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Help needed: can't properly restore Windows 7 System Image (including System Reserved Partition)

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You'ld think that restoring an existing (Windows 7) System Image to a new HDD would be basic and straightforward thing, right? Think again...

Back in October 2011 I created a System Image of my Windows 7 Ultimate C:\ drive to my local NAS using the Windows 7 built in backup and restore function. As the C:\ drive was formatted by Windows 7 during the (Windows 7 Ultimate) installation process, there were two partitions:

  1. a hidden "System reserved" partition
  2. the actual C:\ partition

As a result two .vhd files were saved on my NAS (one for each partition)

I now want to restore this System Image to a new (and larger) HDD, including all (both) partitions.

I first tried it with the Windows 7 Installation Disk but failed utterly

  1. The Restore function from the Windows 7 Installation Disk won't/can't find the System Image folder/files from my NAS (and yes, I did enter the complete and correct path and user account credentials)
  2. After copying the whole System Image folder from the NAS to a local HDD the Restore function from the Windows 7 Installation Disk did read the System Image folder/files but refused to restore the System Image to the new (larger) HDD, returning the error:

The system image restore failed. Error details: Element not found. (0x80070490)

After half a day of internet searching I could not find any solution but I did find out that the Windows 7 built in backup and restore function causes more problems than it solves...

I therefore looked for an alternative solution and found http://kb.acronis.com/content/3648 , which is exactly what I needed. I downloaded a test version of "Acronis True Image Home 2012", created a Acronis Bootable Media and followed the instructions. Everything worked fine (including finding the System Image on my NAS) until Step 5. Instead of reporting just one disk (Disk 1) with 2 partitions ("System reserved" and actual C:\ partition), 2 disks (Disk 1 and Disk 2) were reported, each with just one partition. As a result I needed to assign each Disk (partition) to a different HDD so I could not restore both partitions to the same HDD anymore. I figured it might have something to do with the fact that I was using the test version of "Acronis True Image Home 2012" so I ordered a full license for 49,95 €, entered the new (full license) serial number, created a new (fully licensed?) Acronis Bootable Media and tried again. Unfortunately I came to same result: the tool reported two Disks with one partition each instead of a single disk with two partitions. I finally only restored the C:\ partition and ended up with a disk that couldn't boot (as it was missing the required boot info from the "System reserved" partition). I then had to use the Repair function from my Windows 7 Ultimate Installation disk to 'repair' the boot functionality. I ended up with a booting HDD but with only a single partition (the "System reserved" partition still missing), so I still did not fully restore my original disk...

So here's my question: how can I restore the complete content (including both partitions) of my Windows 7 System Image with "Acronis True Image Home 2012"?

I do have one remark (which may explain why "Acronis True Image Home 2012" reports two disk instead of just one): each partition was reported (by "Acronis True Image Home 2012") as having its own MBR. However, I'm not sure if this was actually the case as I ended up with a non-bootable disk after I restored the second (C:\) partition

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Can't you move the backup files to a local hard disk and try from there?

Btw, why didn't you just backup up the entire disk (disk mode)? You could always restore individual partitions or you could restore the entire disk in one swoop.

ATI is seeing each partiton backup as a drive -- but that shouldn't matter for your purposes for any set of partiton backups froma disk backup one may always choose to restore any one or more of the partitons in the backup.

In any event, you restore single paritions, both to the same hdisk.

Right click on the computer icon on your desktop, choose manage, storage, disk management.
Verify that the active partition "system reserved" is still on the same disk as C:\System. Verify there is no other active partition on another disk , for example.

Make sure that when you do your backup, you create one backup with the entire C:\disk. For this, click on disk and partiton backup, click on the blue multiple partition selection and select all the partitions on the system disk. You can also click again on the disk selection blue link and select the entire disk.
This will create one backup with the 2 partitions inside.

Bruno Laurent wrote:
... Instead of reporting just one disk (Disk 1) with 2 partitions ("System reserved" and actual C:\ partition), 2 disks (Disk 1 and Disk 2) were reported, each with just one partition.

You may be confused by the way ATI presents the information. But be assured you are looking at the image of your disk with 2 partitions *IF* you have created a backup with the 2 partitions selected and they are on the same disk, of course.

As a result I needed to assign each Disk (partition) to a different HDD so I could not restore both partitions to the same HDD anymore.

Note that when you run ATI from the recovery CD, it will give drive letters that are different from Windows. For example, you might see a C:\ partition that corresponds to your C:\system partition, but you will see a D:\ partition that corresponds to your system reserved partition. BTW, you will see the same thing if you double click on the TIB file in Windows Explorer.

I figured it might have something to do with the fact that I was using the test version of "Acronis True Image Home 2012" so I ordered a full license for 49,95 €, entered the new (full license) serial number, created a new (fully licensed?) Acronis Bootable Media and tried again. Unfortunately I came to same result: the tool reported two Disks with one partition each instead of a single disk with two partitions.

This is a mistake, again, if the 2 partitions (the active and the system) are indeed on the same disk and you have created one single backup. Your backup is just fine.

I finally only restored the C:\ partition and ended up with a disk that couldn't boot (as it was missing the required boot info from the "System reserved" partition). I then had to use the Repair function from my Windows 7 Ultimate Installation disk to 'repair' the boot functionality. I ended up with a booting HDD but with only a single partition (the "System reserved" partition still missing), so I still did not fully restore my original disk...

