Creating a system image
Follow these steps to create a system image:
Press the Windows
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+ W key. Type Windows 7 File Recovery into the Search field.
Figure 1: Searching for recovery drive
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Search results for recovery drive Click Windows 7 File Recovery from the list of results.
Click Create a system image .
Figure 2: Windows 7 File Recovery
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Image of Windows 7 File Recovery window
Windows looks for available backup devices.
Figure 3: Looking for backup devices
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Image of Create a System Image window
Choose the location to save your system image, and then click Next .
On a hard disk
One or more DVDs
Figure 4: Where do you want to save the backup?
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Image of Create a System Image window
WARNING: Do not save the backup to the recovery partition: FACTORY_IMAGE or Recovery . Doing so corrupts the HP Recovery information.Select the drives you want to include in the backup, and then click Next .
Figure 5: Which drives do you want to include in the backup?
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Image of Create a System Image window
Confirm the settings, and then click Start backup .
NOTE: Make sure that you have enough blank space on the external drive or enough blank DVDs to create the system image.Figure 6: Confirm your backup settings
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Image of Create a System Image window
Windows prepares to create the system image.
If you are backing up to DVD, label and insert a blank DVD in the DVD recorder.
Figure 7: Label and insert a blank disc
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Image of Create a system image window
If you are backing up to DVD and a message displays requesting to format the DVD, choose to format the DVD.
Figure 8: Formatting the media
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Image of Create a system image window
Windows saves the system image.
Figure 9: Windows is saving the backup
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Image of Create a system image window
If using DVDs, when prompted, label and insert a blank DVD. Continue to follow the on-screen instructions until the image is complete. This might take from several minutes to several hours. Store the backup in a safe place.
When the system image has been created, you are prompted to create a system repair disc. A system repair disc can be used to boot the computer in case of startup problems. For more information about system repair discs, see Creating and Using a Microsoft System Repair Disc or Recovery USB Drive .
Figure 10: Do you want to create a system repair disc?
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Image of Create a System Image window
When the system image is complete, click Close .
Figure 11: System image complete
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Image of Create a System Image window
+ W key. 
Search results for recovery drive 
Restoring the computer from a system image
Use the following steps to restore the computer from a system image:
Insert the first system image disc into the disc drive, or connect the external hard drive containing the system image to the computer.
Press the Windows
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+ I key. Hold the Shift key while you click Restart .
Figure 12: Restart
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Image of Settings with Power, Restart selected
Click Troubleshoot , then click Advanced options .
Click System Image Recovery .
The computer prepares the system image recovery.
Click the user account, enter the account password, and then click Continue .
NOTE: If your system image is saved on DVDs and Windows cannot find the system image file, remove the first disk in the set and insert the last disk in the set. Then click Retry . If your system image is saved on an external hard drive and Windows cannot find the system image file, disconnect and reconnect the drive. Then click Retry .Click Use the latest available system image (recommended) , and then click Next
On the Choose additional restore options page, click Next .
On the confirmation page, click Finish . Then click Yes . Windows begins to restore the computer.
If using DVDs, insert the requested disk when prompted, and then click OK . Follow the on-screen directions to completely restore the computer. This might take from a few minutes to a few hours. When Windows is finished restoring the computer, it automatically restarts
