System Image Error

[Kiddbui]

I created a system image yesterday and did not receive an error, so I assumed everything went well. I then re-installed windows (which had to reformat my SSD to install). I then tried to boot up my system image and after much digging, I realized that a WindowsImageBackup folder should have also been created (along with a MediaID file and the image titled as my system name. I tried using a recovery software to see if I deleted the folder, but it never came up (the backup was created on my HDD, not SSD). I can't look at any files on my SSD prior to the re-installation, which makes me believe the formatting wiped all data on the SSD before the re-installation of windows. I am also quite sure I didn't delete the folder since I didn't delete anything after the re-installation (what's the point if the system image would just put it back on?).

Long story short, system image screwed up and everything is deleted so that I can't recover it using a recovery software. What do I do? Is there any way to recover? Does the WindowsImageBackup folder contain any vital information of the system? Can I just unzip all the files in the image file and my files will all be put back?

 

[USAFRet]

What tool did you use to create this System Image?
The built in Windows "System Image"?

If so, you're going about this all wrong.

After creating the image, you don't install a fresh OS and attempt to apply that image.
You create a System Repair disk, and use that to apply that actual Image to the drive.
It recreates the system as it was at the moment you created the image.

https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/

 

[Kiddbui]

What tool did you use to create this System Image?
The built in Windows "System Image"?

If so, you're going about this all wrong.

After creating the image, you don't install a fresh OS and attempt to apply that image.
You create a System Repair disk, and use that to apply that actual Image to the drive.
It recreates the system as it was at the moment you created the image.

https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/

Hi, thank you for your response!
I did use the windows system image tool. The reason I re-installed windows was because I had an issue with my computer waking up from sleep by itself (I isolated the problem to the OS). I had Linux installed to test whether it would wake up by itself and it didn't so I then installed windows again (I did not mention this because I wanted to make my issue short and concise. The sleep problem was a completely different problem for a different thread).

So since I did install a fresh OS, will the system repair disk method you mentioned still work? From what I've read, I believe by creating a system image, I was supposed to have the image file, the mediaID file, and a folder labeled WindowsImageBackup. The problem is that the folder did not create for some odd reason and I am unsure what to do. I am trying to minimize activity on the computer so I don't mess up any slim chance I have of recovering all my files. Would you still suggest the system repair disk method even after I installed a fresh OS and have no WindowsImageBackup folder when I created a system image?

Thank you very much for your input and advice!

 

[USAFRet]

So since I did install a fresh OS, will the system repair disk method you mentioned still work? From what I've read, I believe by creating a system image, I was supposed to have the image file, the mediaID file, and a folder labeled WindowsImageBackup. The problem is that the folder did not create for some odd reason and I am unsure what to do. I am trying to minimize activity on the computer so I don't mess up any slim chance I have of recovering all my files. Would you still suggest the system repair disk method even after I installed a fresh OS and have no WindowsImageBackup folder when I created a system image?

No.
You can only use a System image if that actually exists.
It appears it does not.

You created an Image. (On what drive?)
You then did a full reinstall of the OS.
This presumably deleted the image you created? Or does that still exist somewhere?

But...using that original Image will simply recreate the issues you were originally having.

Quite confusing as to what you did and why.

 

[Kiddbui]

So since I did install a fresh OS, will the system repair disk method you mentioned still work? From what I've read, I believe by creating a system image, I was supposed to have the image file, the mediaID file, and a folder labeled WindowsImageBackup. The problem is that the folder did not create for some odd reason and I am unsure what to do. I am trying to minimize activity on the computer so I don't mess up any slim chance I have of recovering all my files. Would you still suggest the system repair disk method even after I installed a fresh OS and have no WindowsImageBackup folder when I created a system image?

No.
You can only use a System image if that actually exists.
It appears it does not.

You created an Image. (On what drive?)
You then did a full reinstall of the OS.
This presumably deleted the image you created? Or does that still exist somewhere?

But...using that original Image will simply recreate the issues you were originally having.

Quite confusing as to what you did and why.

I apologize for the confusion. Maybe it would be better I go into more detail about the whole situation.
So my computer constantly wakes itself up from sleep. After booting it up on a Linux flash drive and disabling my SSD from booting up, this sleep problem was gone. I then created a system image of my SSD (which contains my OS) onto both an external and internal HDD (so I have 2 images). I then installed Linux onto the SSD to confirm that the sleep issue was from the OS rather than from the SSD. Now, I installed a fresh OS in hopes of fixing the sleep problem just to see if it works. I wanted to restore from backup but it did not work. I wanted to boot up the system image (and yes, I realize the sleep problem would come back, but I would then make a backup rather than a system image so that I can keep my files while hopefully fixing the sleep issue). The boot failed, it did not recognize there was a system image (probably since the folder wasn't created). I tried restoring from the system image, but that failed as well. Some files transferred over from apps, but since the transfer was incomplete, these files are not useful. So that is the situation and motive behind what I did.

So to simply answer your questions:
I have the image (two of them), but without the WindowsImageBackup folder. They are on separate HDD. I am trying to recover information from my SSD. At this point, my main goal is just to recover my information. I can always attempt to fix the sleep problem after that.

I am terribly sorry for the confusion, I hope this clears up my predicament.
Thank you for taking the time to assist me!

 

[USAFRet]

If you've created a System Repair disk, and it cannot recover one of the two images you created initially...you're probably out of luck.

But your first bad move was trusting your personal critical data to an untested/untried backup routine, and "assuming everything went well".

 

[Kiddbui]

If you've created a System Repair disk, and it cannot recover one of the two images you created initially...you're probably out of luck.

But your first bad move was trusting your personal critical data to an untested/untried backup routine, and "assuming everything went well".

I did not create a system repair disk. At this point, I just created a system image (without the WindowsImageBackup folder). So I was wondering whether it would be possible to create a system repair disk with only the system image file and whether this would even be a good idea at this point?
Also, I was wondering if you would know what the WindowsImageBackup folder contains? I can still open the image file and there are a lot of backup zips, but I was wondering if the WindowsImageBackup folder contained any important files and such? My current plan of action is to unzip all the backup folders and place them where they belong and hopefully re-create my computer manually.

Yes, I've made many crucial mistakes along the way, which in hindsight, was very rash and not thought through enough. I figured my odds were slim but just wanted confirmation whether I'm at a point of no return.

Thank you very much for walking through this predicament with me!

 

[USAFRet]

You need to create the System Repair disk.
You boot from that, and tell it what Image to use.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17127/windows-back-up-restore

I've never used the built in Windows function, so I'm not sure what it contains, or how you can access it directly.

 

[Kiddbui]

You need to create the System Repair disk.
You boot from that, and tell it what Image to use.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17127/windows-back-up-restore

I've never used the built in Windows function, so I'm not sure what it contains, or how you can access it directly.

Thank you very much for your help! I will try the system repair to see if that works!