Fix 'Windows Can't Find A System Image on This Computer' Error

This article primarily discusses how to execute a system restore when Windows is unable to locate a system image on your computer. If you encounter a message stating, "Windows cannot find a system image on this computer. Attach the backup hard disk or insert the final DVD from a backup set and click Retry...", there's no need to worry. Simply follow the solutions provided below to rectify the error and effortlessly restore your Windows system from a system image backup.

Windows cannot find a system image on this computer.

"I am unable to perform a system image restore on my Windows 10 computer. The system indicates that it cannot locate a system image on my machine and prompts me to connect the backup hard disk or insert the final DVD from a backup set. The issue here is that the system image backup is saved on the computer's hard drive, not on an external storage device. Is there a solution to overcome this problem and proceed with a system restore on my computer? How can I do it?"

In most instances, when the computer prompts you to locate the system image and retry the system restoration process, you will still encounter the same outcome. The system image remains unfound. So, how can you resolve this error? If you are experiencing a similar issue on your PC, simply follow the two methods provided below and apply them to rectify the 'Windows can't find system image' problem, allowing you to effortlessly perform a system restore:

Resolve the "Windows Can't Find System Image on This Computer" Error

In this section, you will discover two approaches to resolve the 'Windows can't find system image on this computer' error. You can follow either method and implement the provided steps to消除这个错误并在您的电脑上顺利执行Windows系统映像恢复，没有任何问题：

Method 1: Manually fix the Windows System Restore Error - "Windows couldn't find a system image"

Step 1. Change System Image Folder to 'WindowsImageBackup'
The system image folder needs to be named 'WindowsImageBackup' for Windows to locate the system image on your computer. If your system image folder is currently named differently, rename it to 'WindowsImageBackup' now.

< strong >Step 2. Place the 'WindowsImageBackup' folder in the Root Directory of a Drive

The system image folder must be located at the root level of your hard drive on the computer. Otherwise, Windows System Restore will fail because the system image cannot be located. Verify that you have placed the system image in the correct directory on your computer's drive. If not, move the folder to the appropriate location immediately.

Step 3. Do not modify the sub-folder name
Step 4. Do not add any folders within the 'WindowsImageBackup' folder
Ensure that you do not add any additional folders inside the WindowsImageBackup folder.

Step 5. Ensure mediaID.bin is saved alongside your system image
Regardless of whether you stored your system image on a USB drive or an external hard drive, remember to copy the mediaID.bin file along with the files in your system image folder.

Upon completing all the aforementioned steps, ensuring that all system files and folders are correctly positioned on your computer's hard drive or external storage without any additional files or folders, you can attempt to perform the Windows system image recovery on your computer once more.

If you succeed, congratulations! You can use your computer and resume your tasks, enjoying an captivating online experience once more. If you fail, don't worry. There's a second way: an alternative tool for Windows system recovery can directly assist you in resolving the 'Windows can't find a system image' error.

Method 2: Utilize a Windows Recovery Alternative Tool to Fix the 'Windows Can't Find System Image' Error

If you failed to perform a system restore again after following all steps in Way 1, your best shot to resolve this issue is to rely on the best Windows backup and recovery software - Todo Backup.

This software functions as an alternative Windows system recovery tool that enables you to directly back up and restore the system image, saving it to any location of your choice and renaming the system image as desired.

Create a Windows system image:

Step 1. Create a Windows System Image Backup Firstly, you need to create a Windows system image backup on your computer. You can use a tool like Todo Backup to save the system backup on a separate hard drive partition or an external storage device.

Step 2: Launch the tool Todo Backup and execute a Windows system restore.

Recover system image:

Connect the external hard drive or USB that contains the system image to your computer.

* To perform system recovery on a non-bootable machine, attempt to boot the computer using the Todo Backup emergency disk.

Step 1. Launch Todo Backup, and click "Browse to Recover".

Step 2. Navigate to your backup destination, and select the system backup file that you need. (The backup file created by Todo Backup tool is a PBD file.)

Step 3. Select the recovery disk. Ensure that the partition style of the source disk and the recovery disk are identical.

Step 4. You can customize the disk layout as per your requirements. Click "Proceed" to initiate system backup restoration.

Following this, simply wait for the system restore process to finish. Once completed, you can safely restart your PC, and resume using your computer with the Windows system restored to its previous state.