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Question

How to restore VHD file backup?

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orignal title: VHD file?

I did my first system backup using the back up and restore in Windows 7.  I had it copy the file to my external hardrive.  It comes up as a .VHD file.  How do I open that?  I tried to use the restore option but it says there is no backup to restore. Is it because the backup was not completed due to some files being skipped?  I do see the large .vhd file on my external harddrive. 

 

 

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11 People had
this question

Ronda

Ronda

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8

Votes

Answer

Hi Ronda,

 

The reason why you’ve a VHD file is because you’ve created a system image backup. A system image includes Windows and your system settings, programs, and files. You can use a system image to restore the contents of your computer if your hard drive or computer ever stops working. When you restore your computer from a system image, it is a complete restoration; you can't choose individual items to restore, and all of your current programs, system settings, and files are replaced.

 

You wouldn’t be able to restore VHD files using backup and restore center. You can mount the image by following the steps below.

 

Method 1: Steps to mount VHD files in Windows 7

 

a.    Open Start Menu, right-click on Computer and click Manage.

b.    Click on Disk Management.

c.    Click Action -> Attach VHD and specify the external hard disk location on your computer.

 

Check out the section in the link below about how to extract files from a system image (advanced)

http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/11/12/recovering-your-files-in-windows-7.aspx

 

Method 2: How to restore your computer from a system image backup

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Restore-your-computer-from-a-system-image-backup

 

For more information about system image backup, you can visit the link below

 

Learn more about system image backup

http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/10/31/learn-more-about-system-image-backup.aspx 

 

Backup and restore: frequently asked questions

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Back-up-and-restore-frequently-asked-questions

 

Hope this information is helpful.

Mouneshwar R – Microsoft Support

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Mouneshwar R

Support Engineer
Mouneshwar R

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Answer

Hi Ronda,

 

I guess you’ve selected the recovery partition instead of selecting the drive where you made the backup and that is when you receive this error message. I would suggest you to select the drive where the VHD file is and not the recovery partition which is basically used to restore the computer to its default factory settings. Once you select the right drive follow the steps as mentioned earlier.

 

Hope this information is helpful and let me know if you need any further assistance.

Mouneshwar R – Microsoft Support

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Mouneshwar R

Support Engineer
Mouneshwar R

Was this helpful?

8

Votes

Answer

Hi Ronda,

 

The reason why you’ve a VHD file is because you’ve created a system image backup. A system image includes Windows and your system settings, programs, and files. You can use a system image to restore the contents of your computer if your hard drive or computer ever stops working. When you restore your computer from a system image, it is a complete restoration; you can't choose individual items to restore, and all of your current programs, system settings, and files are replaced.

 

You wouldn’t be able to restore VHD files using backup and restore center. You can mount the image by following the steps below.

 

Method 1: Steps to mount VHD files in Windows 7

 

a.    Open Start Menu, right-click on Computer and click Manage.

b.    Click on Disk Management.

c.    Click Action -> Attach VHD and specify the external hard disk location on your computer.

 

Check out the section in the link below about how to extract files from a system image (advanced)

http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/11/12/recovering-your-files-in-windows-7.aspx

 

Method 2: How to restore your computer from a system image backup

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Restore-your-computer-from-a-system-image-backup

 

For more information about system image backup, you can visit the link below

 

Learn more about system image backup

http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/10/31/learn-more-about-system-image-backup.aspx 

 

Backup and restore: frequently asked questions

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Back-up-and-restore-frequently-asked-questions

 

Hope this information is helpful.

Mouneshwar R – Microsoft Support

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Mouneshwar R

Support Engineer
Mouneshwar R

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Thanks.  I have run into another roadblock.  After I try to mount the VHD file to see the backup files I get this message:

Recovery Partition

Warning!

 

This area of your hard drive

(or partition) contains files used

for Datasafe Recovery process.

 

Do not delete or alter these files.

