HP Recovery vs. Windows 7 image restore

I just got my HP laptop and I'm learning about recovery and backup. I understand that if the hard disk fails a set of HP Recovery DVD's will restore the laptop to the factory image once a new hard drive is installed. I also understand you can use the Windows 7 backup software to make a system image that can be used with an official Windows install disk to restore Windows to a new hard disk too. Buit HP doesn't distribute an official copy of Windows with my new laptop, just Recovery disks.
Ideally, what I'd like to do is make an image of the hard drive on my new laptop now that I have it set up with all my software installs and configuration changes that I could use to restore from in the event I have to replace the hard disk. But it doesn't appear I can do this from all the reading I've done. It looks like the only thing I can do is restore the factory image using the HP Recovery disks and then have to reinstall all my software again. Is this correct?
Thanks for your help;
Steve

Hi,
There are many products around can do this such as Norton Ghost, Acronis .... or few free clone HDD software around like these:
http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/05/5-free-apps-to-clone-your-hard-drive/
I've used both Ghost & Acronis and prefer Acronis.
Regards.
BH
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Similar Messages

Help: Windows cannot restore a system image to a computer with different firmware

I want to recover a complete image of a Windows 7 operating system I have backed up to my other server. But I am getting the error "Windows cannot restore a system image to a computer with different firmware. The System Image was created by a computer using BIOS and this computer is using EFI"
The image was definitely taken from this machine - the firmware has not changed!
What do I need to do to restore the image?
Background Story ..
I bought a new HP 255 laptop per-installed with Windows 7 without Operating Systems instal disks (I will NEVER be stupid enough to do that again!).
I took a complete image of the systems, as suggested so that I was well backed up.
However, my machine corrupted its operating systems with a few weeks. The boot recovery CD did not work (would not boot). So in desperation, and because time was short I went out and bought another, legitimate copy of Windows 7 DVD with a license key (So now I have 2, legitimate copies of the operating system!).
I installed the new copy of Windows 7 - but it was dreadful, because many drivers were missing. Mostly the missing drivers were not available on the HP support site for this machine. ALso, boot up was increadibly slow compared to the original OS installation.
So I created a new boot recovery disk from the new version of Windows, and tried to restore using that. New boot disk loads ok, I can find the old image on my network (after loading a few network drivers). But I won't instal the image - giving the above error message.
I tried deleting the EFI partition from the disk (using GPARTED to reformat that partition). That killed the Windows 7 on the machine - but still gives the same error message when I try to re-image the machine.
I have tried going into the BIOS settings .. HP 255 has a "Legacy Mode" - which I have enabled, but this makes no difference at all!
I think that the kind of solutions I am looking for might be:
1. There is a clever way of disabling EFI on my 255 so that it looks like a legacy BIOS machine, or
2. This EFI this is wired into my new boot recovery disk - and there is a way of creating a boot recovery disk that does not use EFI
This has taken me about 2 weeks so far,please help with any suggestions!

DonOxley wrote:
Erico,
I suspect that "MSDOS" is what the Gparted tool calls "MBR" for a partition table, as explained here:
http://superuser.com/questions/700770/mbr-equals-msdos-for-gparted
I think that you are suggesting I give up on trying to recover the image I have stored on my server and just to instal Windows 7 from my new copy. There are two problems with this.
1. After having systematically downloaded all of the drivers from the HP 255 notebook support page, I am still seeing missing drivers listed. Install the AMD graphics softpaq driver first. It also contains the chipset drivers.
2. The machine is taking a hugely long time to boot up, and seems much slower with this version. Maybe that is a product of using "EFI" rather than "bios" - I don't know.
My assumption is that HP had some special set-up option with their version of Windows which makes the machine more performant. It does not seem to be a coincidence that the image they deliver the machine with is not quite compatible with a 'normal' Windows 7 instal.
So my original question stands: How do I recover the image that I saved away (as per instructed) when I first bough the machine?
You still have not said what you used to create the system image. What is the "image" file's extension?
You are mistaken in your comparison. MSDOS is an operating sytem MBR is a partitioning scheme. that is comparing apples to oranges.
The article is making an oblique reference in that using GPARTED is more or less equated to using the diskpart utility at the command line. Everything done at the comand line is essentially done by use of MSDOS commands. GPARTED does the same thing with LINUX commands via a graphical interface so you don't have to type in the commands in a Linux console.
Do you mean making a backup? a backup is not a clone which can be reproduced on different hardware. The SSD disk replacement does make the hardware differ from the original configuration.
Follow the instaructions on the following tutorial to make your disk a GPT type before installing.
http://www.disk-partition.com/articles/mbr-partition-table-to-gpt.html
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Recovery Manager / Windows 8 / Failing to restore / discs purchased from HP

