Restore Computer using Windows Image Back-up

[Daniel Y.]

I have IBM notebook X300 with Windows Vista Business 32bit. I tried to
restore my computer using USB external where my Windows Image Back-up was
saved. I followed the Windows instruction by restrting the computer and
click F8. However, I don't see "Repair your computer" under "Advanced Boot
Option Menu". Can anyone help me to restore my computer? Thanks.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

How did you backup your PC in the first place? Did you use Vista's Complete
PC Backup or another backup application?

The F8 option takes you to the 'safe mode' menu and even I don't have a
'repair your computer' option. The only time I have seen the 'repair your
computer' option is when using a retail copy DVD of Vista. If you have the
Vista DVD you basically have to insert the DVD into your DVD ROM and restart
the PC (assuming the DVD-ROM is set as the first boot option) Vista will
start copying setup files to memory. After clicking Next at the language
option page you come to the Vista 'install' window. The repair your computer
option is there.

Obviously you only need this if you are using Vista's Complete PC Backup,
other third party software have their own way of accessing the backup files.

If you don't have a Vista DVD you can download a recovery disk which will do
the same thing as I've explained above from here:
http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/


--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Mick Murphy]

John, some of the OEM companies have that option in F8 list of options, if
your computer totally crashes out.

 

[Daniel Y.]

I did use Windows Vista complete PC back-up and save it on my USB external
hard drive. However, windows' does not recongnize my image back-up file.

 

[John Inzer]

I did use Windows Vista complete PC back-up and save it on my USB
external hard drive. However, windows' does not recongnize my image
back-up file.

===================================
Maybe the following links will offer something useful:

Windows Vista -
Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial145.html

Windows Vista -
Using Windows Complete PC Restore to restore your computer
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial144.html

Windows Vista -
A Guide to Windows Vista
Backup Technologies
http://tinyurl.com/386332
or...
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2007/09/Backup/

Windows Vista -
Back up your files with
Vista's Back Up Files wizard:
http://tinyurl.com/2mz4ft
or...
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10877_11-6179067.html

Windows Vista -
Restoring files with Vista's
Restore Files wizard
http://tinyurl.com/35js68
or...
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10877_11-6180819.html

--

John Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[John Barnett MVP]

That's why I don't see the option then. Whenever I buy a new PC I always
reformat the hard drive and install a full retail copy of the operating
system. That way I can load what I want, not what the OEM 'thinks' I'm going
to need

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[John Barnett MVP]

I have used Complete PC Backup and have backed up to a USB external drive.
The odd few times I've used this option I have been able to re-image my
drive back from the Complete PC Backup images without any problem but, as I
always used the Windows Vista DVD to access the Complete PC Backup
application for reading the files.

However, I have to say that I stopped using Complete PC backup because,
after a number of backups to my USB drive (I always did 'full' backups and
deleted the old version before imaging again) Complete PC backup kept
telling me that I didn't have enough disk space to backup - even though the
USB hard drive was 'empty'

In the end I went back to my old faithful application Acronis True Image
2009.

Have you tried downloading the ISO copy of the Vista Recovery Disk, burning
it to a CD and running it to see if you can access the files that way?


--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..