Installing Image for Windows

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Let me begin by saying that I am in no way affiliated with TeraByte. I have used their software for very many years with great success, I am very familiar with the UI, and I am a very satisfied customer. Image for Windows is not a free product, it sells for $49.98 (July 2022). However, under the license agreement, “LICENSE: (c)PERMITTED END USERS AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS. (4) (ii) Personal or Home Users. If you are a real person, and if all Software under this license is used exclusively for personal non-commercial use only, then each licensed copy may be installed on four additional Computer Systems owned or controlled by you, or a member of your immediate family in the same household.”

In other words, Personal or Home Users get five installations for the price of one, for their household. For me, that’s quite reasonable; I have five installations.  With the purchase of Image for Windows, you also get TBI View, which allows mounting an image file as a drive letter, and retrieving individual files or folders from that mounted image should the need arise.  Also included is TeraByte OSD Tool Suite, which provides prepping your OS for a migration to different hardware.  TeraByte offers a fully functional 30-day free trial.

The initial installation must be “Run as administrator”.  If UAC is enabled, it will ask for an Administrator password before installation can proceed, and it is in multiple staged parts, with offers for customizations along the way.  I use Traditional for control of the installation.  The installation manual is available for download.  Click Image for Windows (it will open in a new tab) and scroll to the bottom of the page, then click the “Manual” button to download.

On a new installation, you will likely need to restart your computer.  The current version (June 2022) of Image for Windows is 3.53, and updates for 3.xx are free for licensed users.

These are the settings I use, YMMV.  On the opening screen when launching IFW:

If you are using BITLocker, make sure “Use VSS When Available” is selected.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

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RockE

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I am just installing IFW and already am stumped:
Simple or Traditional Installation?
If Simple, Default or Custom?
If Traditional, VSS or PHYlock

Any other choices that will stump me before I begin configuring it?

I did not see above answers in your tutorial.

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bbearren:

I installed IFW with all defaults and followed your instructions. Never got “launch TBI View” choice….. Many questions:

Created Image of  HD0. (Should it be a part of this only?) It took about 38 minutes, with many errors. You indicate chkdsk or equivalent for SDD. Check SDD of pc or external drive target? How do I find the utility for either SSD?

I tried to schedule the image with user not logged on, would not accept user or pw. I don’t know what is wrong.  See attachments. Is this not available in trial version? Even with user logged on, I got same error.

I created a new folder in my backup target, it saved the image onto the root of that target, not the folder. How do I get the image saved onto the correct folder?

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Ken wrote:

I am just installing IFW and already am stumped: Simple or Traditional Installation? If Simple, Default or Custom? If Traditional, VSS or PHYlock

I was out of pocket yesterday and did not see your post until today (July 4).  Go to your installation folder and double-click the file ifw_en_manual.pdf.  This will outline your available choices and provide screenshots for both “Simple” and “Traditional” installation options.

I use Traditional, Custom and PHYLock.

Ken wrote:

Created Image of HD0. (Should it be a part of this only?) It took about 38 minutes, with many errors.

That large a drive will take a good while to create an image.  You don’t need chkdsk as the completion screen shows no bad sectors.  The byte-for-byte errors may be “access denied” errors.

Ken wrote:

I tried to schedule the image with user not logged on, would not accept user or pw.

Task Scheduler usually requires Administrator privileges in order to create a scheduled task.  You must provide a username and password from a member of the Administrators group.

Ken wrote:

I created a new folder in my backup target, it saved the image onto the root of that target, not the folder. How do I get the image saved onto the correct folder?

You have to navigate to the folder.  Double-click on the root and it will show the folder.  Then you can select the folder.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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Ken

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bbearren wrote:

Task Scheduler usually requires Administrator privileges in order to create a scheduled task.  You must provide a username and password from a member of the Administrators group.

I am the administrator, there is no other user.

bbearren wrote:

That large a drive will take a good while to create an image.

Should I backup only part of what is shown as HD0? My aim is not just to restore the OS if needed, but also all apps and settings.

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Ken wrote:

Should I backup only part of what is shown as HD0? My aim is not just to restore the OS if needed, but also all apps and settings.

You can backup whatever you like, so long as you have room for the image on your target.  I’m just saying that a larger drive will take longer for image creation.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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Ken wrote:

I am the administrator, there is no other user.

If you go to Control Panel > User accounts are you listed as Administrator?

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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Yes, I am listed (my full name, not kenny) as Administrator, password protected. What is my password? My Windows login pin? I am listed my with gmail address too. Does that mean that my gmail password is the correct one?

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Ken wrote:

Yes, I am listed (my full name, not kenny) as Administrator, password protected. What is my password? My Windows login pin?

Image for Windows will accept a PIN to satisfy UAC.  Task Scheduler (at least in my experience) won’t accept a PIN, only a password.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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I just tried all combinations of user name and password using my pin, my gmail password, kenny or full name….. result is the same.

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Ken wrote:

I just tried all combinations of user name and password using my pin

As I said, in my experience Task Scheduler will not accept a PIN, only a password.  If you only have a PIN for

Ken wrote:

I am listed (my full name, not kenny) as Administrator, password protected.

you will have to add an actual password to that Administrator account.  That’s not an Image for Windows thing, that’s a Task Scheduler thing.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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I asked Lenovo support, they helped me with the sign-in and pw!!

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Ken wrote:

I asked Lenovo support, they helped me with the sign-in and pw!!

