Restoring a system image in Windows 8.1

NeilF · 7 May 2015 at 19:41

In windows 7, you create a System Recovery CD, boot from it, and then restore using your Windows 7 system image (created before).

There seems to be no way to create a System Recovery CD in Windows 8.1, with it instead constantly trying to use a USB device?

Someone mentioned to me you can infact use the Windows 8.1 installation DVD to restore an image (on a Windows 8.1 machine)? Is that correct?

What's the best/better method? Hopefully someone's been down this path so can comment?

ED209 · 7 May 2015 at 20:04

they removed the disk image software from windows 8.1

you can do a system refresh which will default the OS to factory settings and keep your personal files in tact or you can do a complete re install of everything.

edit that, just found this, it may help you create a disk image in 8.1

https://www.winhelp.us/system-image-backup-in-windows-8-1.html

and this

http://www.hanselman.com/blog/CreateACompleteSystemImageBackupWithWindows81AndFileHistory.aspx

NeilF · 7 May 2015 at 20:34

Don't understand why it's so hard/impossible to simply create a recovery CD/DVD?

I'll buy a super cheap USB stick and follow what it want you to do. ie: Make a recovery "disc" on that...

KIA · 8 May 2015 at 15:05

Have a look at Macrium Reflect.

NeilF · 8 May 2015 at 15:12

KIA said:
Have a look at Macrium Reflect.

What's the advantage of using this over Window's own imaging?

At the end of the day I simply want a method of - should a disk fail - to restore from a backup (I do everything 3 months).

I'd be worried about a 3rd party application restoring a disc (eg: the primary OS disc) and it not working properly. eg: Being bootable etc. Which is something I've wasted hours and hours and hours on before for example...

bledd · 8 May 2015 at 15:46

Macrium is a solid product, I've even opted to get the paid version despite not using the paid features.

Easy to use, dependable.

The free version is great
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

The paid version lets you do individual folders instead of the whole drive.

Personally, I only use it for whole drive images.

NeilF · 8 May 2015 at 15:49

bledd. said:
Macrium is a solid product, I've even opted to get the paid version despite not using the paid features.

Easy to use, dependable.

The free version is great
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

The paid version lets you do individual folders instead of the whole drive.

Personally, I only use it for whole drive images.

Hmm.. I've been bitten before with 3rd party apps when it comes time to restore. :eek:

I'll stick with the option to take an image using Windows (on my Windows 7 & 8) machines...

Thanks for the suggestion though.

KIA · 9 May 2015 at 12:47

NeilFawcett said:
What's the advantage of using this over Window's own imaging?

At the end of the day I simply want a method of - should a disk fail - to restore from a backup (I do everything 3 months).

I'd be worried about a 3rd party application restoring a disc (eg: the primary OS disc) and it not working properly. eg: Being bootable etc. Which is something I've wasted hours and hours and hours on before for example...

I've been using the paid version of Macrium for years. It is a solid product.

+ Faster than Windows disk imager
+ Better compression
+ Verification of disk image
+ Not limited to storing a single disk image on a network drive
+ Incremental disk imaging
+ No need to copy an image from a network drive to local drive before mounting

You should run a test restore on a regular basis.

NeilF · 9 May 2015 at 15:21

Is Macrium (for the non-free edition) a pay once and can use on a number of machines? eg: 2?

Or do I have to buy per machine? Could work expensive for my usage!

And if I want to create a start up media from Macrium say on a USB dongle? Will 8gb be enough?

KIA · 9 May 2015 at 17:32

http://macrium.com/personal.aspx

An 8GB USB drive will be fine.

Is the free version not good enough for your needs?

NeilF · 9 May 2015 at 17:54

KIA said:
http://macrium.com/personal.aspx

An 8GB USB drive will be fine.

Is the free version not good enough for your needs?

Ouch! For that price the free version is good enough yes!

With my three machines I do three monthly full backups. One time I'll do a full windows image... and the next time a Macrium Reflex one. So I'll have two different formats of full backup alternating on two different media. That seems pretty robust to me

QUESTION: If I get an 8gb USB stick and create a Macrium Reflex bootable restore media on it, can I use this single USB stick on any machine (to restore a Reflex backup image)? ie: I don't need to create 3 unique bootable USB sticks for the 3 PCs?

Coolasmoo · 9 May 2015 at 18:25

You can still make an image in 8.1

File History - System image backup

NeilF · 9 May 2015 at 19:20

Coolasmoo said:
You can still make an image in 8.1

File History - System image backup

Yes... That's what I'm doing...

But you can't create a restore DVD/CD.

Instead you seem to have to create a restore USB stick. I believe you might also be able to boot off the 8.1 installation DVD and do a restore from that!? Not sure though...

KIA · 10 May 2015 at 14:37

NeilFawcett said:
QUESTION: If I get an 8gb USB stick and create a Macrium Reflex bootable restore media on it, can I use this single USB stick on any machine (to restore a Reflex backup image)? ie: I don't need to create 3 unique bootable USB sticks for the 3 PCs?

It depends. Have a read of this.

NeilFawcett said:
Yes... That's what I'm doing...

But you can't create a restore DVD/CD.

Instead you seem to have to create a restore USB stick. I believe you might also be able to boot off the 8.1 installation DVD and do a restore from that!? Not sure though...

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/create-usb-recovery-drive

You can use the Windows 8.1 installation media.

http://www.howtogeek.com/167984/how-to-create-and-restore-system-image-backups-on-windows-8.1/

bledd · 10 May 2015 at 15:11

Suck it and see.

Always a good idea to test your proposed restore method.

Macrium is very quick and easy to use

MichaelAwkward · 11 May 2015 at 12:15

NeilFawcett said:
Yes... That's what I'm doing...

But you can't create a restore DVD/CD.

Instead you seem to have to create a restore USB stick. I believe you might also be able to boot off the 8.1 installation DVD and do a restore from that!? Not sure though...

I don't understand. You just restart into the advanced recovery options menu and restore the image through that... Or if you use the 8.1 installation, click on repair my PC at the language selection screen. Same thing.

NeilF · 11 May 2015 at 12:33

MichaelAwkward said:
I don't understand. You just restart into the advanced recovery options menu and restore the image through that... Or if you use the 8.1 installation, click on repair my PC at the language selection screen. Same thing.

Yes, I wasn't aware than the 8.1 DVD had a recovery option built in to allow you to restore an image