Windows Complete PC Restore problems

[Gizzo]

Goal: upgrade HD from 60G to 250G without having to reinstall all
files and programs.

Problem: Windows Complete PC Restore cannot see DVD with backup image
file

This is the scenario:
1. Backed up C:\ using Windows Complete PC Backup. (6 DVDs no errors.)
2. Removed old HD and inserted new.
3. Booted Windows Vista install DVD. (I proceeded to partition HD but
did not complete the install.)
4. From Windows Recovery Environment, I chose Windows Complete PC
Restore.
5. Inserted Backup image DVD disc1.
6. When it looked for the location of the image it couldn't find it so
it fails.

What am I doing wrong and what's the solution? please help. Thanks

 

[xiowan]

Hello "Gizzo":
Here are the Help File instructions for "To restore using a Windows
installation disc (Use this method if your computer came with a Windows
installation disc.):

Insert the installation disc, and then restart your computer.

If your computer is not configured to start from a CD or DVD, see Installing
and reinstalling Windows for instructions about how to do this.

Click the Start button , click the arrow next to the Lock button , and then
click Restart.

Choose your language settings, and then click Next.

Click Repair your computer.

Select the operating system you want to repair, and then click Next.

On the System Recovery Options menu, click Windows Complete PC Restore, and
then follow the instructions.

It doesn't mention the partitioning of a replacement drive above so I wonder
if you would be better off to partition and format your new drive with the
hard drive mfgr cd that comes with the drive (or downloaded from their
website)? Then follow the Help File Instructions. A second alternative
would be to use the method for those without a Windows installation disc:
"Restart your computer.

Click the Start button , click the arrow next to the Lock button , and then
click Restart.

Do one of the following:

If your computer has only one operating system installed, repeatedly press
the F8 key as your computer restarts. You need to press F8 before the Windows
logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you will need to try again.

If your computer has more than one operating system installed, use the arrow
keys to highlight the operating system you want to start in safe mode, and
then press F8.

On the Advanced Boot Options menu, use the arrow keys to highlight Repair
your computer, and then press ENTER.

Select a keyboard layout, and then click Next.

Select a user name and type the password, and then click OK.

On the System Recovery Options menu, click Windows Complete PC Restore, and
then follow the instructions."

If neither method works perhaps you should check the dvd drive and hard
drive connections in case of something being loose.

Good luck with your re-install!

xiowan.........in tucson

 

[Gizzo]

Hello "Gizzo":
   Here are the Help File instructions for "To restore using a Windows
installation disc (Use this method if your computer came with a Windows
installation disc.):

Insert the installation disc, and then restart your computer.

If your computer is not configured to start from a CD or DVD, see Installing
and reinstalling Windows for instructions about how to do this.

Click the Start button , click the arrow next to the Lock button , and then
click Restart.

Choose your language settings, and then click Next.

Click Repair your computer.

Select the operating system you want to repair, and then click Next.

On the System Recovery Options menu, click Windows Complete PC Restore, and
then follow the instructions.

It doesn't mention the partitioning of a replacement drive above so I wonder
if you would be better off to partition and format your new drive with the
hard drive mfgr cd that comes with the drive (or downloaded from their
website)?  Then follow the Help File Instructions.  A second alternative
would be to use the method for those without a Windows installation disc:
"Restart your computer.

Click the Start button , click the arrow next to the Lock button , and then
click Restart.

Do one of the following:

If your computer has only one operating system installed, repeatedly press
the F8 key as your computer restarts. You need to press F8 before the Windows
logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you will need to try again.

If your computer has more than one operating system installed, use the arrow
keys to highlight the operating system you want to start in safe mode, and
then press F8.

On the Advanced Boot Options menu, use the arrow keys to highlight Repair
your computer, and then press ENTER.

Select a keyboard layout, and then click Next.

Select a user name and type the password, and then click OK.

On the System Recovery Options menu, click Windows Complete PC Restore, and
then follow the instructions."  

If neither method works perhaps you should check the dvd drive and hard
drive connections in case of something being loose.

Good luck with your re-install!

xiowan.........in tucson

Hi Xiowan,

I had followed those exact steps until "click Windows Complete PC
Restore, and then follow the instructions." because Windows Vista
cannot find the image file even when the DVD and the DVD reader are ok
(i tested them). So right now, I don't know what I'm doing wrong or
what kind of conditions I need to have for it to work before the point
where you click on complete PC restore.

Thanks

 

[xiowan]

Hello "Gizzo":
I would go into bios and see if the new drive is recognized and first in the
boot order if you have more than one hard drive. I assume you used the same
connection on the board as the old drive? I think a lot of motherboards will
automatically put a new drive at the bottom of the boot order if you have
more than one drive and you have to move the new drive to the top of the boot
order.
If it were me, at this point I would use the W.D. software to check your
new drive for problems if none use W.D. cd to boot from and partition and
format the new drive in NTFS. This way you will know your dvd drive is
working and your new hard drive is working properly. Then try once more
booting from the Vista DVD and follow the steps from HELP. If it doesn't
work, then go the other method and take out the Vista DVD, reboot and hit F8
repeatedly and try restoring the back-up that way.
Is your Vista Installation DVD a full retail, Upgrade or OEM? I am
unsure if using an OEM disk would cause a problem moving the operating system
to a new drive since Microsoft only wants the operating system installed to
one pc. Hopefully just replacing the Hard drive with a different one isn't
what's causing the problem. I didn't have a problem changing an XP OEM
system to a new hard drive. It was a re-install from the XP CD though and
activated fine.
Is the current DVD drive the same one used to install the operating
system originally? If not, I have read in the newsgroups that some have
success getting Vista to recognize their DVD drive only by switching to a
different one. Their DVD drive would work on other pcs but not with Vista.
If you have another DVD drive and all else fails you could try switching to
that. Also new DVD drives are really selling online at some bargain prices
now in case you want to invest in a new one if needed. I don't have any
other suggestions but if you solve the problem I would sure be interested in
the resolution of the problem. I have Vista Ultimate backed up to both DVDs
and another hard drive and haven't needed to use the back up yet but want to
know if you succeed or I might have to buy a back-up program to be safe.
Good luck!

xiowan........in tucson

 

[AJR]

Regarding "...5. Inserted Backup image DVD disc1.
...." - the prompt, if any, should be to insert the "last" DVD first.

 

[xiowan]

Hello "AJR":
By Jove I think you're right! I googled Vista Complete Backup from
DVDs and there was one hit that mentioned the same problem and it was cured
by putting in Disc 2 of 2 and then Disk 1 when prompted and it worked!
Now........how am I ever going to remember to put in the wrong disc first
then the right one when it's asked for if my computer ever has a catastrophe?
Or does the recovery program tell you to put in the last disk first?

xiowan..........in tucson

 

[xiowan]

Hello "Gizzo":
Forget everything I said and just read the following post I googled:
"The wrong backup DVD is inserted:
When a backup spans multiple DVDs, you have to insert the very last DVD you
burned during your backup. This seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it? You have
to insert the final, not first, DVD because that’s where the catalogs are
stored. The catalogs aren’t on the first DVD because all files must be backed
up first before the catalogs can be created. In other words, since catalog
creation is the last step in the backup process, the catalogs go on the last
DVD."

I never would have figured that out if AJR hadn't pointed out the correct
dvd order in a prior post.

xiowan..........in tucson