Can't restore system image in Windows 7 - Is it possible to rebuild the MediaID file? (not MediaId.bin)
I dont seem to have a MediaId file that matches my backed up system image. I have seen that it is possible to rebuild the MediaID.bin file but I don't believe thats the file I need for a system image restore. I have a system image that I created with Windows 7 Backup and Restore. When I try to use the image for a restore I receive an error "Windows cannot find a system image on this computer" I did additional testing to find out what files are required in order for the restore to find a system image. I found the following to be true: You do not need a MediaId.bin file - the file thats located in the root directory of the drive where the restore image is stored. You do need a directory in the root of the restore drive named WindowsImageBackup with a sub-directory named the same as the computer name of the computer that the restore image contains. Inside the directory named the same as the computer name you need: A file named MediaId. A directory named Catalog and inside this directory a file named GlobalCatalog. A directory named Backup YYYY-MM-DD HHMMSS with the date and time when the backup was performed. The date used for the directory will usually match the date of the MediaId file. So after this testing I found that ultimately three things are needed for a system image to be found 1) MediaId file 2) matching directory named Backup with the date of the backup 3) matching GlobalCatalog file. Funny thing is you dont actually need the system image to make it past this first check. Is it possible to rebuild the MediaId file from the GlobalCatalog file like you can for the MediaId.bin file?
October 12th, 2012 7:56pm

Oberwald in Answers wrote the following: While in Repair Mode, you have an option to open a Command Prompt. From there try the following commands: Mountvol (This command will show you all available drives, including your external disk) dir Q: (Replace Q: with one drive letter at a time from the letters that the mountvol command showed you, e.g. dir D: dir E: etc. until you see a folder "WindowsImageBackup" on the screen. Let's assume it is F:\WindowsImageBackup. dir F:\WindowsImageBackup /s (This command should show you the contents of the image folder, with files totalling more than 10 GBytes) Now perhaps this image folder is missing, incomplete or inaccessible. I have to add that I am disappointed with the native imaging facility under Windows 7. It is temperamental and its functionality is extremely limited. I recently bought myself a copy of Acronis TrueImage 10 and its is to the Windows imaging tool like a fully functional motor cycle is to a child's tricycle. Other brand imaging tools are just as functional - just make sure that they are certified for Windows 7.
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October 14th, 2012 2:51pm

Oberwald in Answers wrote the following: While in Repair Mode, you have an option to open a Command Prompt. From there try the following commands: Mountvol (This command will show you all available drives, including your external disk) dir Q: (Replace Q: with one drive letter at a time from the letters that the mountvol command showed you, e.g. dir D: dir E: etc. until you see a folder "WindowsImageBackup" on the screen. Let's assume it is F:\WindowsImageBackup. dir F:\WindowsImageBackup /s (This command should show you the contents of the image folder, with files totalling more than 10 GBytes) Now perhaps this image folder is missing, incomplete or inaccessible. I have to add that I am disappointed with the native imaging facility under Windows 7. It is temperamental and its functionality is extremely limited. I recently bought myself a copy of Acronis TrueImage 10 and its is to the Windows imaging tool like a fully functional motor cycle is to a child's tricycle. Other brand imaging tools are just as functional - just make sure that they are certified for Windows 7.
October 14th, 2012 2:55pm

You need to be aware that the image creation/restoration tool in Windows 7 is finicky, unreliable and that it lacks functionality. The third party commercial imaging products that have been around for around 15 years run circles around it. The issue you see is typical for this immature product. I would not touch it with a barge pole. What is the actual reason why you want to restore this image? Does your machine still boot? Since you appear to have the .vhd file, you could use it to perform a selective restoration.
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October 14th, 2012 6:56pm

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