"Image for Windows" Boot to restore guide

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by pandlouk, Feb 27, 2011.

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  1. pandlouk

    pandlouk Registered Member

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    Here,I'll explain how to automatically restore the OS with Image for windows without using an external source (CD,usb, etc.),and without the need to boot to the IFD enviroment first for finding the correct parameters.

    The things you'll need:
    Image For Windows (v2.55a or higher)
    Image For Dos*
    TeraByte OSD Tool Suite*
    The IFD boot file setup script archive (you can download it from here)

    *IFD and TBOSDT are included in the Image for Windows installation.

    Panagiotis
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2011
  2. pandlouk

    pandlouk Registered Member

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    Start a normal restoration with IFW

    First start a normal restoration with IFW.

    [​IMG]

    Select the Image that you want to restore... until you go to the following screen "select where you want to restore the partition(s)".

    [​IMG]

    in the above tab take a note of your hard disk IDs (highlighted in red) and the positions of your partitions (highlighted in yellow).

    Now continue until you reach the last Tab.

    [​IMG]

    Here select the options that you want to use and then click at the "show command" check the box "save to file and save the command in a file.

    Panagiotis
     
  3. pandlouk

    pandlouk Registered Member

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    Modify our script for the boot enviroment

    Now, open the bat file that you saved previously with a text editor.

    [​IMG]
    I highlighted with yellow the directory where IFW resides and with red the script we are interested in.
    Now is time to modify the script (highlighted in red) so it will work in the IFD enviroment.
    the original is:
    /r /d:w0@0x1 /f:"E:\Backup\IFW\Backup"
    the one to use in IFD is
    /r /d:#0x5EE85736@0x1 /f:#0x3EFC7266@0x1:\Backup\IFW\Backup

    In this example
    #0x5EE85736@0x1
    0x5EE85736 = the id of the disk where I want to restore the windows
    0x1 = the position of the partition that will be ovewritten
    and
    #0x3EFC7266@0x1
    0x3EFC7266 = the id of the disk where my image resides
    0x1 = the position of the partition where my image resides

    Panagiotis
     
  4. pandlouk

    pandlouk Registered Member

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    Modify IFD boot file setup script

    Now copy your "TeraByte OSD Tool Suite" folder in another position in your c: drive, because UAC will cause problems when you'll run the scripts if your run them from inside the programs directory; personaly I copy it in my documents.
    In the subdirectory/subfolder "dos_tbos" extract the files from the IFD boot file setup script archive:
    dos_tbos\chkfiles.bat
    dos_tbos\setupifd.bat

    Open the setupifd.bat with e text editor

    [​IMG]

    - If you use Windows 64bit correct the directory for IFD (highlighted in yellow).

    - Replace the XXX-XXX-XXX with your serial for IFD.

    - Modify the script:
    image.exe /log:0
    with the restoration script that you made at the previous step.

    In my example is the following:
    image.exe /r /d:#0x5EE85736@0x1 /f:#0x3EFC7266@0x1:\Backup\IFW\Backup /log:0 /rb:4 /uy
    log:0 = do not log
    rb:4 = force reboot after the job finishes
    uy = automatically answer yes at all the prompts.

    (note: If the path of your image contains spaces, you must use "" in the script e.g.
    image.exe /r /d:#0x5EE85736@0x1 /f:#0x3EFC7266@0x1:"\Backup files\IFW\Backup"
    thanks to Brian for reminding me of thins)

    Your modified setupifd.bat should look like this

    [​IMG]

    Now save the setupifd.bat and run it (double click it with the mouse).

    It will create a new folder "TBOS" in C: . Now run (doubleclick) the "run_ifd.bat" which is inside the "TBOS" folder and go make a coffee. ;)

    Windows will reboot, IFD will start the restoration and when finished, your pc will restart and enter in the restored windows.

    Tuttorial finished.
    Panagiotis
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2011
  5. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Panagiotis,

    That is a really nice tutorial. Clear, concise and relevant. Congratulations.
     
  6. treehouse786

    treehouse786 Registered Member

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    seems way to big of a hassle when you think that acronis true image can do this in 2 clicks? not trying to be rude but am i missing something here?
     
  7. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    I guess it depends on which app you want to use. The IFW setup only takes a few minutes. Really. Then after it is set up you can restore in half the clicks of Acronis. One instead of two. ;)
     
  8. Aaron Here

    Aaron Here Registered Member

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    @treehouse,

    Same with Drive Snapshot, BUT neither of them can create a 'hot-image' of a Rollback Rx (or like program) partition capturing all of its snapshots, only IFW can!

    Of course if you don't use Rollback Rx (or some other ISR program) than there can be little arguement that either Acronis True Image or Drive Snapshot is less of a hassle restoring backup images. ;)

    Aaron
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2011
  9. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Aaron,

    I'll have to argue with that statement. What can be simpler than one click? :D
     
  10. Aaron Here

    Aaron Here Registered Member

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    Brian, I believe the issue that treehouse was getting at (and to which I replied) is not having to do all of the 'prep' to get to the point where you can achieve a 1-click restore!

    Aaron
     
  11. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Aaron,

    It only takes a few minutes to run that tutorial. It doesn't have to be done a second time. Panagiotis has written an excellent tutorial. Please give it one chance.
     
  12. Aaron Here

    Aaron Here Registered Member

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    Brian,

    I think you misconstrued my comments. There is no doubt Panagiotis has written an excellent tutorial and I for one will definitely pursue his approach - but only because I am a Rollback Rx user - otherwise DS would more than suffice.

