In Windows 8.1 (at least in the currently officially available distribution of Windows 8.1 Preview), Microsoft decided to abandon the graphical Windows 7 backup tool left over from the days of Windows 7.
In the recently leaked Windows 8.1 RTM network, a graphical wizard for creating a system image still appeared. Details at the end of the article.
Naturally, this does not mean that in Windows 8.1 it is impossible to create a backup copy of the system image using standard tools (do not confuse system image backup and File History backup technology for user data), it’s just that now this functionality has been transferred to a separate Wbadmin command line utility and is not accessible from the GUI. In this article, we will talk about the features of using the Wbadmin utility to create a backup copy of a Windows 8.1 image and then restore the system from this image.
Backing up the Windows 8.1 image
The operating system image takes up a lot of disk space, so to perform the operation, you must have enough free space (no less than the size of the occupied space on the system disk) on some external drive (for example, with a USB connection) or a network directory.
Open an elevated command prompt and run the following command:
wbAdmin start backup –backupTarget:H: -include:C: -allCritical –quiet
where H: is the external drive on which the system image is saved
C: - the drive whose image must be forcibly added to the backup being created
AllCritical is a very important parameter, indicating that all critical sections of the system must be included in the backup, i.e. partitions containing any system files or components (including the hidden boot partition).
Quiet - when executing a command, do not ask the user for confirmation
In the event that it is necessary to include several disk partitions in the backup (for example, C:\, E:\ and F:\), the command will look like this:
wbAdmin start backup -backupTarget:H: -include:C:,E:,F: -allCritical –quiet
If you want to write the backup to a shared network folder:
wbAdmin start backup -backupTarget:\\srv-bak1\BackupFolder -user:username -password:userPassword -include:C: -allCritical -quiet
Note: if authorization is required to access the network folder, please specify the username and password
Depending on the number of disks, the degree of their fullness and the performance of the computer, the process of creating a system image can take several hours (in this example, with 40 GB of information on the C:\ drive, the system backup took about 2 hours).
If, after the backup has been created, you open the drive (or network directory) to which it was written in Explorer, you can find the WindowsImageBackup directory familiar from the days of Windows 7 (Backup and Restore function) with several .xml and .vhdx files in it. These are files with system partition images and configuration information.
Advice. In the event that only a few directories or files need to be restored from the created image, we recommend that you read the article: How to restore individual files from a Windows 8 image
How to restore Windows 8.1 from an image
Next, let's try to figure out how you can restore Windows 8.1 from an image with a backup on an external drive.
Attention: When restoring from a backup, all data on the restored partition will be deleted and replaced with the data contained in the backup.
Boot from the boot or installation disk of Windows 8.1, connect the external drive to which you previously recorded the backup image of the system.
After starting the installation wizard, click on the Repair your computer link (in the lower left corner)
Then go to Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options -> System Image Recovery
Next, select the OS you want to restore. The system should automatically find the previously created backup copy of the Windows image on the external drive (if this does not happen, you will have to specify it manually).
And finally, by clicking the Finish button, start the process of restoring the system from the image.
System Image Backup in Windows 8.1
Update dated 09/06/2013. After getting acquainted with the recently "leaked" Windows 8.1 RTM (build 9471) network, we managed to find out that Microsoft decided to return the graphical interface for managing the creation of a backup copy of the entire contents of the computer. This feature is called System Image Backup. To create a full system image in Windows 8.1 (including EFI system partitions, boot, etc.):
Open Control Panel and go to System and Security > File History.
Click the "System Image Backup" button in the lower left corner
Select a drive or network folder on which the system image will be "folded"
Then you need to select the partitions that you want to include in the backup (system partitions are always selected by default).
Click Next, after which the system will start writing its image to an external drive or network directory.
When the Windows 8.1 Preview test build was released in June, many noticed that the new version of the system was missing an important data recovery tool in the past: system images, which first appeared in . However, in fact, they have not gone anywhere - they are just very well hidden.There are two functions associated with system images. Firstly, you can create them, and secondly, you can completely restore the system from them.
To create an image, you will have to visit the "File History" section in the Control Panel (Control Panel | File History). Note that this is in the Control Panel, and not in the main Metro-interface "File History Settings", so be careful when choosing the desired item in the search results on the home screen
In the "File History" window that opens, pay attention to the link "Creating a system image" (System Image Backup) in the lower left corner. It opens the familiar "Create a System Image" wizard, in which everything remains the same.