Last week I purchased a set of recovery discs directly from HP.com. Before this my laptop was running perfectly fine, no issues at all. I purchased the discs in hope of restoring my laptop to its factory settings. After receiving the first set of discs I inserted the first disc and powered my laptop down and then powered it back up. I then proceeded to follow the instructions presented in the interface. I noticed when I got to the 4th disc, the "Application and Driver Recovery DVD", that the image was not taking at all. After such I received the following message in Recovery Manager: "In most cases, recovering the hard drive will fix your problems. If your problems continue, you may need to contact HP Support. Find HP Support contact information in your PC documentation".
From there I clicked on the "finish" tab that resulted in the laptop powering down but not rebooting. So I powered it back up manually where I received the infamous "Boot Device Not Found / Please install an operating system on your hard disk / Hard Disk (3F0) / F2 System Diagnostics" message. I was immediately alarmed. I proceeded to repeat the system recovery instructions once again. These were the instructions provided by HP along with the recovery discs.
Once again I received the same messages, the same results. So I immediately contacted HP support. The first agent I spoke to acted as if he had never heard of the "Boot Device Not Found" problem, which I now know is very common with HP notebooks. He diagnosed the problem as faulty recovery discs, thus he had a new set expedited to my home. I received them a few days later, the exact same set of discs and instructions. Of course I was feeling weary about things at this point. And as I expected I received the exact same results as I did with the prior set of discs.
So once again I contacted HP support where they looked into other problems, such as the health of my HDD. But the HDD passed both the quick check and the extensive check. Like I stated earlier, before I started the recovery process with the HP discs I had no problems with my laptop at all, including my HDD. So the agent had me go through the BIOS solution that I have seen others use on here, where legacy mode is enabled. This solution to failed.
I've also tried resetting the BIOS to it's default settings. I've also carefully removed my HDD and reseated it nice and snug. After doing so I ran the diagnostic tool, and once again the HDD passed with flying colors. HP support finally suggested, as I was already expecting, for me to have the laptop sent off to them to have it repaired. This is not an option. It was a perfectly running machine before I ran the recovery discs and it should be the same now.
But one thing I did notice from the get go, after receiving the first set of discs, and researching what the interface of the recovery manager should look like (http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03489643), was the fact that the interface established by the windows 8 recovery discs that I received, look nothing like that found on the HP support site. It also never gave me the option, like it states in the instructions that were provided with the discs, to select either a "Factory Reset" or a "File Backup Program". The system recovery instructions are dated as Second Edition: March 2014 but the 3 operating discs are dated 2012 with the Driver disc being dated 2014.
Like I stated before, after running all 3 operating discs through, without interuption, the Driver disc does nothing when asked if I have a supplemental disc. With that all being said, has anyone ever been provided the wrong set of recovery discs directly from HP? Or do you know of another solution that might solve my dilema? Any help or suggestions would be sincerely appreciated.
I'm just wondering if I might have received a set of discs intended for let's say a desktop system running Windows 8 instead of the ones needed for a laptop.
The following is the name and part # of the discs that I received: "System Recovery DVD Windows 8 Recovery Media for Windows 8 Products". 1st disc: 708664-001, 2nd disc: 708665-001, 3rd disc: 708666-001, 4th disc (Application and Driver): 712189-B26.

GRuss wrote:
Did the replacement disks work? I have the exact same problem, hours on the phone, no solution except send to them with more money
Nope. I gave up trying to get real support and a resolution from them. You'd think they would have at least a few local American reps to communicate with, but I guess HP is too **bleep** cheap to pay a few extra bucks to hire such people!
Anyhow I took a different route in restoring my operating system, thanks to an individual on another tech site. He gave me a link to an ISO file that at least got me back up and running.
And don't, whatever you do, send them anymore money. It's a complete ripoff, complete sham. After, like I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, communicating hours after hours with HP support over this matter I was told I would receive a full refund, even though the discs sold to me originally had already blown out my Windows 8 operating system. I reluctantly agreed. I just didn't want to deal with them anymore. Over a week had passed and I saw that my credit card had still not been credited like I had been promised by the HP rep. So I called back to see what was going on with it.
Once again I was put through the ringer, told to call this and that number, connected over and over with different Indian reps. Finally one, after speaking with her supervisor, told me I would NOT be receiving a refund because I had received and used the discs. I finally stopped being polite at this point. I blew up on the phone! These effers admittedly sent me the "copied wrong" discs not once, but 3 freaking times! Thus blowing out my operating system! Prior to being told I would receive a 100% refund, I offered to go directly to the HP distribution center where the discs originated from. Ironically it's only about 40 miles from my home. I just wanted to take my laptop there with me to find the correct software to restore my operating system. But they, the HP reps, would not allow such. Complete BS!
Thankfully I was able to contact my credit card company and was able to dispute the charge. When I told the "American" rep that I was having a problem with HP he started chuckling. He pretty much told me that HP was one of the most disputed companies out there. He took care of everything for me. I was able to get a full refund for the time being.
I will never buy another HP product again. And this is coming from someone who has not only an HP laptop but a 2 year old desktop as well, and not too mention my HP printer. After this ordeal they, HP, will never get a dime from me again!