    My reply to treehouse's post was to simply suggest that there's no reason for him to abandon ATI for IFW and Panagiotis' clever restore concept if he is not an RB (or other ISR) user.

    Aaron
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2011
  13. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

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    Excellent tutorial. The reason that IFW shines and it is the only one that does the hot-imaging of Rollback Rx, is because the power it poses, and there is no limit what can be done with it, with some patience and skill.

    Yes, it can look scary and daunting at times, but the possibilites of IFW are beyond imagination.

    Excellent turtorial my dear friend, Panagiotis!

    Best regards,

    KOR!

    P.S. My friend Aaron, you old coot. You need to fork out now about $29 to buy this excellent program, and there is no doubt it is the most superior imaging program out there! lol :D
     
  14. pandlouk

    pandlouk Registered Member

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    Thanks guys,

    I thought that since IFW is popular among the wilders members, a guide like this could help.

    Panagiotis
     
  15. pandlouk

    pandlouk Registered Member

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    I can think at least 2 reasons why IFW is better than Acronis:

    1st. Excellent support (second to none). TerabyteUnlimited added the ability to use disk signatures last April, only 5 days after I requested it; adding a feature for a home customer, that holds only 1 license, is something at least uncommon in the hdd imaging market.

    2nd. Offers great flexibility and that means great control. The way I described above is only one way to do it with IFW/IFD/IFL.
    e.g. One can use the same procedure, to create a "Boot to BackUp" bat file.

    Panagiotis
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2011
  16. moontan

    moontan Registered Member

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    wow, tnx for taking the time to put this together m8! :thumb:

    i've never tried IFW but your tutorial just might give me the excuse to give it a try! :)
     
  17. osip

    osip Registered Member

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    Well,well,well, what a tutorial. How can a backup fan avoid this ? I'm going to test it, and afterw return. Especially as a former and for many years a user of IFW/IFD. Thanks !

    Allright, I just went over to x64 and don't have IFW installed in this very moment.
    Yes, I will look for where it will be.
     
  18. treehouse786

    treehouse786 Registered Member

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    ah i see, thank you for explaining it in a clear manner :thumb:
     
  19. markymoo

    markymoo Registered Member

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    Nice tutorial.

    I looked into starting program just before Window starts. You know chkdsk runs before Windows in a text console. That's what I wanted to do,run a program there which would have full access to the system partition for partitioning and restoring. The chkdsk that runs at startup runs in native mode using ntdll.dll and is not the same chkdsk program as in Windows. So to get a program to run there you have to specifically program in native mode. No other program will launch except native. So looks like DS is one of the few programs that runs in DOS, Windows but also native mode to restore c while in Windows.
     
  20. andylau

    andylau Registered Member

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    pandlouk,

    How to get the id of the disko_O
     
  21. pandlouk

    pandlouk Registered Member

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    from here; the nt IDs of the disks are highlighted in red. (you must write those that interest you)
    [​IMG]
    When you insert them in the script you must use the format 0x[ID].
    e.g. for a disk with ID 5EE85736 you must use 0x5EE85736

    Panagiotis
     
  22. andylau

    andylau Registered Member

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    Yeah, I see it, thanks pandlouk!:cool:

    But I think this auto restore method has some limitations:
    1. You must boot sucessfully and login to system
    2. You must know the disk id first, if you change to put the backup image to another hdd, you need to edit again (Its limitation by using disk id)

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

    I think there are other ways to restore without using external source,
    for examples, make a IMG(DOS IMG) or ISO boot by bootmgr/ntldr, grub4dos or other bootloaders.:D
    This method I think if you can see the boot menu, then you can restore. The limitation again you must know the disk id first(if you put the backup image to another hdd) when you make the IMG
    --------------------

    I find PartInfo from TeraBytes, which you can use it to find the disk id, so that if you do not have image for windows(maybe someone just bought image for dos), you can also make an auto restore IMG of ifd
    Code:
    http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads/PARTINFO.ZIP
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2011
  23. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    andylau,

    Good points. If you change the backup drive or have say 3 backup drives. it only takes a minute to create another setupifd.bat because only one field need to be changed.

    The method doesn't work if you can't boot into Windows but it is not designed for that situation and 99% of restores are done when you can boot into Windows. It is easy to create a boot CD/USB flash drive that will do an auto restore in the event of a HD failure. Disk signatures don't need to be known. But as my HD failures occur years apart I tend to do manual restores in that situation.

    Good find.
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2011
  24. andylau

    andylau Registered Member

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    Brian,

    You are right. Thanks for your correction.

    I also do manual restores for my hard disks. Because the current imaging software that I use is using harddisk number parameter for backup and restore(if you want to use parameters). Of course, it has a GUI, so I have not used the parameters. Using harddisk number is not safe enough if the BIOS detects the first harddisk incorrectly. Maybe disk signature is more safety for auto restore.
     
  25. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    I'd expect people would like to "test" this method without doing a restore. This can be done by adding /v to the end of the command line. eg...

    image.exe /r /d:#0x5EE85736@0x1 /f:#0x3EFC7266@0x1:\Backup\IFW\Backup /log:0 /rb:4 /uy /v

    /v makes IFD do a validation of the image before the restore starts. The validation takes minutes or longer depending on the size of your image. So for the test you could double click run_ifd.bat, Windows will restart, IFD will open and you will see the Validation running. After a few seconds press F12 to Cancel and the restore will not commence.
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2011
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