How often do you create a Backup of your system (Complete Windows Installation with Apps and Files)? Here I am going to discuss the easy way to make an exact copy of your entire computer using the System Image Backup utility.
Making regular Backup is the best way to avoid data losses. System Image backup is the complete backup of your Windows 10 computer with all apps, settings, and the files.
If your system is having an issue or a crash then you can recover your system from a System Image. It is a clone of the Windows installation drive. In simple language, it is a copy of C drive including Windows files, personal files, installed apps and programs.
There are many ways to secure a computer from viruses and crashes and it is one of them. System image Recovery makes your system same as it was when the backup was taken. To protect most of your data take backups on a regular basis.
What is System Image Backup?
The System Image Backup is more than an ordinary Backup of your PC. It makes a clone of your current system state for recovery your computer to the current state of your PC in future. It also copies the updates and skips duplicate files.
We face a problem when a new software is installed with errors making the whole system slow or even crash in some cases. There can be a device failure, then it comes in use to get your Windows and app with their activation back.
How to Create a System Image Backup in Windows 10
1. Right-click the Start button and select Control Panel from the list to open it. Another way is to use the shortcut Windows key + X to open power user menu and select Control panel.
2. Click “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)” link under System and security.
3. Click the Create a System Image link in the bottom-left corner of the screen. This will launch “create a system image” wizard. it will scan for all connected drives.
4. Connect an external USB hard drive with enough free space. If it is not shown automatically click drop-down under on a hard disk and select
5. Select your external USB hard drive to continue.
In the backup wizard, you’ll be prompted to choose from one of the three options to save the backup. These are:
- On a hard disk – It allows you to use an external hard drive for storing backups. It should be having enough free space more than or equal to your C drive size.
- On one or more DVDs – It allows you to use a blank DVD for storing backups.
- On a network location – You can also store your backups on a network location if you have any.
6. Click Next.
7. Confirm and begin the process by clicking Start backup.
This Process would take anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours, it all depends on the amount of data to be backed up.
Note: You can’t restore a Windows system image backup on a different PC. Your Windows installation is tied to your PC’s specific hardware, so this only works for restoring a computer to its previous state.
But you can extract individual files on another computer by mounting the standard VHD (virtual hard disk) image files and copy files from using File Explorer.
And yes, during the process, you can use your computer as you would normally do. No need to stop your work. After the System Image Backup utility completes the task, remember to keep the hard drive in a safe place, so you can find it when you need it.
Great you have done a great thing for your PC. Now continue reading to know how you can use it to restore your computer in future.
How to Recover from System Image Backup
There are many ways in which you can use System Image recovery to reimage your computer. If your system is able to boot them use the first method.
System Image Recovery from Settings
1. While on desktop press Windows key + I shortcut to open Settings. You can also open settings from Start menu.
2. In settings click or tap on Update & Security and select Recovery from the left pane.
3. In the right pane click or tap on Restart now button under Advanced startup.
4. Your PC will restart and open in recovery mode and a “Choose an option” screen will appear.
5. Then select Troubleshoot and then Advanced options.
6. And finally, select System Image Recovery. It will open Reimage system utility, here select the System image you created earlier and click next to complete the recovery.
It will take hours to complete. You can wait or do something else in this time.
How to Restore from a System Image backup with a Recovery Drive
If you have created a recovery media then you can use it here. Connect the recovery drive (USB) into your computer and restart. Your computer should boot from the recovery media automatically.
When your computer boot from the recovery media, select your keyboard layout to continue. You can select a language of your choice. For more options click “see more keyboard layouts.”
You will see Choose an option screen.
Then select Troubleshoot and then select Advanced options and finally System Image Recovery. And follow the instructions on the screen.
How to use System Image Recovery using a Windows Installation Media
In the case of system failure or boot problem, you have to use it.
- To restore your computer from the backup, connect the drive with the system image backup and reboot your computer with the Windows installation media.
- During the Windows Setup, click Next, then click the Repair your computer link in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
- Click on Troubleshoot, click Advanced options, and select System Image Recovery.
- Now select the target operating system you want to recover, click Next and Finish.
Done, enjoy your PC.
Have you ever used this feature? Do you use third party utilities?
In case, you faced a problem discuss with us in comments or forums.
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