To restore the system from an image - that is, completely return it to a certain state - simply connect the external drive on which the image file is stored. Then go to PC Settings | Update and recovery | Recovery” and click the “Restart Now” button in the “Advanced Startup” item. The computer will restart.
On the Choose an Option screen, select Troubleshoot. In the "Diagnostics" section, select the "Advanced Options" item. On the Advanced Options screen, select System Image Recovery. The computer will restart again.
On the System Image Recovery screen, select your username and enter your password. The Restore System from Image Wizard will start. On the first page, select the desired image, then click "Next" (Next) and follow all the instructions of the wizard to restore the system from the specified image.
Is this the best backup and restore method for Windows 8.1? No. But those who still want to use it can rejoice: it still works. And of course, this is very convenient if you have images of previous versions of Windows lying around.
Restoring the Windows 8 system may be required when critical errors occur in the PC. So that the user does not have to completely reinstall the OS, special tools are provided that allow you to restore the computer even without deleting files and changing general system settings. In this article, you will learn how to start recovery of a computer or laptop on Win 8 in different ways.
Below are two scenarios for the development of events: with a working operating system and with a faulty one. In the first case, you can restore from the Windows 8 interface without a disk or flash drive, and in the second, you will need bootable media to copy system files. All methods are shown below:
- rollback from a restore point;
- using Refresh your PC;
- reset to factory settings on a laptop;
- recovery using a boot disk or flash drive.
Let's consider each of the methods in detail. All instructions are fully working and suitable for any builds of Windows 8 32/64 Bit.
System restore point
This method allows you to roll back the OS to a certain state. You must do the following:
- Open File Explorer using the icon on the taskbar.
- In the left directory, find the item "This PC" and right-click on it to select "Properties" from the menu.
- In the window that opens, click on the "System Protection" button.
- In the selected tab, click on the "Restore" button.
- On the first screen, click on "Next".
- From the list, select a checkpoint according to the date when the state of the computer was stable and working. Click Next.
- To start the procedure, click the "Finish" button.
Now you know how to use a checkpoint to roll back the OS state.
Create a checkpoint
If you don't have checkpoints set up automatically, you can do it manually. This option is useful in case of problems with the OS in the future:
- Open the Properties window again and click on System Protection.
- Next, click on the "Create" button marked in the screenshot.
- Enter a name and click Create.
- Wait until the end of the procedure. After it, the current OS configuration will be saved as a checkpoint. You can easily restore this state in the event of a Windows 8 malfunction using the above instructions.
Rollback through "Options"
Windows 8 first introduced the Refresh Your PC tool. With it, the user can roll back the state of the OS to the required one. You can save applications and settings, reset your PC to factory settings, completely reinstall the system, or launch a safe environment and perform the necessary actions through it.
First you need to open "Computer Settings":
- Right-click on the "Start" icon and select "Find".
- In the search bar, enter the query "computer settings" and open the appropriate application.
- In the list of partitions, select Update and Recovery.
- Go to the "Recovery" subsection. Here are tools that allow you to restore the original state of the OS or start safe mode.
The first option (1) allows you to restore Windows 8 to factory settings without losing personal files, music, photos, etc. Using the second item (2), you can call up a menu for completely reinstalling the OS and returning it to the factory preset settings. This will remove all personal files and installed applications. By clicking on the button in the third paragraph (3), you can call up a safe environment and continue settings through it. The first two options allow you to roll back the system from under the Windows 8 interface.
It is worth dwelling on the secure environment in more detail, since advanced functionality awaits you there.
Click on the "Restart now" button and wait - on the screen you will see how the menu starts with the choice of action. Click on Diagnostics.
As you can see, here you can perform all the same operations as in the Windows 8 interface. However, the diagnostic menu can come in handy if the OS does not boot. Click on the "Advanced options" button to go to advanced functionality. With it, you can:
- roll back the OS to a checkpoint;
- use a wim image for recovery;
- roll back the system through the command line.
Let's consider all the possibilities in more detail. We dealt with the first point above - the procedure is no different from running in running Windows 8.
By clicking on "System Image Recovery", you launch a program to automatically unpack a pre-created wim archive. It should contain the entire OS with personal settings and programs. You can connect a disk or flash drive to your computer to unpack a third-party wim image. This way you get a complete system.
"Command line" allows you to run the rollback procedure using simple commands. Click on the appropriate button to launch the application. Now enter the command "rstrui.exe" and press Enter to run. After that, you will get access to the menu with restoring the PC through the checkpoint.
You can launch this menu through bootable media if the installed OS does not work correctly and does not start. Let's consider such a situation.
