 Windows Complete Pc Restore, Need an Existing Operating System? |
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 Apr 2 2007, 01:47 PM
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#1
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New Member  Group: Members Posts: 6 Joined: 2-April 07 Member No.: 121,615  |
I had installed Vista Business on a test PC. I then installed some programs, and decided to test the "Windows Complete PC Backup". Two DVD's were created successfully during this process. I then booted to the Vista DVD, and chose the "format" option as I wanted to test the Windows Complete Restore on a newly formated hard drive. However, since the Vista "format" took only five seconds, I did not trust that it did a complete format on my 76 gig hard drive....so, I booted to an XP Pro disk, and formatted the C drive with NTFS. After the format completed, I booted once again to the Vista Business DVD, chose the REPAIR selection, and followed the screens....but when it came time for the restore DVD's, a message came up saying that it could not find the restore image. After several attempts, I reinstalled Vista. I then went back and booted from the Vista DVD and attempted the complete restore again....and this time it worked fine. So...now to my question. Does Windows Vista have to exist on a new hard drive in order for the Complete PC Restore to work? This would make some sense in that Microsoft would not offer this tool for us to go out and "clone" 100 PC's without proper licensing....however, I cannot find the answer anywhere on this. Thanks! |
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Apr 2 2007, 03:08 PM
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#2
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 Forum Addict Group: HJT Junior Classmen Posts: 3,177 Joined: 7-January 07 From: UK Member No.: 105,123 |
Hello and welcome,
I believe that the tool only backs up files and not the operating system holding the files. therefore it will work with a copy of vista installed, but nothing else. -------------------- Regards
Alan |
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Apr 2 2007, 04:53 PM
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#3
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 Visually handicapped, hence the avatar :0) Group: Moderator Posts: 13,111 Joined: 2-October 05 From: Southeastern CT, USA Member No.: 35,824 |
The backup tool backs up files - but it doesn't make a bootable copy of your hard drive. You'd have to use ximage (or is it imagex?) for that.
-------------------- - John
**If you need a more detailed explanation, please ask for it. I have the Knack. ** |
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Apr 2 2007, 05:15 PM
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#4
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New Member Group: Members Posts: 6 Joined: 2-April 07 Member No.: 121,615 |
Well guys...thanks for the responses....but....
....from what I have read, this is suppose to be like Symantec "ghost"...and that would include the operating system. In fact, from the bleepingcomputer tutorial, this is what is suggested as per the below quote: "Windows Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise come with a more advanced backup and restore utility called Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore. This program allows you to create an entire backup of your computer that can be used to restore your computer in the case of system-wide failure. Unlike the standard backup and restore feature that comes with all the versions of Windows Vista, Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore allows you to not only restore your data but also the complete operating system and other critical system files." So....it may be that Microsoft requires an operating system to be installed on whatever disk you are replacing/using....but that is my question.....does it???? |
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Apr 2 2007, 05:32 PM
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#5
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Visually handicapped, hence the avatar :0) Group: Moderator Posts: 13,111 Joined: 2-October 05 From: Southeastern CT, USA Member No.: 35,824 |
No, it doesn't require an OS to be installed. But there are some specific instructions to follow when restoring the system.
Here's a link about the feature: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial145.html and here's a tutorial on how to restore your computer from the image: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial144.html -------------------- - John
**If you need a more detailed explanation, please ask for it. I have the Knack. ** |
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Apr 2 2007, 05:57 PM
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#6
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New Member Group: Members Posts: 6 Joined: 2-April 07 Member No.: 121,615 |
Thanks John...but the first link that you gave me returned me to the tutorial that I copied from and pasted....
1) "Windows Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise come with a more advanced backup and restore utility called Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore. This program allows you to create an entire backup of your computer that can be used to restore your computer in the case of system-wide failure. Unlike the standard backup and restore feature that comes with all the versions of Windows Vista, Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore allows you to not only restore your data but also the complete operating system and other critical system files. " 2) In the second link you sent, please note figure 4....and that is where "an existing Vista installation was found"....and I had NO problem restoring the image I had made previously.....after I had re-installed Windows Vista Buisness....so obviously an existing operating system WAS found.... But I still am wanting to know if an installation of Windows Vista....on a new hard drive or the existing hard drive.... is required by Microsoft even though, as noted above this should be a '"ghosted" deal whereby the existence of the operating system should not matter.....hence my quote in 1 above.....""but also the complete operating system and other critical system files"....... This is the question.....even though this is supposedly an "image" of the PC...including operating system.....is an existing OS required???? |
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Apr 3 2007, 06:09 AM
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#7
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Visually handicapped, hence the avatar :0) Group: Moderator Posts: 13,111 Joined: 2-October 05 From: Southeastern CT, USA Member No.: 35,824 |
Sorry, I quickly scanned the tutorials and didn't notice figure 4. Oh well, back to the searching.
