{"id":36036,"date":"2015-01-30T17:35:49","date_gmt":"2015-01-30T22:35:49","guid":{"rendered":"<p style=\"line-height: 18.0pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; color: #333333;\">Remember back in the day when all computers came with a<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span>recovery disc? \u00a0Then you just popped it in to the computer and"},"modified":"2015-11-12T01:57:01","modified_gmt":"2015-11-12T06:57:01","slug":"how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-8-1-and-windows-7-pro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-8-1-and-windows-7-pro\/","title":{"rendered":"How to create a System Image in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 Pro"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"daves-2216646523\" class=\"daves-single-post-before-content\" style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7205184075006101\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7205184075006101\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"2700504761\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"false\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><p style=\"line-height: 18.0pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; color: #333333;\">Remember back in the day when all computers came with a<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span>recovery disc? \u00a0Then you just popped it in to the computer and it walked you through all the steps? \u00a0Yep, those were the days &#8211; now when you buy a computer you have no disc and no one tells you how to get one. \u00a0So in this article I\u2019m going to show you how you can make a<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span>System Image back-up of your hard drive\u00a0for your Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 Pro. \u00a0An image is an exact copy of everything on your drive and will restore it back to the date you created your System Image. \u00a0This is a\u00a0very important step to do\u00a0when setting up your new computer. \u00a0Some of you might be thinking &#8220;doesn&#8217;t the manual tell you to do this?&#8221; \u00a0Yes, but how many people do you know that actually read the manual? If you are that person then great! \u00a0But for the ones who don&#8217;t, this article is for you.\u00a0 Going through this process will save your tail in the long run, because we all know that eventually our computer will need help.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"line-height: 18.0pt; text-align: start;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; color: #333333;\">I will show both Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 Pro processes with each step since they are a little different from each other. \u00a0I have tested this process on both Window versions.\u00a0So\u00a0let&#8217;s get this guide started.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Opening System Image Backup in Windows 8.1<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>In Windows 8.1 go to the search and type in \u201cFile History.\u201d \u00a0You should see the folder &#8220;File History\u201d showing up below the search box. \u00a0Click on this Icon.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/article2-copy.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-36037\" src=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/article2-copy-400x259.jpg\" alt=\"How to create a System Image in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 Pro\" width=\"670\" height=\"434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/article2-copy-400x259.jpg 400w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/article2-copy-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/article2-copy-600x388.jpg 600w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/article2-copy.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Now a window will pop-up and you will see \u201cSystem Image Backup\u201d\u00a0which is located in the lower left-hand corner of the page. \u00a0Click on the wording\u00a0\u201cSystem Image Backup\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-36293\" src=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-2-780x367.jpg\" alt=\"system images 2\" width=\"686\" height=\"323\" srcset=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-2.jpg 780w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-2-150x71.jpg 150w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-2-400x188.jpg 400w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-2-600x282.jpg 600w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-2-636x299.jpg 636w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-2-320x151.jpg 320w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-2-239x112.jpg 239w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 686px) 100vw, 686px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Opening System Image Backup in Windows 7 Pro<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>On the home screen Click on the \u201cStart\u201d button then go to \u201cControl Panel.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-3.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-36294\" src=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-3.jpg\" alt=\"system images 3\" width=\"411\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-3.jpg 411w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-3-116x150.jpg 116w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-3-308x400.jpg 308w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-3-150x195.jpg 150w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-3-320x415.jpg 320w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-3-239x310.jpg 239w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 411px) 100vw, 411px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Click on &#8220;Control Panel.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>In the next Screen you will see &#8220;Back Up your Computer&#8221; which is under &#8220;System and Security.&#8221; Now Click on &#8220;Back Up Your Computer&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-4.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-36295\" src=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-4-780x546.jpg\" alt=\"system images 4\" width=\"686\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-4-780x546.jpg 780w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-4-150x105.jpg 150w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-4-400x280.jpg 400w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-4-600x420.jpg 600w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-4-636x445.jpg 636w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-4-320x224.jpg 320w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-4-239x167.jpg 239w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-4.jpg 845w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 686px) 100vw, 686px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Now you will want to Click on the \u201cCreate a system image\u201d which is on the left side of the screen.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-5.