Fixed: System Image Recovery Failed [Updated for 2024]

What is System Image Recovery? System Image Recovery is a process of restoring a computer to a previous system state. It involves using a backup copy of the entire operating system, applications, settings, and personal files, typically employed when dealing with severe malfunctions, virus infections, or the need to undo changes. With System Image Recovery, you can revert your computer to a known good working condition without having to reinstall all software and configurations. System images are usually stored on external hard drives, DVDs, or network locations for easy access and recovery when needed. Performing a System Image Recovery might require specific tools, such as the "Create a System Image" feature in the Windows operating system or third-party backup software. Before proceeding with the recovery, ensure you have the correct system image file and back up any crucial data, as this process will replace the existing system files and settings.

Creating a system backup for each personal and professional device is essential. System image recovery is an ideal backup solution that duplicates the state of computer drives and the operating system, allowing the system to be restored to the same state simultaneously. However, users might encounter an error of System Image Recovery failed while attempting to create a backup.

Before delving into the error, it's helpful to understand the basics of how system image recovery works. This can be understood through three steps:

It creates an image of the selected drive. The different partitions on the selected drive are saved as separate files, i.e., their respective images. It adds the drive's configuration data and a copy of the boot sector to the image file.

Possible reasons for System Image Restore failure

After getting a brief idea about System Image Recovery, you might be looking for the possible reasons that could lead to System Image Restore Failed. This message could appear when a Windows user tries to restore their computer using a Windows System Repair Disk or Install Disc. It all boils down to the main reasons that cause this error. They are:

System Restore did not complete successfully.

If System Restore did not complete successfully, the system image recovery might fail. An incomplete restore cannot translate into the corresponding files and images needed for recovery. Thus, it is crucial to ensure that System Restore finishes successfully on your system.

2. System image recovery failed due to an EFI/BIOS error.

Older computers use a BIOS-based boot mode, while modern ones use the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). This requires a system installed on an MBR disk with a BIOS and on a GPT or GUID Partition Table disk.

The lack of compatibility between UEFI and BIOS boot methods means that Windows can't restore a system from UEFI to a BIOS-based computer. Besides, modern computers come with both UEFI boot modes and the traditional BIOS-based ones. Thus, the system image recovery failure might result from attempting to restore a system backup to a different computer from the one the system backup was taken.

Windows 7 Create System Image - USB Not a Valid Backup Location

Want to create a system image with Windows 7's backup and restore feature? Got an error "USB is not a valid backup location" when using the USB drive? Please follow this article to fix the issue.

How to Fix System Image Restore Failed Error

After getting familiar with the top two reasons for System Image Restore failure, like an incomplete system restore or EFI/BIOS errors, we will now move towards quick solutions. You can easily fix this error without any additional help using the methods below:

Method 1: Restore from Windows Install Media on a Different Computer

If you encounter an error with System Image Recovery on Windows 7, the best solution is to perform a system restore on a different computer. This is done using a Windows installation, which is a detailed process suited for experienced Windows users. Follow these steps:

Step one: Download the same edition of the Windows ISO that you had before.

Step 2: Create a bootable USB or DVD. Then enter your computer's UEFI (on modern computers) or BIOS (on older computers) and set the USB or DVD drive as the first boot device.

Step 3. Boot from the Windows installation media and choose “Repair your computer.” This will lead you to Advanced Recovery.

Step 4: In the Troubleshoot menu, open Advanced options.

Step 5: Select the "Troubleshooting" option.

Step 6: Proceed through System Restore and complete the process.

Method 2: Make sure the target and source disks have the same partitions

The second solution for professional Windows users to fix the 'System Image Recovery Failed' error is to check the disk partition style on both computers. If the system disk used to create the system image is an MBR disk, then the target disk for restoring the system image should only be an MBR disk. Hence, the system disk and source disk should have the same partition style. Additionally, users can opt for a leading partition manager to convert disks to MBR or GPT as needed.

A better solution: use a system-backup utility.

Both methods are ideal for professional Windows users, which can be of great help when encountering the System Image Recovery Failed error. But if you are a computer beginner and still fail to perform system image recovery with the above methods, you can try using a system backup software - tools Todo Backup.

