Windows 7 system image problem - cannot restore

[ppisciot]

I have a new Gateway DX4200-09 and just installed Windows 7 Professional. After installing my software, I created a System Image using Backup & Restore. I tried testing the backup to be sure it worked and found that it cannot find the backup on Disk 1. It CAN find it on disk 2 (last disk) but it will not perform the restore since I assume the restore must start from disk 1. When I place disk 2 into my drive (even on another computer), it shows the WindowsImageBackup folder normally. However, when I place disk 1 in, it says: Files already on disk; WindowsImageBackup. Files waiting to be written to disk; desktop.ini. If I attempt to Burn destop.ini to the disk, it says that there are no files to burn. If I delete the desktop.ini file, it still displays the message: Files already on disk; WindowsImageBackup. I also noticed while creating the backup that it automatically ejected disk 1 and asked for disk 2. However, when disk 2 was done and I tried to eject it, it said that it had to prepare it for use on all computers which disk 1 did not. I want to be sure my backup is functioning before using the computer. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Ayush]

After installing Windows 7, it's important to install the correct hardware drivers to get your video, sound, network, and other components working properly. Check out the following link, to get rid of the above issue. If you try to restore to a new HDD or erase the current Windows 7 and try restoring the image on that, it won't work because the volume ID or volume information is different. I'm saying this because when you try to restore the system image backup, just before it begins, a screen shows the system image's date and time, and volume information ID.

[ppisciot]

Thanks for the reply. It is not a driver problem because it recognizes the CD/DVD drive fine. It just doesn't recognize disk 1 which has half of the information on it. It reads the volume, date, etc from disk 2 (there are only 2 in the backup) but that is not sufficient to do the restore since it is missing the first half. When I try to read disk 1 during the restore process, it says there is no system image on the disk. I think it has something to do with how it is finalizing disk 1 vs disk 2. As I said in my post, if I put disk 2 into another computer, it opens normally and I see the image folder. However, when I put in disk 1 into another computer (or my own), it does not simply show the folder with the image. It states that there is one folder on the disk and one pending file. I did the backup twice and both times were exactly the same.

[MrChris-]

The Problem is with the Windows installation. It is possible that the Operating system was not installed properly and hence your not able to take the backup properly. I think you will have to format the hard drive and then install the operating system again.

[jesse]

I think that your system is affected by some virus or malicious program and hence your system is corrupted because the desktop.ini file error pops out if your system is corrupted. So try to get your OS reinstalled but before this try to repair your system using the recovery disk. If it works then you will not have to reinstall the Operating system.

[Sam.D]

Even I think that your operating system is corrupted. The desktop.ini usually doesn't pops up, this can be due to the virus infection. So I would like to recommend you to scan your system by the updated anti virus. And I am sure that it will certainly catch some malware or virus. After scanning you can try to do the system restore (if you know properly). Later then you can take the backup of your system properly.

[ppisciot]

Thanks for your replies. I did a clean install and a full virus/spyware scan and there is nothing corrupt in the system. If I Show Hidden Files, the desktop.ini file shows up. With it off, it does not. The Restore still does not recognize disk 1 which is the critical disk with the backup information. Like I previously stated, why does disk 1 and disk 2 display differently even on another computer? Disk 2 shows the folder, however, disk 1 states "Files currently on the disk (1)", THEN the folder. Very strange.

[r0n1n]

I'm experiencing the same problem. Did you ever get to solve this problem?

[EINSTEIN_007]

Have a check here for your problem - System Image Backup Problem In Windows 7

[ppisciot]

Never got the problem solved. Don't have the computer any more. Gave up. It was NTFS, not Fat32 so other post wouldn't have helped me. Thanks anyway.