Performing the procedure using a flash drive
To perform the procedure in this way will require some preparation. First, you need to create bootable media. To do this, you need to visit the official Microsoft website, where the Windows 8 web installer is located and download it to another computer. The bootloader will download the OS files and create the boot drive automatically.
Secondly, you need to make settings through the BIOS. To do this, when starting the PC, press the button responsible for entering the BIOS menu (it is indicated on the initial screen of turning on the computer). Go to the "Boot" menu and set the bootable USB flash drive to the first place in the boot priority. To save the settings, press F10 and restart the PC again.
Now, when you turn it on, you will see the installer menu. Here you will find the possibility of uninstalling, reinstalling the system, formatting the hard drive. The creators also highlighted the recovery function in a separate menu:
- Select the desired item and start the procedure.
Rollback on a laptop with a preinstalled operating system
Notebook manufacturers that sell devices with pre-installed software provide the ability to roll back using proprietary utilities and tools. Part of the hard drive space is allocated for recovery, so in a couple of steps you can start the procedure for returning the PC to its original settings.
This applies to laptops from Asus, Lenovo, Acer, HP, and more. Consider the procedure using the Acer Iconia tab w5100 as an example. By default, this company uses the keyboard shortcut Alt + F10 , which must be pressed on the initial boot screen with the Acer logo.
You will see the "Acer eRecovery Management" menu. Select the marked item.
After that, wait until the end of the procedure. During the process, the laptop may restart several times. You can cancel the recovery process only by restarting the PC. After the end of the rollback, you will receive a device with factory settings.
The names of the utilities and how to access them differ depending on the manufacturer of the laptop, but using this example, you can easily restore Windows 8 on any device.
Conclusion
Using the described methods, you can return the working or original state of Windows 8 in almost any situation. Use checkpoints to restore your computer to its previous state. The Refresh Your PC functionality is useful when you roll back your PC to factory settings. A safe environment is useful if Windows 8 does not start - the necessary tools can be opened through a bootable USB flash drive.
Video
Below you can watch a training video that clearly shows all the steps in this article. Together with the video instruction, you will be able to understand the difficulties and restore your computer without outside help.
Hello friends! If you read various computer forums on the Internet, you can find one unsolvable problem. This problem will also not be solved for you in any computer service and will simply be offered to reinstall the operating system again. The problem is that in Windows 7, 8.1, 10 there is a built-in operating system backup tool, but in some cases this tool may not find the Windows backup image created (by itself) during recovery. As proof, I can give you my own article, written two years ago: "", if you read the comments on it, you will understand everything, or maybe you yourself found yourself in a similar situation and did not find a way out of it.
Any user of a personal computer sooner or later decides to back up his operating system, I must say, this is very convenient, you install an operating system on your computer (it is already installed on a new laptop from the store), then install all the necessary programs, then create a backup image of Windows, if after a year the computer becomes unstable, you simply restore Windows from a backup and that's it, so we come to the most important thing.
To create a backup copy of the operating system, many programs have been invented, both free and paid, for example: Paragon Hard Disk Manager 15 Professional, but many users prefer the operating system archiving tool built into Windows, with which you can also create a backup copy of the OS and place it on a regular hard drive or portable USB hard drive. But it is not always possible to recover from this backup, and here's why.
- Note: Friends, in today's article I propose to use Acronis True Image Home 2014 to solve this problem, but not all users have this program, so I wrote two more articles, in the first I use the utility built into Windows, and in the second, the utility .
The point is the special whimsicality of the backup tool built into Windows. If you have created a backup using the archiving tool built into Windows, then after that it is undesirable to change the configuration of the hard disk (that is, divide it into additional partitions, change drive letters, etc.), it is also undesirable to touch the USB portable hard drive on which the backup is located, Under no circumstances should the folder name be changed. Windows Image Backup) in which the system archive is located or move it. Often, these conditions are not met by users, and when restoring, they will receive the following message: “Windows cannot find an image on this computer”.
Accordingly, the user is faced with the question of how then to restore. Despite the seeming hopelessness of the situation, there is still a way out and here it is!
So, for starters, let's create a backup copy of the disk (C :) of a Lenovo G710 laptop with UEFI BIOS and Windows 8.1 installed from the store using the built-in archiving tool.
Laptop Disk Management
In this window, we see that, in addition to the regular Disk 0 (1 TB), a portable USB hard drive is also connected to the laptop, also with a volume of 1 TB, it is on it (on partition I :) that we will save a backup copy of the Windows 8.1 operating system ( Drive C:).
We launch remedy withbacking up files using File History.
Click on the button System image backup.