Todo Backup Home is an all-in-one backup and restore solution for Windows 7/8/10/11 users, especially beginners. It supports disk/partition backup and recovery, system backup and recovery, file backup and recovery, and more. Additionally, it allows you to create various types of backups, such as full backup, incremental backup, and differential backup. Most importantly, it offers 250GB of free cloud storage space.

You can back up and restore system images using the following guide.

Part 1: Create the system image.

Step 1: Launch tools Todo Backup on your computer and click “Create Backup” on the main screen. Then, click the big question-mark button to choose what you want to back up.

Step 2. To back up the Windows operating system, click "Operating System" to start the backup task.

Step 3: Your Windows operating system, along with all system-related files and partitions, should be selected automatically, so you shouldn't need to make any manual selections at this stage. Next, click on the illustrated area to choose where you want to save your System Image backup.

Step 4. The backup location can be another local drive on your computer, an external hard drive, a network, cloud storage, or a NAS. Typically, we recommend using an external physical drive or cloud storage to keep your system backup files.

Step 5: If interested, click the Options button to customize settings like enabling daily, weekly, monthly, or event-based automatic backup schedule, and performing differential and incremental backups. Click "Backup Now" to start the Windows system backup process. The completed task will be displayed as a card on the left side.

Part 2: Restore the system image.

To perform a system recovery on an unbootable computer, try to boot the computer with a Todo Backup Emergency Disk.

Step 1. Launch Todo Backup and click on "Browse Recovery".

Click “Browse to restore”

Step 2. Point to your backup destination and select the system backup file you need. (A .pbd file created by Todo Backup)

Step 3. Select the recovery disk. Make sure that the partition style of the source disk and the recovery disk are the same.

Step 4: You can customize the disk layout as you need. Then click "Continue" to start the system backup restore.

Final Thoughts

Thus, the “System Image Recovery Failed” error can hinder safe data recovery and backup on any Windows system. Hence, it's crucial to understand this error and the possible reasons behind it, such as EFI/BIOS issues or an unsuccessful system restore process.

As for the fix, Windows experts can perform a system restore on a different computer using the Windows installation media. Another option is to make sure that the target disk and the source disk have the same partitions. Leading backup and recovery solutions like AOMEI Backupper can quickly resolve errors with failed system image restore. Even beginners can use this tool with ease.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

< b > 1. < / b > Why doesn't System Restore work?

System restore may fail to work properly due to various reasons, such as faulty hardware drivers, problematic applications or scripts, running the system in normal mode, and so on. Therefore, to perform a system restore smoothly on your computer, you need to boot it into Safe Mode.

2. Can I restore from a system image?

Restoring data from a system image is straightforward, and it involves the following steps:

1. Open the "Control Panel" on your Windows system. 2. Select "System and Maintenance." 3. Click on "Backup and Restore." 4. Click "Choose a different backup to restore files" and enter the system administrator password to proceed with system image recovery.

3. How do I find my Windows image file?

Here are some simple steps to help you find the Windows System Image: 1. First, open the "Control Panel." You can locate it by typing "Control Panel" in the search bar. 2. In the Control Panel, select "System and Security." 3. Next, click on "Backup and Restore." 4. In the new window, you will see a link that says "Create a system image." Click on it. 5. The system will then guide you through selecting where to store the system image, such as an external hard drive, DVDs, or a network location. 6. After choosing your preferred option, click "Next," and the process of creating the system image will begin. 7. Once completed, the system will notify you, and you can either close the window or proceed with additional settings. Please note that this process may take some time, depending on your computer's performance and the speed of the selected storage location. Make sure not to disconnect any external devices during the creation process.

1. Open the "Control Panel" and go to "File History."
2. In the bottom-left corner, click the link that says "System Image Backup."
3. The System Image Backup tool will open, and you can choose where to save the system image backup.
4. Confirm your settings and click "Start Backup" to begin creating the system image.

4. What is System Image Recovery?

System Image Recovery is a tool specifically designed to clone all the drives of a Windows system. Not only that, it saves the current state of the operating system at a given point in time. It also allows users to restore the system to that state.