Windows Backup fails to complete and System shows 29 Restore Points all titled "System Image restore point" but none will work.

Problems both seemed to appear about the same time and may be related.
Had backups on an external drive prior to the problem and appeared to be working. I have since cleaned the external drive in an attempt to start a new backup series but it continues to stop and report backup has failed.
The System restore was working fine and one day it had changed all the existing Restore Points to "System Image restore point"
but still showed all the different dates. In the System Properties window it indicates that there are 0 bytes in "current usages",
which I assume they are all empty but I can't create any new ones. I get Error code 0x80042308.
I have tried the Clean Boot with no results. I use MS Security Essentials for virus protection.
I have no other symptoms or problems on the PC.
About ready for a Recovery and start all over.
George M1

Hi,
Your first step should be to run chkdsk /r /f on all the drives in that computer. Shadow copy errors are often caused by disk problems (usually minor) which chkdsk will find and correct.
Also, this issue can be caused that VSS dlls are corrupted.
Re-install the VSS dlls by following these steps:
a. Using command prompt, CD to the WINDOWS\system32 directory
b. Stop the Volume Shadow Copy service by executing the command "net stop vss"
c. Register the following DLLs and services by executing these commands:
regsvr32 ole32.dll
regsvr32 vss_ps.dll
Vssvc /Register
regsvr32 /i swprv.dll
regsvr32 /i eventcls.dll
regsvr32 es.dll
regsvr32 stdprov.dll
regsvr32 vssui.dll
regsvr32 msxml.dll
regsvr32 msxml3.dll
regsvr32 msxml4.dll
Hope these could be helpful.
Kate Li
TechNet Community Support

Faulty Windows after 'successful' System Image restore to new hard drive.

This question posted as ' Cut down Win 7 after System Image restore to new HDD' in the community but no satisfactory answer. Please may I ask here.
Win reported a successful System Image creation of C: on my E: drive. C was replaced with a new 2TB drive (previously 1.5Tb) and the image restored. Win reported 'successful' restoration of C: immediately followed by the common 'You must restart
your computer to apply these changes...' which I assumed was just Win taking note of the new drive.
On running, everything seems fine at first but you start to notice faults. Most importantly Win doesn't seem to recognise itself. If you start some of the functions in control panel (eg System Manager) you get a message from User Account
Control 'Do you want to allow the following program from an unknown publisher to make changes to this computer?'.
Windows Live Mail won't work. You get a message 'Windows Live Mail could not be started. Closing Windows Live Mail. Your calendar contains corrupt data that is forcing Windows Live Mail to close (0x8E5E0247).' I have never used the
calendar function so there shouldn't be any data there.
Browsing history in IE is there on very first opening but is immediately lost and never recovered. Favourites are intact but all login details are lost. All your internet feeds are lost. Message 'The feed download was interrupted.....'
Trying to create new feeds is unsuccessful.    When you try and download something the usual IE message 'Do you want to run or save ... ' comes up at the bottom of the screen but the buttons do not work so you cannot get any downloads.
Installed non-Windows applications do seem to run OK though I usually switch back to the original drive pretty quick.
2 x Dell Precision T5500 desktops, both reasonably high spec and more or less identical though one is nearly 3 years old and the other approaching 4. Both Win7 x64. The fault identical on both machines. I have had these drives in and out
so many times trying to solve this there is a real risk of damaging the disk or lead. Can anyone suggest what might be wrong or how Win could be fixed?? I assume 2Tb is ok. Is it normal to get a restart message after a 'Successful' image
restore message. I've tried cloning the drive as well but got exactly the same messages and faults. Next I was going to try creating the image after running something like EndItAll and then seeing if the image would restore more successfully
to a different 1.5Tb drive though I don't see this should make any difference. 'Clutching at straws' comes to mind.
Thanks.