In this window, the Windows 8.1 Backup tool offers to save a system backup to a portable USB hard drive (section ( I:)).
The built-in archiving tool automatically includes sections in the backup:
1. Hidden encrypted (EFI) system partition (260 MB) without a letter containing Windows 8.1 boot files.
2. Drive (C:) with Windows 8.1 installed.
If you turn the scroll wheel down, you will see
that the backup will include another hidden partition without a letter, containing the Windows 8.1 Recovery Environment.
Note: In this screenshot, we see three partitions of the laptop hard drive that will be included in the backup archive.
We also see the partition (I:) of the portable hard disk, on which the archive will be saved.
In the "Confirm archiving parameters" window, we check whether we have configured everything correctly.
Click Archive and the archiving process will begin.
The backup process starts.
Archiving completed successfully.
After the archiving process is completed, go to the USB portable hard drive, partition (I :) and see the folder with the newly created backup archive called WindowsImageBackup, this is it - Backup Windows Image.
We go to the archive WindowsImageBackup and find in it Backup folder, it is in this folder that there are three files with the VHDX extension, this format is used in various Microsoft virtualization solutions.
In simple words, the built-in backup tool converted the drive (C:) with Windows 8.1 installed, as well as two hidden partitions, into VHD X virtual hard disk format files.
The very first file vhd X contains the Windows 8.1 operating system, this can be identified by the large file size. The other two VHDX files contain respectively two hidden partitions, the first with the recovery environment, and the second with system boot files (Esp.vhdx). You can also mount any virtual disk in« Disk management» and see its contents, not only that, you can even work with him.
Now let's imagine the situation, half a year has passed and your laptop for some reason has stopped loading, you decide to restore the laptop from the previously created backup archive WindowsImageBackup using the built-in backup tool. We connected a portable USB hard drive to the laptop, then booted the laptop from the Windows 8.1 installation flash drive, entered the recovery environment, selected in advanced options« Restoring a system image» ,
and then you get this error
: "Windows cannot find an image on this computer»Friends, I want to tell you that there is no definite solution to this problem, and even if you remember that a month ago you transferred the folder with the WindowsImageBackup archive to another hard drive, and then returned it to its place again, then this will not help you. 99% of users in this case simply reinstall the operating system or return the laptop.
We will not reinstall Windows and will take such steps.
We find another computer.
We connect our portable USB hard drive to it. We go to the folder WindowsImageBackup, find our virtual disk vhd X with Windows 8.1 files.
We will not touch the original, copy the file to another folder and give it a different name, for example Windows 8.1.
In Disk Management select Action ->Attach virtual hard disk.
Overview.
We find our virtual disk Windows 8.1.vhdx, select it with the left mouse and click Open.
The virtual hard disk is attached, in disk management, and assigned the letter (H:).
Acronis True Image 2016
Beginning of work. System backup.
We uncheck the boxes everywhere and mark only our connected virtual hard disk (H:).
In step Destination, Local storage, specify a portable USB hard drive to save the backup and click the button Archive.
Acronis True Image 2016 VHDX virtual disk backup in .TIB format is ready and located in the G:\My backups\Windows8_OS (H) folder on the portable USB hard drive.
In Acronis True Image 2016, we create .
I want to restore the drive (C:) of my laptop from a backup we created.
Note: For the purity of the experiment, before the recovery process, I will completely delete the drive (C :) with Windows 8.1 installed from the laptop, and then restore from our backup using a bootable flash drive with the programAcronis. Naturally, you do not have to do this, well, unless suddenly someone wants to quickly remove Windows on the command line.
I connect a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 8.1 to the laptop and boot the laptop from it
When the initial Windows 8.1 installation window appears, I press the combination Shift+F10 and a command prompt opens.
I enter commands:
diskpart
lis dis (this command displays a list of all connected drives)
sel dis 0 (I choose Disk 0, since this is the main hard drive of the laptop, we are guided by the volume of the disk 1 TB))
lis par (I display a list of all partitions of Disk 0, we see that the fifth partition is just the disk (C:) with the Windows 8.1 operating system installed)
sel par 5 (choose section 5)
del par override (removing section 5)
That's it, drive (C:) is deleted.
The laptop now boots with error 0xc0000034 because drive (C:) is removed.
To check, I will boot from the Live CD AOMEI PE Builder. We see instead of a disk (C:) unallocated space. Boot environment assigned a letter(C:) to another partition, but there is practically nothing on it either.
We connect a portable USB hard drive to the laptop and boot the laptop from a bootable UEFI flash drive Acronis True Image
Choose Recovery. Disks.
