How to Restore a System Image Backup

Because System Image backups must rewrite the entire contents of the disk, you can restore System Image backups only by booting from the Windows 7 DVD and loading System Recovery tools. Restoring a System Image backup from System Recovery tools allows you to quickly get a computer running after replacing a failed hard disk or when the previous operating system installation has been corrupted (for example, by an irreparable malware installation).

To restore a System Image backup, follow these steps:

1. Connect the backup media to your computer. For example, if the System Image backup was performed to an external USB hard drive, connect that drive to your computer.
2. Insert the Windows 7 DVD in your computer. Ensure that the computer is configured to boot from the DVD.
3. Restart your computer. When prompted to boot from the DVD, press a key. If you are not prompted to boot from the DVD, you might have to configure your computer's startup sequence.
4. Windows 7 Setup loads. When prompted, select your regional preferences and then click Next.
5. Click Repair Your Computer to launch RecEnv.exe.
6. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Restore Your Computer Using A System Image That Was Created Earlier. If the backup was saved to a DVD, insert the DVD now. Click Next. The Windows System Image Restore Wizard appears.
   On the Select A System Image Backup page, the most recent backup will be automatically selected. If this is the correct backup to restore, click Next. Otherwise, click Select A System Image, click Next, and then select the correct backup.
7. On the next page, select the Format And Repartition Disks check box only if the disk is not formatted. Be sure that you are prepared to overwrite all of the data on your current disk and then click Next.
8. On the final page, click Finish. When prompted, click Yes.

Windows System Image Restore reads the data from the backup and overwrites existing files. Typically, the restore will take 30 to 60 seconds per gigabyte. You can restore to a different-sized hard disk as long as the hard disk is large enough to store the backup. After the restore is complete, the computer will restart using the restored files.