Can I Continue to Use Computer When System Image is Being Done

If your Windows environment becomes unstable or corrupted, a special backup feature from Microsoft could come to the rescue—if you prepare in advance.

System Image Backup creates an entire image file of Windows 10 or Windows 11 rather than just the select files and folders preserved in File History. This way, if Windows ever gets corrupted, crashes, or simply stops working, you can get it back on its feet by restoring the entire image.

This is a better option than a Recovery Drive, which won't save your personal files, and a Restore Point, which can sometimes fail. The only drawback is that you can't restore individual files via System Image Backup, only the entire image. So you'll want to create the image on a fairly regular basis to house the latest version of your Windows environment.

Before you get started, you'll need to set up an external source on which to save your image file. You can create the image on DVDs, but the easiest option is to use an external drive, a network drive, or a network-attached storage (NAS) drive. Let's get started.


Set Up Backup

backup and restore

The quickest way to get to the System Image Backup in Windows 10 or 11 is through the Control Panel. Use the Windows search function from the Taskbar to type Control Panel, then select it from the results. With Control Panel in icon view, select Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Yes, it still says Windows 7, but this feature works just fine in Windows 10 and 11.

backup save location

Click the Create a system image link, then choose where you want to save the backup—on a drive, DVD, or network location. If you want to use an external drive, make sure it's formatted using NTFS in order to store the image. Click Next.

start backup

Confirm which areas or partitions of your hard drive will be included in the image file, then click the Start Backup button. Windows now creates the image file.


Create a System Repair Disc

repair disc

You'll then want to create a system repair disc to use if Windows is ever incapable of booting up on its own. You'll need a disk drive as this option still doesn't support USB drives for booting up your PC. If your computer doesn't have the right drive, you can always buy and connect an external DVD drive(Opens in a new window).

Insert a CD or DVD into your drive. Click the Create a system repair disc link at the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) window. Confirm that your DVD drive appears and then click the Create disc button.

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System Image Recovery

restart now

Okay, now let's say you're in a jam one day because Windows is misbehaving. Restoring it from the image file may be your only option. Make sure your backup media is available. If you still can, boot up your PC.

In Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. In the Advanced startup section on the right, click the Restart now button under Advanced startup. Windows 11 users should open Settings > System > Recovery and then click the Restart now button next to Advanced startup.

system image recovery

At the Choose an option window, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Image Recovery > See more recovery options. Select System Image Recovery. From there, follow the prompts to restore your image file.

If Windows won't boot, start up your PC with the system repair disc. You should be taken to the Choose an option window, where you can follow the same steps to restore Windows to a previous and (hopefully healthy) state.

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Source: https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-back-up-and-restore-an-image-file-of-windows-10

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