Hello, thanks for your interest.
Yes, principally it's the Windows features which are faulty. It's not that they don't work at all (except for win live mail which gives that message about being forced to shutdown), rather that there are faulty features.
All of the functions in control panel, for example, work OK. But when you select them there is this message from user account control ' Do you want to allow the following program from an unknown publisher to make changes to this computer'.   It
then goes on to give details the oddity being that the publisher is listed as 'Unknown'. This is the standard User Account Control dialogue but the strange thing is that it is not recognising the functions coming with windows.    If you
click yes it goes on to open device manager or whichever one it was that you wanted and the function works quite normally.
Non windows applications (including Microsoft Office) run normally without the user account control dialogue. The only oddity I noticed today was that one program seemed to have lost it's licencing information and gave a message that the
month trial period was up with an invitation to licence.
Today I tried to restore an image to a replacement 1.5TB disc. (i.e. the same size as the image was made from). The whole process went quite smoothly and Windows seemed to be working without the faults on the replacement drive.     So
having shown that the image must be OK I tried swapping the 1.5 drive for the 2Tb drive and repeating the restore from the same image.   Immediately on running, Windows gave me the message 'You must restart the computer to apply these changes....
(which it had not done for the 1.5Tb restoration) and all the old faults were back.   The message might be quite innocent and simply indicate that Windows is taking note or the different size drive but it seems to be associated with the arrival of
the faults. (The new drive is formatted as for the 1.5Tb with C: and Recovery partitions and the extra space left unallocated).
No, I have not tried Reinstalling Windows Live Mail yet. Today I was working on the newer machine and my mail is on the older one. It is odd that both machines show exactly the same problem. It must be something to do with the move to a different size disk.   I
guess I would have to reinstall IE as well as that was the other application that was really faulty.
Yes, that is the thread I tried in the community but I didn't get any solution.

Folio13 Windows 7 pro 64, system image, restore fails

I have (10) HP Folio13, running Windows 7 pro 64, I have used the Windows 7 system tools, to create a system image onto a USB 2.0 external Seagate harddrive. It created fine.. to test it I tried to restore the image onto a different HP Folio13.
I hooked up an external USB cd-rom/dvd reader/write to either USB ports, and the USB Seagate hard drive to the other free USB port, thats on the HP Folio13. and I'm using a Windows 7 system restore disc. If the USB cd/dvd write is hooked up to the USB port on the left hand side, it crashes stating it can't find the x:\sources\recovery\tools\hp recovery manager.exe this application has request the runtime to terminate it in an unsual way please contact the application support team for more infomation, if i shutdown and place the cd/dvd drive into the USB port on the right hand side. it works.. and boots correctly but can't find the Windows system image, that exists on the USB external harddrive. I know that the USB windows system image is valid.. I was able to restore it too a differnet HP laptop a 8560w.. with the same boot disk, but since the HP 8560w has a built in cd reader.. all works well. I have updated the BIOS to the lastest as of today (F.18) I have updated the USB drivers, I have tired using F11 on the HP Folio and tried to restore it from that, but what comes up, does not support a system image restore, F11 only works for system restores.. I need some aid.. I have a valid Windows 7 system image on a external USB 2.0 hard drive. I would like to restore it to a HP Folio13.

Hello canadianguy2,
Your Folio13 is a Business model. Your issue would be best answered on the HP Enterprise Business Community Forum
Good luck!
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How to create a full windows image recovery partition ?

Hi,
It's been about a month since I remplaced my HDD, because the original one which has the recovery partition was currupted...
So, I had to do a clean windows 8.1 x64 installation using my embedded windows 8 key
Now I would like to create a recovery partition with a full windows image that can be executed with F10 on the start up. just like the one that came with the original HDD
Please help...
Thanks in advance !

Be sure and request a usb recovery flashdrive. The cost is usually around $30.00 USD
Ordering recovery media from HP
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Restoring windows image from raid 1 to raid 0

Source : IBM Server system x 3250 m4 2x500 GB HDD RAID 1
Did a bare metal restore windows image. Tried to restore onto destination but it gives blue screen on boot up
Destination:IBM Server System x 3250 m4 1x500GB HDD RAID 0

Hi,
Generally we recommended to perform a restore back to the original device as same configuration may not work on different devices.
For your current situation can you boot into Safe Mode without the blue screen?
If so, try to reinstall your RAID card driver (if there is one) to see if it is related.
If you have any feedback on our support, please send to [email protected]

System Image Restore Fails "No disk that can be used for recovering the system disk can be found"