You can restore your whole disk from that single backup.

You seem a lot more knowledgeable than I am but if it is still confusing Look at the Acronis 2012-Getting Started PDF in the left column. That helped me a lot it describes each process with pictures :) Unfamiliar terms and jargon still throw me.
I was only backing up C:\ drive then docs and email and did not realize I had the option to backup the entire Hard Drive in one fell swoop. Pat L helped me in that area as he did you. I also added a name to the stock ID numbers that the external drive shows up with to make it easier to identify in the live disc. Also I noticed that if I had ATIH running when I plugged in the external it did not interact with it. I figured this out after shutting ATIH down and starting it up again and it was fine.

My system is Vista HP

This is crazy. I have the EXACT same problem restoring Win7 Home Premium from Rescue CD. I get the following list under Select Items to Recover:

Disk 1:
NTFS (Unlabeled ) (C:) Pri 419.2 GB
MBR and Track 0

Disk 2:
MBR and Track 0
NTFS (Unlabeled) Pri, Act 100 MB

I cannot figure out how to restore both disks to the same hard drive. I am allowed to use the C drive, which is the target drive, for only 1 disk, which would be Disk 2. If I go back and try to add Disk 1 or do it in the same step, I CANNOT PUT BOTH PARTITIONS ON THE SAME DRIVE. When I select Target drive for the primary Disk 1 after selecting Disk 2's target as the C drive, the C drive is then GRAYED OUT AND I CANNOT SELECT IT AS THE TARGET FOR THE DISK 1.

So I tried restoring from Windows 7 installed on a second physical drive from within Windows. After running the restore from within Windows to the new disk and rebooting, I get the BOOTMGR file is missing error upon rebooting to the new hard drive where I supposedley restored both the 100 mb pri, act drive and the Disk 1 data. Folloiwng the directions to get the Bootmgr file restored from Win7 install CD was fruitless. It simply doesn't work. So I went back to trying Acronis restore from within Windows (again, booted from an old HD with Win7 installed) and this time I COULDN'T EVEN FIND THE NEW HARD DRIVE AS A DESTINATION! What gives? This should be SIMPLE AND EASY, not a freakin two day nightmare of totally unproductive frustration. I use your product to make RECOVERY SIMPLE - not this damn nightmare. This is totally, totally unacceptable.

Please give me some simple, straitforward instructions on how to recover my data and the partitions, as described.

The 100MB partition contains the boot manager; it must be restored to the hdisk as the active/system partition or W7 won't boot the hdisk. Also, only the 100MB can be marked as the active/system partition. When th hdsik starts up the, bootstrap is read which takes the machine to the bootmanager (used to be the ntldr file in xp but it's inthe 100mb partiton in Vistat and W7). The bootmanager then tells the computer to load up windows OS on the C: drive or other OS if you set up W8 for multiple OSs.

If you have these in a single diskmode backup, then don't select the MBR Track0 box, by not chekcing it this lets you manually restore partitions, restore the 100MB partiton, same size to the new disk. then the other partiotn; pick an MBR/Track0 last and rstore that, then see if you can boot.

 Hello all,

Bruno and Jeff,

The issue you have experienced is rather strange. Probably, Pat L was correct assuming that system reserved partition and system partition were located on different physical hard drives. You may check your partition layout by Disk Management tool, or please obtain Acronis system report from the Help section of Acronis program and attach to your next message.

Thank you.

I have a similar problem. My system reserve ~100MB and my bootable partition (c:\) are located on different physical hard drives. I don't know why this is the case or if this is adnormal. I didn't install windows, I bought the computer with windows already installed. In my case I can make a back up but restoration of the backup fails. I've tried tech support on the phone but they are not helping me. When I start ATI from my computer it freezes. If I start it from my bootable media then it works. The restoration proceds, take about a second to complete (fishy) and gives no error. But the computer reboots without any changes having been made to it. Why isn't it at least giving an error message if it isn't going to work? Is it not possible given that the system reserve is on a sperate drive? Is it significant that my bootable drive is a SSD? What going on? Will ATI ever work for me?

I have a similar problem. My system reserve ~100MB and my bootable partition (c:\) are located on different physical hard drives. I don't know why this is the case or if this is adnormal. I didn't install windows, I bought the computer with windows already installed. In my case I can make a back up but restoration of the backup fails. I've tried tech support on the phone but they are not helping me. When I start ATI from my computer it freezes. If I start it from my bootable media then it works. The restoration proceds, take about a second to complete (fishy) and gives no error. But the computer reboots without any changes having been made to it. Why isn't it at least giving an error message if it isn't going to work? Is it not possible given that the system reserve is on a sperate drive? Is it significant that my bootable drive is a SSD? What going on? Will ATI ever work for me?

Martin,

If you have a backup of your system and the Windows installation DVD you could:
- restore the 100MB partition on the SSD as the first partion first, leaving a 1MB offset before it, do not resize the partition, do not change the drive letter, mark it primary active,
- then restore the current C:\system partition,
- then disconnec the disk that has currently the system reserved partition,
- then boot on the Windows installation DVD, choose Instal, repair computer.

After the repair is done, you can plug the other disk back in.

Bruno,

In your first post you mention you ended up with two VHD files, unless you are using Acronis Backup and Recovery product, I would have expected you to end up with tib files, unless you converted your tib files to VHD using the 2012 utility.