem and come across various forums, which I have
tried the suggestions but to no avail!. One of the things I have tried from
these forums is to delete the wbengine! (which seemed to be the most popular
suggestion) from the reg and download a version that was on this particular
forum (s).

I have also checked the services on my PC and do not have a windows backup
service showing.

I really could do with avoiding a re-install of Windows, so hoping someone
out there has a solution or even a name of an alternative system image
software (preferably freeware!)

Many thanks for reading.

TK

 

[Jeff Layman]

Hey there

Wonder if anyone can help me out here!

I want to make a system image, using the 'backup& restore' in the control
panel. When I click on 'backup& restore' I just get a blank screen with a
link on the left pane 'control panel home'. No other links are visible.

I have googled the problem and come across various forums, which I have
tried the suggestions but to no avail!. One of the things I have tried from
these forums is to delete the wbengine! (which seemed to be the most popular
suggestion) from the reg and download a version that was on this particular
forum (s).

I have also checked the services on my PC and do not have a windows backup
service showing.

I really could do with avoiding a re-install of Windows, so hoping someone
out there has a solution or even a name of an alternative system image
software (preferably freeware!)

Many thanks for reading.

TK

I use this:
http://www.todo-backup.com/products/home/free-backup-software.htm

 

[Ed Cryer]

Hey there

Wonder if anyone can help me out here!

I want to make a system image, using the 'backup& restore' in the control
panel. When I click on 'backup& restore' I just get a blank screen with a
link on the left pane 'control panel home'. No other links are visible.

I have googled the problem and come across various forums, which I have
tried the suggestions but to no avail!. One of the things I have tried from
these forums is to delete the wbengine! (which seemed to be the most popular
suggestion) from the reg and download a version that was on this particular
forum (s).

I have also checked the services on my PC and do not have a windows backup
service showing.

I really could do with avoiding a re-install of Windows, so hoping someone
out there has a solution or even a name of an alternative system image
software (preferably freeware!)

Many thanks for reading.

TK

That sounds as if the Windows backup system is a askew.
Run "sfc" from Command Prompt (You'll need to run as Administrator;
right click & select); first with "VERIFYONLY", then (if needed) "SCANNOW".

Ed

 

[wilby]

Hey there

Wonder if anyone can help me out here!

I want to make a system image, using the 'backup& restore' in the control
panel. When I click on 'backup& restore' I just get a blank screen with a
link on the left pane 'control panel home'. No other links are visible.

I have googled the problem and come across various forums, which I have
tried the suggestions but to no avail!. One of the things I have tried from
these forums is to delete the wbengine! (which seemed to be the most popular
suggestion) from the reg and download a version that was on this particular
forum (s).

I have also checked the services on my PC and do not have a windows backup
service showing.

I really could do with avoiding a re-install of Windows, so hoping someone
out there has a solution or even a name of an alternative system image
software (preferably freeware!)

Many thanks for reading.

TK

After trying System Restore (really test it by restoring to a blank
drive) and see if the restore actually boots.

Next try the free version of Macrium Reflect imaging software. I was
able to image my Windows 7-64 and then restore it to a blank drive. It
immediately booted and ran fine. This is the easiest imaging software
I've ever used.

There is also Acronis True Image (no free version) that also works, I
prefer Macrium.

Wilby

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

After trying System Restore (really test it by restoring to a blank
drive) and see if the restore actually boots.

Next try the free version of Macrium Reflect imaging software. I was
able to image my Windows 7-64 and then restore it to a blank drive. It
immediately booted and ran fine. This is the easiest imaging software
I've ever used.

There is also Acronis True Image (no free version) that also works, I
prefer Macrium.

Wilby

System Restore gives you no control over where to restore to; it
restores the system drive in place, to an earlier state.

 

[Ed Cryer]

System Restore gives you no control over where to restore to; it
restores the system drive in place, to an earlier state.

And it can't restore a full system; only undo amendments.

Ed

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

And it can't restore a full system; only undo amendments.

Ed

Yes, thanks for catching that

I'd go so far as to say "Certain amendments". I've never figured out
which ones.

 

[Ed Cryer]

Yes, thanks for catching that

I'd go so far as to say "Certain amendments". I've never figured out
which ones.

I've always believed MS' claim that it can undo ALL system changes; and
leave all data intact.
I must admit when I first read that years ago I felt very, very
sceptical. But I've used it many times (including even once dedicating a
test computer to trying to get its knickers in a twist; without success,
though, because I rolled it backwards and forwards many times quite
victoriously) and now have great faith in it.