Overview. We need to find the backup we created, it is located on one of the partitions of the USB portable hard drive. Full path: G:\My backups\Windows8_OS (H), but since Acronis True Image confuses drive letters in the boot environment, the letter may not be G: but quite different.
Opening the item computer.
We go to the Local Disk (L :), it is similar in size to the partition of the USB portable hard drive on which the backup we created is located.
We go to the folder My backups.
Go to the Windows8_OS (H) folder.
Marking the partition for recovery Windows8_OS(H).
We do not mark the MBR item, since the hard drive of our laptop has the GPT partition style and the UEFI interface is enabled in the BIOS.
Click on the button New storage.
We mark with the left mouse the unallocated space 449.6 GB and click Accept.
Proceed.
The process of restoring the laptop from the backup we created begins.
We reboot the laptop and the error comes out again, which means inStop the crashed Windows 8.1 bootloader.
Restoring the Windows 8.1 bootloader
I connect a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 8.1 to the laptop and boot the laptop from it.
When the initial Windows 8.1 installation window appears, I press the combination Shift + F10 and the command line opens.
I enter commands:
diskpart
list vol (this command lists all partitions. We see that the partition with the Windows 8.1 operating system is assigned the letter C:)
exit (exit diskpart)
We enter a command that will completely overwrite the contents of the Windows 8.1 boot storage of the laptop.
bcdboot.exe C:\Windows
Download files successfully created!
We reboot the laptop and finally Windows 8.1 is loaded!
This option will help return the system to a state recorded at a certain point in time - a restore point. If saving such points is configured and enabled, then before installing updates, drivers and applications, the system state will be written to the hard disk.
Returning Windows to a restore point will save all personal files, but the drivers and applications that appeared after the point was created will need to be reinstalled.
To start Windows Recovery, right-click on the "Start" (Win + X) and go to "Control Panel" → "System and Security" → "System" → "System Protection". Click "Restore" → "Next" and select the desired restore point.
Another path option: "Control Panel" → "All Control Panel Items" → "Recovery" → "Start System Restore".
If the restore point is not found, then system protection is disabled, and you will have to use other methods.
To avoid trouble in the future, enable the creation of restore points. To do this, in the same "System Protection" menu, select the system drive, click "Configure" and enable system drive protection.
2. Reset your computer
If there are no restore points or going to them does not help, try resetting the system. You can rollback with saving files or completely delete everything and . Also in some computers - more often these are laptops - there is an option to restore factory settings.
In Windows 8 and 10, you can start a factory reset by going to Settings → Update & Security → Reset this PC → Get Started.
In Windows 7, to do this, go to "Control Panel" → "System and Security" → "Backup and Restore" → "Restore system settings or the computer" → "Advanced recovery methods" → "Return the computer to the state specified by the manufacturer."
3. Restore Windows using a disc
The recovery disk is useful, for example, to roll back to a saved point or return to its original state if Windows refuses. An ordinary flash drive, external hard drive or DVD is suitable for the role of such a disk.
The recovery disc must be burned in advance and stored in case of system failure. Under Control Panel → All Control Panel Items → Recovery, click Create Recovery Drive. In the menu that appears, check the “Back up system files to a recovery drive” item, and you can use the USB drive not only to fix errors and roll back, but also to reinstall Windows.
You can create a recovery DVD in Windows under Control Panel → System and Security → Backup and Restore → Create a System Repair Disc. The same method works in newer versions of the system, only the name is different: "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" instead of "Backup and Restore".
To correct errors, boot the system from disk. In the recovery environment that opens, click Troubleshoot. Start Reverting to a System Restore Point in the Advanced Options → System Restore menu.
4. Restore Windows using a full system image
Another option for restoring Windows is to roll back to a previously created system image. The image is written to a hard drive, to DVDs, or to a network partition.
Unlike a rollback or restore from a point, using a full image retains all files, applications, settings, and drivers installed at the time it was created.
The most appropriate moment to create such an image may be the state when all the necessary applications are installed on the system, but there is nothing superfluous. So you can continue working immediately after recovery.
To create a complete system image, in the Control Panel, select "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" → "Create a System Image". (In Windows 7: Control Panel → System and Security → Backup and Restore → Create a System Image.)
In the menu that appears, you can choose which of the available partitions and files to include in the system image and what media to write it to.
With a complete system image at your disposal, you can quickly return Windows to the state you need. You can start image-based recovery when you restart your computer: "Diagnostics" → "Advanced Options" → "System Image Recovery".