Greetings
                                    - Our critical server image backup Fails on one
server -
Two 2008 R2 servers. Both do a nightly "Windows Server Backup" of Bare Metal Recovery, System State, C:, System Reserved partition, to another storage hard drive on the same machine as the source. Active Directory is on the C: The much larger D: data
partition on each source hard drive is not included.
Test recovery by disconnecting 500G System drive, booting from 2008R2 Install DVD, recovering to a new 500G SATA hard drive.
Server A good.
Server B fails. It finds the backed-up image, & then we can select the date we want. As soon as the image restore is beginning and the timeline appears, it bombs with "The system image restore failed. No disk that can be used for recovering the system
disk can be found." There is a wordy Details message but none of it seems relevant (we are not using USB etc).
At some point after this, in one (or two?) of the scenarios below, (I forget exactly where) we also got :
"The system image restore failed. (0x80042403)"
The destination drive is Not "Excluded".
Used   diskpart clean   to remove volumes from destination drive. Recovery still errored.
Tried a second restore-to drive, same make/model Seagate ST3500418AS, fails.
Tried the earliest dated B image rather than the most recent, fail.
The Server B backups show as "Success" each night.
Copied image from B to the same storage drive on A where the A backup image is kept, and used the A hardware to attempt restore. Now only the latest backup date is available (as would occur normally if we had originally saved the backup to a network location).
Restore still fails.         It looks like its to do with the image rather than with the hardware.
Tried unticking "automatically check and update disk error info", still fail.
Server A SRP 100MB C: 50.6GB on Seagate ST3500418AS 465.76GB Microsoft driver 6.1.7600.16385   write cache off
Server B SRP 100MB C: 102GB on Seagate ST3500418AS 465.76GB Microsoft driver 6.1.7600.16385   write cache off
Restore-to hard drive is also Seagate ST3500418AS.
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7repair/thread/e855ee43-186d-4200-a032-23d214d3d524      Some people report success after diskpart clean, but not us.
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsbackup/thread/31595afd-396f-4084-b5fc-f80b6f40dbeb
"If your destination disk has a lower capacity than the source disk, you need to go into the disk manager and shrink each partition on the source disk before restoring." Doesnt apply here.
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=439&Itemid=38&limit=1&limitstart=4
for 0x80042403 says "The solution is really quite simple: the destination drive is of a lower capacity than the image's source drive." I cant see that here.
Thank you so much.

Hello,
1. While recovering the OS to the new Hard disk, please don't keep the original boot disk attached to the System. There is a Disk signature for each hard disk. The signature will collide if the original boot disk signature is assigned to the new disk.
You may attach the older disk after recovering the OS. If you want to recover data to the older disk then they should be attached as they were during backup.
2. Make sure that the new boot disk is attached as the First Boot disk in hardware (IDE/SATA port 0/master) and is the first disk in boot order priority.
3. In Windows Recovery Env (WinRE) check the Boot disk using: Cmd prompt -> Diskpart.exe -> Select Disk = System. This will show the disk where OS restore will be attempted. If the disk is different than the intended 2 TB disk then swap the disks in
correct order in the hardware.
4. Please make sure that the OS is always recovered to the System disk. (Due to an issue: BMR might recover the OS to some other disk if System disk is small in size. Here the OS won't boot. If you belive this is the case, then you should attach the
bigger sized disk as System disk and/or exclude other disks from recovery). Disk exclusion is provided in System Image Restore/Complete PC Restore UI/cmdline.
5. Make sure that Number and Size of disks during restore match the backup config. Apart from boot volumes, some other volumes are also considered critical if there are services/roles installed on them. These disks will be marked critical for recovery and
should be present with minimum size requirement.
6. Some other requirements are discussed in following newsgroup threads:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsbackup/thread/871a0216-fbaf-4a0c-83aa-1e02ae90dbe4
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsbackup/thread/9a082b90-bd7c-46f8-9eb3-9581f9d5efdd
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsbackup/thread/11d8c552-a841-49ac-ab2e-445e6f95e704
Regards,
Vikas Ranjan [MSFT]
------- This information is provided as-is without any warranties, implicit or explicit.-------

System image restore new hard drive

Hard drive failed. Brought new one and are trying to do a system image restore. Boot using Win 7 repair disk. Start image recovery. Runs for a min or two and give me the following error.
Windows back up failed to extend or mount the file system on the recovered volume. (0x80780124) , I don't have win 7 disk as it did not come with the computer, I did create a repair disk and several system images as back up but am now stuck.
Help !
This question was solved.
View Solution.

I feel your pain, I went through several installs of a Samsung SSD. First SSD died within several months, the second one did too (refurbished btw, Samsung won't give ya a new one) and had to do it again. Myself I keep debating whether to worry over the data I have and just do a complete clean install each time. This last go round I did a 'clone' of the HP provided OS with all the bloatware and junk on it and since have found that there is a way to do a windows only install using ABR(autobackupand restore)utility that'll record all your proprietery data like COA key so when you do an install you won't have to keep verifying it every 90 days...BTDT. Found that one on this forum as a good way to do an OS install and keep the original code applied to the new install.
All the really important (to me) stuff I keep on an external hdd or big thumb drive, speaking of which theres a 64 gb 3.0 usb on Amazon for under 30 bucks including shipping, ya can't beat that. All my games and stuff I have on seperate HDDs with none of that RAID business.
Found out the hard way in order to use the HP recovery discs the pc has to be put back in its original form. I had put in another drive (solid state) and a better graphics card and better RAM sticks only to find that I had to go back and put all that out of the box stuff back in to get the discs to work....they were giving me red alerts in Command Prompts or CMD. I had never seen Red CMD it was one of those **bleep** moments, spending half a day googling led to to someone who had been there and done that (btdt) HP won't let you put their OS on another Hard Drive which I think is stupid..the disc knows if the drive is different therefore the bright red CMD window that blinks in your face and doesn't have the courtesy to tell you to change equipment.Oh well time to quit blathering.