 

Any change to this partition could

prevent any recovery later

 

 

How do I get past that?  I am only trying to view the files to make sure I did indeed back up things correctly in case my hard drive crashes.  I don't feel confident in just seeing the VHD image file without viewing its contents.

thanks for you help.

Ronda

.
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Ronda

Ronda

Was this helpful?

Answer

Hi Ronda,

 

I guess you’ve selected the recovery partition instead of selecting the drive where you made the backup and that is when you receive this error message. I would suggest you to select the drive where the VHD file is and not the recovery partition which is basically used to restore the computer to its default factory settings. Once you select the right drive follow the steps as mentioned earlier.

 

Hope this information is helpful and let me know if you need any further assistance.

Mouneshwar R – Microsoft Support

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Visit ourMicrosoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think

[If this post helps to resolve your issue, please click the "Mark as Answer" or "Helpful" button at the top of this message. By marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster.]
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Mouneshwar R

Support Engineer
Mouneshwar R

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Your VHD discussion enabled me solve my SBS2008 hardware failure and data recovery problem. Thank you very much. I learned a lot today about using new software to solve older problems!!!!. RAID5 systems are not fault tolerant enough unless you have 3+2 or more redundant drives. I have now removed 4 of my small RAID 5 systems from service and have replaced them with simple overnight copyover solutions for my customers. My customers are 9-5 offices, not mission critical, hence I can get away with it.

http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Server/SBS_Small_Business_Server/Q_26336901.html

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GerryJ2008

GerryJ2008

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Dear Mouneshwar, your response to Ronda was brilliant, one of the clearest threads I have read.  My problem is similar, but the .VHD I am trying to restore are the virtual hard drives from an instance of Windows XP Mode within Windows 7.  The back was done by Windows 7, and I have found the Back Up Files within the relevant Back Up Set at the relevant date, but when I come to try and restore them using Disk Management (Action - Attach VHD) from within Windows 7, the Virtual Disk Manager tells me that "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable".  It could be that the file IS corrupted, but I wonder whether I am doing this right, or should I be trying to remount this VHD from "within" the XP Virtual Machine? (I have looked at that, but Disk Manager in XP Mode does not give me the option there to "Attach VHD" - can you help me?
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Mark Simon 1961

Mark Simon 1961

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Mouneshwar:

There is no way to truly convey how appreciative I am for your answer.

 

We had a Windows 2008 Server doing system backups to a remote drive.  During one of the backup processes the machine experienced a drive failure.

When we rebuilt the machine we tried to recover from the backup.  Unfortunately, Windows said that it did not recognize it as a windows backup file.

 

Following your directions to mount the VHD, we were able to recover everything from the backup.

 

Thank you for extremely clear and helpful information.

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Chris Lively

Chris Lively
Lively Consulting

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Hi there, we did a vhd backup on an external drive on our old computer using windows vista.  its now died - is it possible to restore the files on our new computer using windows 7 without having to reformat the new computer totally?
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mikeandtonia

mikeandtonia

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Thanks for the answer.. This helped me a lot. I lost my laptop .. all i was worrying was about the data.. so now after backing up its like jsut the device is lost.. all the data is back now. i was bout to delete these files all the 200GB .. but after reading this i mountes as explined and i was able to recover all my data.. this is good.. and great thanks for the answer.!

 

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SharathRanga

SharathRanga

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Hi, i have the same problem as you did with Server 2008, i have tried to follow the steps that Mouneshwar has posted but am unable to find the action --> attach vhd part

could you please send any info as to how you did it with Server 2008,
Thanks alot,
JCHutchinson
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JCHutchinson

JCHutchinson

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Due to the age of the original question, it is recommended that you begin a new thread for your specific issue.  You can start by locating the text entry box at the top of any Microsoft Answers forum page, select the Ask a question radio button, type in your question and click the Ask button to continue to the Post your question page.

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