Windows System Image Backup

If the hard drive crashes or becomes corrupt a system image backup can be used to restore all of Windows and data files. Microsoft has restored the Windows Backup tool removed from Windows 8.1. The feature is in the Backup and Restore Windows 7 control panel. Windows 8.0 users will not find it. It can be found in 7, 8.1 and 10.

Windows System Image Backup allows you to create an entire image of your current Windows system, including your operating system, installed programs, settings, and user files. The backup is saved to an external storage or DVD / Bluray.

Flash Drive - The Windows System Image Backup does not like USB Flash Drives. It will not allow you to attempt backup to a Flash Drive formatted to exFAT. If you format to NTFS then the tool will tell you "The drive is not a valid backup location." Workarounds include formatting the flash drive in such a way that it resembles an internal hard drive by removing the "thumb" bit or create a directory on the flash drive, share it to yourself, and then backup to the network location of your computer, the shared folder you just created on the flash drive.

System Image Backup Graphical Tool

The backup may take a few hours. You can continue to work as it backs up, but it is better if you don't. When the backup is over, you may be asked if you want a System Repair Disc. If your PC has an optical drive, create the disc.

To start the program, Windows Key + R

Control /name Microsoft.BackupandRestore

System Image Backup Command Line Tool

Wbadmin is the command line tool that does the same thing as the graphical tool. wbadmin 1.0 - Backup command-line tool

The behavior is identical to the System Image backups initiated from the graphical Backup And Restore tool. The first time you initiate a System Image backup, it backs up every block on the system volume. Each subsequent time, it simply updates the previous backup.

example:

Wbadmin start backup -backupTarget:W: -include:C: -quiet