Win8 image restore

Discussion in 'Windows 8' started by Dave-UK, Apr 3, 2012.

  1. Dave-UK

    Dave-UK MDL Junior Member

    Apr 24, 2011
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    #1 Dave-UK, Apr 3, 2012
    Has anyone managed to restore a Win8 VHDX disk image ?
    I've tweaked Win8 to get it to boot to a sensible desktop and
    start menu and I saved the disk image. Now when I try to restore
    that image by booting the Win8 dvd and choosing Repair > Resore Image
    it scans for saved images but only sees VHD (Win7) images and not
    the new VHDX (Win8) image.

    Thanks.
     
  2. secretromeo

    secretromeo MDL Addicted

    Mar 30, 2011
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    #2 secretromeo, Apr 3, 2012
    How exactly did you create the image and what kind of image did you create? A Windows 7 kind of full system image (using Backup) or the new recimg.exe one that automatically registers itself?
     
  3. Dave-UK

    Dave-UK MDL Junior Member

    Apr 24, 2011
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    #3 Dave-UK, Apr 3, 2012 (OP)
    Now you've asked me to reproduce the steps I've noticed something
    that I missed before.
    I created the image like this:

    Control Panel(icon view) > Windows7 file recovery.
    (I didn't notice the 7!).
    Create a System Image.

    This then creates an image, in my case onto an external drive.
    It behaves just like Win7, asking you if you want to create a
    recovery disk (usb or cd).
    The image is a VHDX file and is around 7 G/B.

    But booting from the Win8 dvd and choosing the repair option
    the VHDX file is not seen.
    The VHDX file can be mounted as usual in Disk Management.
     
  4. TFN

    TFN MDL Member

    Apr 27, 2011
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    #4 TFN, Apr 3, 2012
    VHD and VHDX aree virtual Hard drives, they Can be copied To physical disks but not using the Windows recovery agent. You need To create a WIM file using imagex or DISM To have a valid restore image
     
  5. Dave-UK

    Dave-UK MDL Junior Member

    Apr 24, 2011
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    #5 Dave-UK, Apr 4, 2012 (OP)
    I know what VHD and VHDX files are.
    I created a VHDX file via the backup feature on Wndows 8.
    As I said in my original post , the Windows 8 recovery disk cannot see this VHDX image it created.
    It can only see VHD files.
    Have you any experience of this behaviour?
     
  6. secretromeo

    secretromeo MDL Addicted

    Mar 30, 2011
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    #6 secretromeo, Apr 4, 2012
    @Dave-UK: Did not experience it till now. However, I would suggest that from now onwards, you should create System Image using the new RECIMG.EXE tool in Windows 8.

    Capture.JPG
     
  7. Dave-UK

    Dave-UK MDL Junior Member

    Apr 24, 2011
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    #7 Dave-UK, Apr 4, 2012 (OP)
    Thanks. I obviously need to learn more about recimg.exe.
    It looks like Microsoft have changed the image backup option in Win8
    from that in Win7.
    Thanks again.
     
  8. Dave-UK

    Dave-UK MDL Junior Member

    Apr 24, 2011
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    #8 Dave-UK, Apr 10, 2012 (OP)
    Well the system image creation and restore is working now.
    I've recently had some Win8 updates and I'm wondering if
    that has got something to do with it.

    Also, Win8 now has support for ISO images as well as VHD and VHDX.
    Double-clicking on an image file automatically mounts it in a virtual
    drive and assigns a drive letter.