The way it works is by storing all records of system changes in a
dedicated folder, including copies of replaced routines etc. And any
restore point you create brings it up to date and sets a time & date
marker.

Ed

 

[Char Jackson]

Yes, thanks for catching that

I'd go so far as to say "Certain amendments". I've never figured out
which ones.

Amendments? What an interesting use of the word.

 

[SC Tom]

After trying System Restore (really test it by restoring to a blank drive)
and see if the restore actually boots.

Next try the free version of Macrium Reflect imaging software. I was able
to image my Windows 7-64 and then restore it to a blank drive. It
immediately booted and ran fine. This is the easiest imaging software I've
ever used.

There is also Acronis True Image (no free version) that also works, I
prefer Macrium.

Wilby

There are free versions of ATI if you own certain drives, be they internal
or external:

ATI for WD drives
http://support.wdc.com/product/downloaddetail.asp?swid=119&wdc_lang=en

ATI for Seagate drives
http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.j...toid=d9fd4a3cdde5c010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

ATI for Maxtor drives
http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.j...toid=7add8b9c4a8ff010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

I found that the only real difference between them and the retail version is
the ability to schedule backups. I create the boot CD and run it from that
anyhow- creates and restores disk images in no time. I had the same pleasant
results with ATI that Wilby had with Macrium (which I have tried, but it's
been years).

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Amendments? What an interesting use of the word.

It requires a 75% ratification by all the installed apps.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I've always believed MS' claim that it can undo ALL system changes; and
leave all data intact.
I must admit when I first read that years ago I felt very, very
sceptical. But I've used it many times (including even once dedicating a
test computer to trying to get its knickers in a twist; without success,
though, because I rolled it backwards and forwards many times quite
victoriously) and now have great faith in it.

The way it works is by storing all records of system changes in a
dedicated folder, including copies of replaced routines etc. And any
restore point you create brings it up to date and sets a time & date
marker.

Ed

So far, every time I've done a System Restore it's seemed to do pretty
much like what you say, but I'm never 100% sure what is happening out of
sight

Just a couple of days ago I had a problem with my display properties,
probably due to some software I shouldn't have installed and
uninstalled. Fonts got funny, dragging windows with contents visible
went away, etc. I didn't know all of the problems that might have
existed, so rather than try to repair them piecemeal & blindly, I did an
SR and was happy.

But also, yesterday I ran an update of a Sticky Notes program (PNotes).
In spite of my answering dialogs to the contrary, the update lost its
data. ShadowExplorer was able to get a missing (i.e., not in my own
backup) note back from the shadow copies, which, rightly or wrongly, I
associate with the SR directory of which you speak. Now that data is
not, AFAIK, system stuff - it lives in my odd programs folder, i.e., not
Program Files or Program Files (x86).

 

[Ed Cryer]

So far, every time I've done a System Restore it's seemed to do pretty
much like what you say, but I'm never 100% sure what is happening out of
sight

Just a couple of days ago I had a problem with my display properties,
probably due to some software I shouldn't have installed and
uninstalled. Fonts got funny, dragging windows with contents visible
went away, etc. I didn't know all of the problems that might have
existed, so rather than try to repair them piecemeal& blindly, I did an
SR and was happy.

But also, yesterday I ran an update of a Sticky Notes program (PNotes).
In spite of my answering dialogs to the contrary, the update lost its
data. ShadowExplorer was able to get a missing (i.e., not in my own
backup) note back from the shadow copies, which, rightly or wrongly, I
associate with the SR directory of which you speak. Now that data is
not, AFAIK, system stuff - it lives in my odd programs folder, i.e., not
Program Files or Program Files (x86).

Could that be due to the SR having replaced (quite correctly) some
registered file with a version earlier than that required by the later
installed application
That is bound to happen; well known, I guess. But "data" doesn't include
programs.

Ed

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Could that be due to the SR having replaced (quite correctly) some
registered file with a version earlier than that required by the later
installed application
That is bound to happen; well known, I guess. But "data" doesn't include
programs.

Ed

In this case, "data" is a subfolder of the program's installation
folder, and contains the notes and an index to them. I didn't run SR, I
ran ShadowExplorer. I just right-clicked on the lost note in the shadow
copy and told ShadowExplorer to export it. Voilà, the note was back.