Efficient Guide: Recover Windows Using a Specific Image File

What does System image do?

Windows System image is a complete copy of your PC, including Windows OS, System Reserved Partition, EFI System Partition (ESP), Recovery Partition, boot partition, and all programs and files saved on these partitions.

Even if your PC fails to boot or you’re bothered by problematic system issues, System image backups provide another possibility for you to restore your computer to an earlier state and bring everything to be normal. Then you don’t have to reinstall Windows OS.

Is it possible to recover Windows using a specific image file?

As you can see, it’s possible to recover Windows using a specific image file. Moreover, although Windows reinstallation can remove apps that come with your Windows PC or your installed utilities from the Microsoft Store, restoring Windows from System image backups cannot.

Case A. Restore Windows from System image backups directly

Please ensure you’ve created System image backups in Windows 10/11 before going to restore Windows from System image backups. 

The former scenario closely connects to Windows built-in features, Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Assume you’ve created a System image backup using Windows 7 Backup and Restore, you can restore Windows directly via the following steps.

Step 1. Press “Win + I” to open Windows Settings and go to Update & Security.

Step 2. Click “Recovery” on the left. Under the Advanced startup tab, click the “Restart now” button.

Step 3. In the Choose an option interface, click the “Troubleshoot” button.

Step 4. Click the “Advanced options” button.

Step 5. Select the “System Image Recovery” option.

Step 6. If you need to restore System image Windows 10, click Windows 10.

Step 7. On the Re-image your computer window, you’d better “use the latest available system image (recommended)” to restore Windows. Then click the “OK” button.

Step 8. If you’re going to restore to a new hard disk, select “Format and repartition disks” and click the “Next” button. If you don’t want to restore System image backups to all drives, click Exclude disks.

Step 9. After confirming the operation, click the “Finish” button. Please wait patiently.

After restoration, your Windows PC returns to normal. But some of you find some files were gone or the system cannot find the file specified. So can you find lost files on your computer?

Recover deleted & missing files via data recovery software

Since you can restore PCs from backups, you can also restore your files from backups. But in practice, plenty of users haven’t attached great importance to data loss prevention measures like backups.

Without backups, you’ll have no recourse but to seek help from data recovery software like MyRecover. Perhaps its varied features, good compatibility, intuitive interface, and clear operating steps can meet your needs.   

★Tips:   

Powerful features: Recover deleted & lost MS Office files, folders, compressed files, photos, videos, audio, and hundreds of file types from HDD, USB, SD cards, etc.

Easy-to-find: During Quick Scan and Deep Scan, you can search your desired folders by Path, Filename, Date, etc.

Convenient: Retain the original Path, Filename, and Format for the deleted files.   

Excellent compatibility: Support NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS file systems.

Download MyRecover on your Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Windows PC to get your files back!

Step 1. After launching MyRecover, hover the mouse over the partition that stores your desired files. Then click Scan.

Step 2. You can quickly locate your desired files by Name, Path, Date, or Type. You can also wait to view all the deleted & lost files after the scanning process.

Step 3. Go to the Deleted Files/Recycle Bin/Other Missing Files folder and select the files you want. Then click “Recover x files” and store these files in a new path.

Case B. Restore Windows from System image via backup software

Can you recover Windows using a specific image file if there’s no System image backup? If you cannot, professional backup software for Windows-AOMEI Backupper can help you solve this issue with no effort.

Phase 1. Make System Backups via AOMEI Backupper

Step 1. Download and install AOMEI Backupper on your Windows PC.

Step 2. Under the Backup tab, select the “System Backup” option.

Step 3. Locate a saved path to save your System backups and Start Backup.

Phase 2. Restore Windows from System image backups

Step 1. After launching AOMEI Backupper on your PC, click Restore > Select Image File.

Step 2. Choose the System Backup you desire to restore and click the “OK” button.

Step 3. Select “Restore this System backup” or Restore a partition in this system backup” as you prefer. Then click the “Next” button.

Step 4. On the summary page, confirm your operation and check the “Universal Restore” box. Then Start Restore.

Wrapping up

How to recover Windows using a specific image file? You could restore Windows from System image backups directly if there’re valuable System image backups for you.

For deleted files & missing, you can use top-rated data recovery software for Windows like MyRecover to get them back rather than restore Windows.

Undeniably, using the above-recommended backup software for Windows could be the most convenient way to restore files, folders, partitions, disks, or systems.