Restoring Win7 64bit From System Image ?

Bint Box · 9 Aug 2011 at 08:56

Hi,

Could anyone please let me know if a restore of a Win7 64 bit installation from a system image reformats the hard drive as part of the restore? The image I have is derived from a single HDD system and if possible I would like to format the HDD before or as part of the image restore.

Having never carried out a Win7 64bit system image restore before I am not sure what options will become available after I start the restore and just wished to check before proceeding.

I have a Win7 64bit repair disk on CD and the system image on an external USB HDD. Also, the PC is operational so I presume I could initiate the restore from the PC Win7 OS?

Thx for any advice.

Rgds
Bintos

oli356 · 9 Aug 2011 at 10:09

Yup, it asks you which HDD and if you want to format it first.

Source: did it last week on some laptop

Bint Box · 9 Aug 2011 at 11:11

oli356,

Thx, exactly what I had hoped for.

Rgds

Bint Box · 9 Aug 2011 at 22:37

I carried out the system image restore by initiating it from the current Win7 O/S on the PC. However, at no point during this process did I get the opportunity to format the hard drive. The option to format and repartition to match the system image was greyed out and none of the advanced options offered a format.

Does the actual image restore process format the hard drive in the background automatically or does it just delete all existing files and reconstitute the files from the image?

Rgds
Bintos

oli356 · 9 Aug 2011 at 23:02

Thought it gave the option, think I'm doing it tomorrow so if no one else responds I'll get back to you!

theheyes · 9 Aug 2011 at 23:34

Boot from the disc and it should give you the option.

Bint Box · 10 Aug 2011 at 09:11

I repeated the image restore but this time I booted from the repar disk. It shows the option greyed out that has automatically selected to format the drive. The format before restore is what I want, however, it seems to be automatic rather than selectable?

Rgds
Bintos