System Image Restore can't see USB hard drive

Hi
I've just spent a day taking System Image backup images of three different hard drives. Well ok I didn't just sit and watch the bar move across the screen although it did hold up my computer. Anyway, what a waste of a day from my PC because
when I try to restore using System Image backup from my USB drive, the USB drive cannot be found. I have followed the procedure on page 750 of Configuring Windows 7, 70-680 precisely. I tried booting from an OS DVD and a Windows Repair
DVD, but no USB drive. I tried using a blank usb stick and that can't be found either. The USB drive can be seen when I logon to Windows to get the images on it. Might this be more to do with hardware such as adjusting BIOS boot settings,
or updating BIOS firmware. There seems to be others with unresolved problems like this. Should I join them and buy Acronis instead?
Tx

Hi,
Could you please check the following newsgroup posts for your answer. The posts lists different scenarios that might work for you.
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsbackup/thread/9a082b90-bd7c-46f8-9eb3-9581f9d5efdd
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsbackup/thread/11d8c552-a841-49ac-ab2e-445e6f95e704
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsbackup/thread/9a082b90-bd7c-46f8-9eb3-9581f9d5efdd
Best Regards,
Kim Zhou
Please remember to click “Mark as Answer” on the post that helps you, and to click “Unmark as Answer” if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
Thanks for sending me these links and I will check them out. I think I came across most of the answer on the following link although doubts are raised:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-system/windows-7-restore-from-image-wont-recognize/ce8e3d0a-236d-4eff-8370-c171d2dfa555?tm=1333929198413&page=1#footer
Basically, I should have had three files on the external drive as follows:
a.      A file named: MediaID.bin
b.      A file that has the same named as your computer name (this is where the .zip files are located).
c.      The 'System Image' folder named 'WindowsImageBackup'.
By moving my backups into a folder out of the way and doing a fresh backup I prevented some confusion in the system. After this I could at last see the external drive and backup when doing a system image recovery. But how is
it be possible to store more than one backup of hard drives on an external disk? The only way I know is by moving backups in and out of a folder which will take ages to do. Maybe I can rename the unused backups but this will get confusing
because there are thee files to a backup and I think files are overwritten when doing backups if left in the route of the external drive. I is too easy to overwrite a backup of another drive by accident.

Windows's Restoration wizard is no longer recognising the WindowsImageBackup, when moved from one external HD into another one.

Hi,
I created WindowsImageBackup a three-month period ago and saved it on an external hard disk. Then, I have moved/cut this WindowsImageBackup from the external hard disk was first saved on while created into a subfolder
on another different external hard disk. Whenever now clicked 'advanced recovery methods', then chose use ' a system image'. However, when I booted into Windows environment, I didn't see that the external drive containing image wasn't listed, although I have
clicked on 'refresh' while external drive is plugged. When clicked on the 'advance' button, then click 'located driver if the drive isn't listed' link, I could naviaged into the external hard disk, which means it is recognised by Windows and it doesn't need
a driver.
NOTE: the image is for the same OS installed on my computer.
I really want to keep many full different Windows Image Backups, then when create Windows Image Backup, I moved it into subfolder in order the next new don't delete the older one.
I was expecting that this is because while external HD containing image is plugged in the USB3 port, however, when I let it plugged in the USB2 port, the drive wasn't listed in the list
A man should convert his anger and sadness into strength to continue living in this life.

Thanks a lot,
NOTE: system image Disc containing(old images, WindowsImageBackup1,2,3, and so on) wasn't listed/found, and not the Restoration failed
Let me give you this scenario:
I have created a Windows image backup for OS partition(C) and Data partition(D). Second: I have saved the created image into an external hard disk
Third: When the WindowImageBackup created in the external hard disk. I tried booting into Windows environment, and the wizard found the image automatically.
Froth: I have moved the 'WidnowsImageBackup' from a partition on an external hard disk (A) into another external hard disk(B)
Fifth: I have done some changes on the OS system(such as installing programs and so on) and data partition(such as adding data and so on)
Fifty: I have decided to create a new WindowsImageBackup and save it into external disk 'B', but before that I have done, I must rename 'WidnowsImageBackup by incrementing '1' after 'WidnowsImageBackup' in order ton not be overwritten.
Sixth: I created the new 'WindowsImageBackup'
The WindowsImageBackup just created is recognised by Windows's resoration wizard because it wasn't moved. However, windowsImageBAckup1 isn't recognised because it wasn't saved here, however, it was pasted here from another location.
I would like to save many full images:
WindowsImagBackup
windowsImageBackup1
-------------------------2
-------------------------3
and so on.
However, as I said before, when booting into Windows's restoration wizard, then clicked on 'selcte an image', I didn't find any option to search for the image.
Yes, there is an option saying 'if you don't see your 'system image disc' listed in the image location, then you can pluge your disc and click on refresh. I have done but only the 'WindowsImagBackup' created on the same external disc was
found. Even those images created in same external disc, but their main folder 'WindowsImageBackup' changed into 'WindowsImageBackup1, 2, 3 and so one were not found'
If someone wants to save many full WindowsImageBackups, then how can he be doing?
NOTE: Although I have read in the Windows help support what is below, I when I have copied the older system images into another locations, they became unrecognised/found in the restoration Wizard:
Keeping different versions of system images
If you're saving your system images on an internal or external
drive, or on CDs or DVDs, you can keep several versions of system images. On
internal and external hard drives, older system images will be deleted when the
drive runs out of space. To help conserve disk space, you can manually delete
older system images. For more information, see What backup
settings should I use to maximize my disk space?
If you're saving your system images in a network location, you can
only keep the most current system image for each computer. System images are
saved in the format of drive\WindowsImageBackup\computer
name\. If you have an existing system image for a computer and are
creating a new one for the same computer, the new system image will overwrite
the existing one. If you want to keep the existing system image, you can copy it
to a different location before creating the new system image by following these
steps:
Navigate to the location of the system image.
Copy the WindowsImageBackup
folder to a new location.
A man should convert his anger and sadness into strength to continue living in this life.