 Found this: QUOTE You can restore your PC back to its original state, or to a replacement PC. Complete PC Restore can be initiated from within Windows Vista, or from the Windows Vista installation CD in the event the PC is so corrupt that it cannot start up normally from the hard disk. from here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/...tepcbackup.mspxBut, here's an article that describes some issues and their workaround: http://professionalinsight.net/VistaBackup.aspx Dunno if it'll help you because your post seems to indicate that you were using the exact same drive. -------------------- - John
**If you need a more detailed explanation, please ask for it. I have the Knack. ** |
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Apr 3 2007, 08:36 AM
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#8
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New Member Group: Members Posts: 6 Joined: 2-April 07 Member No.: 121,615 |
Thanks, for the link on professional insight...
In your quote: "You can restore your PC back to its original state, or to a replacement PC. Complete PC Restore can be initiated from within Windows Vista, or from the Windows Vista installation CD in the event the PC is so corrupt that it cannot start up normally from the hard disk." ...there is an existing Vista installation for Windows Complete PC Restore to see....even if the operating system is so corrupt that it cannot start up normally from the hard disk, so that is why the restore would probably work..... ...and yes, it WAS the exact same drive....I simply formatted that drive (NTFS).....however, I did not create any additional partitions. If this tool only functions by doing the various workarounds as suggested in the link you provided, then its hardly worthwhile, wouldn't you agree? It appears that it would be easier to simply make sure you have a backup of your data, and then reinstall Vista and any other programs you have.....sheesh.......maybe Microsoft will fix these issues with the first service pack..... |
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Apr 3 2007, 12:03 PM
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#9
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Visually handicapped, hence the avatar :0) Group: Moderator Posts: 13,111 Joined: 2-October 05 From: Southeastern CT, USA Member No.: 35,824 |
I haven't used the tool myself - bad experiences with previous versions of Windows Backup have assured that. Some of the talk that I noticed about this issue indicated that the Windows Backup and Restore Team was aware of this - so I'd expect a fix in SP1
 FWIW - I use Acronis True Image and image my disks from outside of Windows using the bootable recovery CD that Acronis lets you create. That way there's no problems with running processes or compatibility (although my Toshiba laptop doesn't like to read the USB drives when using the Acronis rescue media). I have yet to try a restore of Vista with it - but I'm building 3 new Vista systems right now so I may give it a try. I'll post back with my results. -------------------- - John
**If you need a more detailed explanation, please ask for it. I have the Knack. ** |
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Apr 4 2007, 04:18 PM
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#10
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New Member Group: Members Posts: 6 Joined: 2-April 07 Member No.: 121,615 |
Thanks John...yes, please do post back with the results. I have used many other imaging software programs as well, but it would be nice if this option in Vista really did work. I have had some other contact with others regarding this, and they are awaiting some word from Microsoft...but as of now, this feature has limited use it seems.
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Apr 4 2007, 04:26 PM
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#11
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Visually handicapped, hence the avatar :0) Group: Moderator Posts: 13,111 Joined: 2-October 05 From: Southeastern CT, USA Member No.: 35,824 |
I'll do it with the wife's PC as soon as I get it assembled. I'm sitting at home waiting for UPS as I type this - and I don't have to work until 2pm tomorrow - so I may get it done tomorrow. I'll be sure to post back with the results.
-------------------- - John
**If you need a more detailed explanation, please ask for it. I have the Knack. ** |
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Apr 5 2007, 08:32 AM
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#12
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Visually handicapped, hence the avatar :0) Group: Moderator Posts: 13,111 Joined: 2-October 05 From: Southeastern CT, USA Member No.: 35,824 |
Didn't work with Acronis True Image Enterprise Server v8. It started fine, and then incremented up to 1 day remaining - then incremented down to 11 hours remaining when I cancelled out. This may be due to accessing the SATA drives for imaging.
I'm going to try Acronis True Image Home v10 to see how it does. -------------------- - John
**If you need a more detailed explanation, please ask for it. I have the Knack. ** |
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