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How to restore VHD file backup?

Anonymous
Jun 9, 2010, 11:25 PM

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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  1. Anonymous
    Jun 10, 2010, 4:07 PM

    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 e****xtract 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

    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.]

    27 people found this answer helpful.
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  1. Anonymous
    Jun 24, 2010, 4:59 PM

    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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  1. Anonymous
    Jun 16, 2010, 6:30 PM

    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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  2. Anonymous
    Jul 18, 2010, 1:07 AM

    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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  3. Anonymous
    May 26, 2011, 6:59 AM

    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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