System image restore process failed - WSE2012

I need some help. My system drive failed and I'm forced to attempt a recovery using the server backup located on my backup volume. Using a bootable USB stick, I successfully boot in to the installation media, navigate to the repair screen, and select System
Restore. The software attempts to find a suitable backup, which it does and recommends the backup dated 2/5/2013 (about a week ago). I click NEXT, select the EXCLUDE drives to exclude those drives that are part of my storage pool (I've also not selected anything
to exclude. Here's my selection:
Disk 4 - USB STICK w/Install Media
Disk 5 - NEW REPLACEMENT DRIVE (fresh)
Disk 6 - Storage Space
Disk 7 - Storage Space
It reports that Disk 3 is automatically excluded because it contains the backup. So far all this seems in order.
I proceed to click NEXT to get to the final recovery options page. In addition to the server name and date of the backup, I'm presented with the following:
\\?\Volume{824f6b2f-3b3a-11e2-93ed-806e6f6e6963}, C:
Upon clicking FINISH and receiving the warning that all drives will be reformatted and partitioned, I'm presented with a dialog box in about 5 seconds that states the following:
The system image restore failed
An error occurred while performing the recovery operation. Details (link)
Clicking the link presents me with another dialog box that shows various options for ensuring the drive is connected (which it is, Disk 5) and it asks that all USB drives are removed. However, if you remove the installation media, you can't continue anyway.
Here are my questions:
What on in the name of Microsoft is going on here -- has anyone run into this problem before? According to the instructions, this should be super easy. I've reviewed the following: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj593197.aspx
Should I disconnect the Storage Space drives all together, leaving the new system drive, the backup drive and the USB stick and try again?
Should I install a new copy of Windows Server (with storage drives unplugged) and then attempt to restore.
If the backup was corrupt, wouldn't I get a different error message?
What other options can I try?
I've already made a simple volume on the NEW drive as I read elsewhere that solved someone with a Windows 7 recovery that sounded the same. This did not work for me. I've tried to remove the USB drive, and then process complains and says it can't find the
path to the install media.
My server is headless and DVD-less, so USB is the only way I'm going to get this to install. I've also already tried moving my USB stick into just about every USB port available.
Finally, this is a Gigabyte UEFI motherboard.
Someone smarter than me please step up and show me the light! I can't believe the restore process is failing like this.

A brief update since my last post. I've left all the drives plugged in and decided to replace the bootable USB stick method with the tried-and-true external USB DVD drive. Upon boot, I again attempted the recovery option outlined before. However, this time,
I receive the following message:
Windows cannot restore a system image to a computer that has a different firmware. The system image was created on a computer using BIOS and this computer is using EFI.
I don't believe this is true, but to test the error, I proceeded to configure my BIOS for legacy BIOS support and turned OFF all UEFI support. I again booted to the system and proceeded to attempt the recovery option outlined before. This time, it appeared
to start working, but then resulted in the same exact error message I reported previously just a short 30 seconds later. I attribute this problem to the slower speed of the USB DVD drive.
I reconfigured my system again for UEFI and installed a fresh copy of the WSE2012. This seemed to go without any trouble. Once in the new instance of WSE2012, I attempted to recover from the original backup. At this time, I can only attempt to replace folders
and files and not the entire drive. Needless to say, the process did not complete correctly and I have a half baked of new and my original drive, complete with Dashboard plugins that don't work. The next thing I'm going to try is to install fresh again and
from within WSE2012 attempt to restore from the image again. However, I doubtful that the result will be positive. Stay tuned, more to come.