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-36296\" src=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-5-780x550.jpg\" alt=\"system images 5\" width=\"686\" height=\"484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-5-780x550.jpg 780w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-5-150x106.jpg 150w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-5-400x282.jpg 400w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-5-600x423.jpg 600w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-5-636x449.jpg 636w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-5-320x226.jpg 320w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-5-239x169.jpg 239w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-5.jpg 845w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 686px) 100vw, 686px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Creating a System Image Backup in Windows 8.1\u00a0or Windows 7 Pro\u00a0(from this point on, both Window versions continue the same way). <\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>This screen is where you will need to decide where you want to save your back up image. They give you 3 options to choose from (Hard Disk, DVD or on a network location). Choose the one with the most space. You will understand when you see the next steps. I suggest using\u00a0an external hard drive. Once you have chosen the location Click &#8220;NEXT&#8221;.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-6.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-36297\" src=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-6.jpg\" alt=\"system images 6\" width=\"640\" height=\"598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-6.jpg 640w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-6-150x140.jpg 150w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-6-400x374.jpg 400w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-6-600x561.jpg 600w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-6-636x594.jpg 636w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-6-320x299.jpg 320w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-6-239x223.jpg 239w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Once you have chosen your drive to back up your system image to you will \u00a0see a new screen. This is where you choose the drives you want to have backed up. \u00a0 Simply check the boxes next to the drives you want. \u00a0Some are defaulted so you will not be able to uncheck them. \u00a0Now Click &#8220;Next&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-7.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-36298\" src=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-7.jpg\" alt=\"system images 7\" width=\"638\" height=\"592\" srcset=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-7.jpg 638w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-7-150x139.jpg 150w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-7-400x371.jpg 400w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-7-600x557.jpg 600w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-7-636x590.jpg 636w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-7-320x297.jpg 320w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-7-239x222.jpg 239w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 638px) 100vw, 638px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Now you will see a confirmation screen that will show you the amount of space the back up image will take. \u00a0This is why I said to choose the one with the most space and suggested using a external hard drive. If you need to make any changes this is the point you can still go back. \u00a0<strong>This is the point of no return!<\/strong> \u00a0Now all you have to do is click &#8220;Start Backup.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-8-.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-36299\" src=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-8-.jpg\" alt=\"system images 8\" width=\"641\" height=\"594\" srcset=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-8-.jpg 641w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-8--150x139.jpg 150w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-8--400x371.jpg 400w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-8--600x556.jpg 600w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-8--636x589.jpg 636w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-8--320x297.jpg 320w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-8--239x221.jpg 239w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 641px) 100vw, 641px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Next you will see the progress bar start. \u00a0While the image is being created and backed up you should make yourself a cup of coffee because depending on the size, this can take a while. \u00a0The time \u00a0depends on your system and where you\u2019re backing it up to.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-9.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-36300\" src=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-9.jpg\" alt=\"system images 9\" width=\"557\" height=\"296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-9.jpg 557w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-9-150x80.jpg 150w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-9-400x213.jpg 400w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-9-320x170.jpg 320w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/system-images-9-239x127.jpg 239w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 557px) 100vw, 557px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Once the process is complete you will see an option to create a system repair disc. \u00a0On this\u00a0box click &#8220;<strong>NO&#8221;<\/strong>\u00a0to skip the system repair disc creation process. \u00a0I will be covering \u00a0how to create a system repair disc in another article.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Artilcle-18-copy.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-36088\" src=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Artilcle-18-copy.jpg\" alt=\"How to create a System Image in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 Pro\" width=\"501\" height=\"257\" srcset=\"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Artilcle-18-copy.jpg 384w, https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Artilcle-18-copy-150x77.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 501px) 100vw, 501px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Now you have a System Image of your hard drive. \u00a0You now have a great\u00a0tool to restoring\u00a0your computer when\u00a0needed. \u00a0Hopefully you never have to use this. \u00a0Like I said at the top I have tested this process on both versions of Windows. \u00a0So if you have any questions please leave a comment below.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"daves-1440567039\" class=\"daves-after-content\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7205184075006101\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7205184075006101\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"3225321574\" \ndata-ad-format=\"autorelaxed\" data-full-width-responsive=\"false\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Remember back in the day when all computers came with a\u00a0recovery disc? \u00a0Then you just popped it in to the computer and it walked you through all the steps? \u00a0Yep, those were the days &#8211; now when you buy a computer you have no disc [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1985,"featured_media":36301,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,5],"tags":[4454],"class_list":["post-36036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-win7","category-win8","tag-create-system-images"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1985"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36036"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36036\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davescomputertips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}