Guide to Create Windows 7 System Restore Image Using Windows Backup

It's a new post in the new year with new Operating System (OS) and new notes to my own guide. Now, after installing Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit edition to zen's laptop, as usual, I want to create a system image on C drive for restore point so that I will not need to repeat the tedious formatting and installing process all over again. At first, I want to use my PING image creation flow again but I found out that Windows 7 has its own Backup which can create system image. With curious heart, I try the new way to create the image and here is the guide.

1. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore
2. Look for a clickable link on the left side of the window, "Create a system image"
3. A new window "Create a system image" will pop out. It asked, "Where do you want to save your backup". Click "On a hard disc" and choose other partition of your hard drive (not C: drive) which has at least 15GB if you want to create a system image consist of Windows 7, drivers and nothing else installed.
4. Next screen will ask you to "Confirm the backup settings". In a box of "The following drives will be backed up:" should show "(C:) (System)". Click "Start backup" to start the imaging and wait until finish.
5. After the image is created, Windows will ask you if you want to create a system repair disc. If you have the Windows 7 installation disc with you all the time, just ignore the question.



So you created an image of your Windows 7 system, how to restore to your system image? We have 3 ways to restore the system image from Microsoft but I am going to reword them again to be easier for me to remember.

1. Using the Recovery Control Panel (recommended by Microsoft)

1. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore.
2. Click Advanced recovery methods > Use a system image you created earlier to recover your computer

2. Using pre-installed recovery options

1. Restart your computer.
2. If your computer has only Windows 7 installed, hold down the F8 key as your computer restarts and goes into BIOS. You need to press F8 before the Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, try restart again.
If your computer has operating system other than Windows 7 installed, choose Windows 7, and then press F8.
3. On the Advanced Boot Options screen, choose Repair your computer, and then press Enter.
4. Select a keyboard layout, and then click Next.
5. Select a user name, type the password, and then click OK.
6. On the System Recovery Options menu, click System Image Recovery, and then follow the instructions.

3. Using a Windows installation disc or a system repair disc

1. Insert the installation disc or system repair disc. Anyway, you really no need to create the system repair disc if you always have your installation disc.
2. Restart your computer.
3. If prompted, press any key to start the computer from the installation disc or system repair disc.
4. Choose your language settings, and then click Next.
5. Click Repair your computer. This step only applies if you are using a Windows installation disc.
6. Select a recovery option, and then click Next.
7. Choose where your image file is stored. Windows will choose the latest version from your image. Just let the restoration begin.

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