Ipad displays "ipad is disabled connect to itunes", I have tried putting the ipad into recovery mode and then restoring but that does not work. I have also tried doing a hard reset of the ipad and that does not work either. Any ideas?

Ipad displays “ipad is disabled connect to itunes”, I have tried putting the ipad into recovery mode and then restoring but that does not work. I have also tried doing a hard reset of the ipad and that does not work either. Any ideas?
My son let one of his friends use his ipad. The next time he tired to use it he could not get it unlocked, I tired to unlock it but it kept telling me that I had the wrong pass code. With out me knowing my son continued to tire until it completely disabled it self.

How can I unlock my iPad if I forgot the passcode?
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ipad/ipad-troubleshooting-repair-faq/ipad- how-to-unlock-open-forgot-code-passcode-password-login.html
iOS: Device disabled after entering wrong passcode
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1212
How can I unlock my iPad if I forgot the passcode?
http://tinyurl.com/7ndy8tb
How to Reset a Forgotten Password for an iOS Device
http://www.wikihow.com/Reset-a-Forgotten-Password-for-an-iOS-Device
Using iPhone/iPad Recovery Mode
http://ipod.about.com/od/iphonetroubleshooting/a/Iphone-Recovery-Mode.htm
You may have to do this several times.
Saw this solution on another post about an iPad in a school environment. Might work on your iPad so you won't lose everything.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
‘iPad is disabled’ fix without resetting using iTunes
Today I met my match with an iPad that had a passcode entered too many times, resulting in it displaying the message ‘iPad is disabled – Connect to iTunes’. This was a student iPad and since they use Notability for most of their work there was a chance that her files were not all backed up to the cloud. I really wanted to just re-activate the iPad instead of totally resetting it back to our default image.
I reached out to my PLN on Twitter and had some help from a few people through retweets and a couple of clarification tweets. I love that so many are willing to help out so quickly. Through this I also learned that I look like Lt. Riker from Star Trek (thanks @FillineMachine).
Through some trial and error (and a little sheer luck), I was able to reactivate the iPad without loosing any data. Note, this will only work on the computer it last synced with. Here’s how:
1. Configurator is useless in reactivating a locked iPad. You will only be able to completely reformat the iPad using Configurator. If that’s ok with you, go for it – otherwise don’t waste your time trying to figure it out.
2. Open iTunes with the iPad disconnected.
3. Connect the iPad to the computer and wait for it to show up in the devices section in iTunes.
4. Click on the iPad name when it appears and you will be given the option to restore a backup or setup as a new iPad (since it is locked).
5. Click ‘Setup as new iPad’ and then click restore.
6. The iPad will start backing up before it does the full restore and sync. CANCEL THE BACKUP IMMEDIATELY. You do this by clicking the small x in the status window in iTunes.
7. When the backup cancels, it immediately starts syncing – cancel this as well using the same small x in the iTunes status window.
8. The first stage in the restore process unlocks the iPad, you are basically just canceling out the restore process as soon as it reactivates the iPad.
If done correctly, you will experience no data loss and the result will be a reactivated iPad. I have now tried this with about 5 iPads that were locked identically by students and each time it worked like a charm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Try it and good luck. You have nothing more to lose if it doesn't work for you.
 Cheers, Tom

Recovery Manager could not restore Presario CQ56 & system won't boot, gives error BOOTMGR is missing

1. Product Name and Number
Compaq Presario CQ56
2. Operating System installed (if applicable)
Windows 7
3. Error message (if any)
from error log:
Hard Disk (result-failed) id# UAMBXQ-5H06AK-XD003F-618U03 HARD DISK 1
Start-up (result-failed) id# UAMBXQ-5H60AK-XD003F-40G403 MEMORY MODULE 2
4. Any changes made to your system before the issue occurred
There were no changes made to the computer, prior to the restore the computer would boot up, however, it would freeze after the system was up and running. Restarting the computer did not help and when I tried to restore it to an earlier point it said that it was unable to complete the restore. I then tried to the factory reset, however, it gave me an error message: "Recovery Manager could not restore your computer using the factory image. Please contact HP support. Error code: 0xe0ef0003. When I tried to restart the computer afterwards, it gave an error message: "BOOTMGR is missing, Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart". How do I fix this?
This question was solved.
View Solution.

Hello crossurmind.
What sorts of issues led up to the computer originally not booting? Were you getting a lot of blue screen errors?
The two items you posted from the error log seem to indicate that it is having trouble reading the hard drive and possibly the memory. After trying the restore it seems that it failed causing the boot section of the install to "not be found."
I think you should begin by using the built in tests for the hard drive and memory located in the BIOS. Follow this document to perform the hard drive test. All you'll have to do is repeat the process and select "memory" in order to perform the memory test. Make sure to post the result of both of these tests.
I will await the results; have a great day!
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Click the "Accept as Solution" button if I resolve your issue.

HP Recovery vs. Windows 7 image restore

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