Good.  Now go back to #2458284 to get to your target folder.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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bbearren wrote:

You have to navigate to the folder.  Double-click on the root and it will show the folder.  Then you can select the folder.

I tried again: when double clicking, it takes me to the next page with the folder showing. I click the folder, but the window at top right does not change, it still shows only the drive and drivename as the target

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Ken wrote:

I tried again: when double clicking, it takes me to the next page with the folder showing. I click the folder, but the window at top right does not change, it still shows only the drive and drivename as the target

Double-click the folder, too.  The path statement at the upper right doesn’t change, but the main window will change.  You should see something similar to this:

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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Ken

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Folder selection worked fine, thank you. I downloaded and installed on my other pc (“kenny”), scheduled both for last night.

Both IFW ran apparently OK. However, I clicked the file to view it on my wife’s pc (“katjam”), I selected “basic data partition”, came up with attached screen shots…. it looks like something failed!

This large partition has a totally different name in “kenny” whjch is W10Pro. “katjam” is W11Pro

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What appears to be the Windows partition is 1GB and 2GB (2000 MiB) on your machines. This is way too small to be a Windows backup.

Are you sure you backed up all the hard disk partitions?
What does Disk Management show for your disks (Win R, diskmgmt.msc)?

cheers, Paul

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Paul T wrote:

What appears to be the Windows partition is 1GB and 2GB (2000 MiB) on your machines. This is way too small to be a Windows backup.

In Windows, drive C: is always the booted OS partition.  Note #2458195 for reference.  C: is labeled by IFW as “Basic data partition (474.72 GiB) Bitlocker” and it’s partition 03, behind the EFI partition (01) and the Microsoft reserved partition (02), which is the normal location for the OS partition in a typical installation.

Are you a long-term dedicated user of Image for Windows, Paul?

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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bbearren wrote:

Are you a long-term dedicated user of Image for Windows

Never used IFW, hence my confusion. Thanks for clearing it up.

As the Katjam image is BitLockered it shows up as “a partition”, so it’s not using VSS.
I would suggest making sure VSS is used so the data can be recovered without having to try to recover BitLocker.
For a less experienced user it may be better to use a different product that manages it for you – MiniTool ShadowMaker maybe.

cheers, Paul

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Paul T wrote:

I would suggest making sure VSS is used so the data can be recovered without having to try to recover BitLocker.

Already covered that in the OP edit complete with images.  And it’s just TBI View that can’t mount it (because it’s encrypted). IFW can restore an image from a BITLocker volume without issue.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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bbearren wrote:

IFW can restore an image from a BITLocker volume without issue

Being able to recover individual files should always be an options IMO, so having a VSS backup would be my preference.

cheers, Paul

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Paul T wrote:

Being able to recover individual files should always be an options IMO, so having a VSS backup would be my preference.

Covered in the OP.

bbearren wrote:

If you are using BITLocker, make sure “Use VSS When Available” is selected.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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Ken wrote:

Both IFW ran apparently OK. However, I clicked the file to view it on my wife’s pc (“katjam”), I selected “basic data partition”, came up with attached screen shots…. it looks like something failed!

It appears from your attachments that you tried to view the image from your PC on your wife’s PC.  Is that correct?

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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bbearren wrote:

It appears from your attachments that you tried to view the image from your PC on your wife’s PC.  Is that correct?

Yes.

bbearren wrote:

Backup image will generally be the size of the partition since it’s backed up in its entirety and won’t compress. Backup image can not be used with TBIView or TBIMount (partition data is not accessible).”

Not sure I understand this. C: drive on katjam is aprox 72Gb. Image size is approx 65Gb. You indicate this cannot be viewed.

However, on kenny, I am able to view it. Screen shot attached.

I configured IFW the same way on both pc’s.

 

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Ken wrote:

However, on kenny, I am able to view it. Screen shot attached.

From #2458633:

“Using VSS for the backup will create a normal image that contains decrypted data (a Type A backup). Using PHYLock for the backup will create a backup of the partition in the encrypted state (a Type B backup). Unless there is a specific need to back up the partition as encrypted data, using VSS is recommended. If necessary for security, the image can be encrypted by Image for Windows or you could save it to an encrypted partition.

Assuming VSS works properly on the system, the option to use it just needs to be enabled in Image for Windows settings. Then, make sure the partition has been unlocked (if backing up the Windows partition it would already be unlocked) and create the backup normally.”

That you can view it indicates that VSS was used instead of PHYLock.  In your attachments from #2458623 the attachment labeled “Katjam-disk-management.png” shows BitLocker in use.  The attachment labeled “Kenny-Disk-Management.png” indicates BitLocker is not in use.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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Ken wrote:

I selected “basic data partition”, came up with attached screen shots…. it looks like something failed!

From the TeraByte Knowledge base bitlocker article:

“Partition being backed up is a BitLocker partition (locked or unlocked).
Backup is created in Windows using PHYLock or using a normal lock in TBWinRE.
Partition data is backed up in the encrypted state.
Backup image will generally be the size of the partition since it’s backed up in its entirety and won’t compress.
Backup image can not be used with TBIView or TBIMount (partition data is not accessible).”

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

1 user thanked author for this post.

Ken

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From that same knowledge base article:

“Creating a Backup in Windows

Using VSS for the backup will create a normal image that contains decrypted data (a Type A backup). Using PHYLock for the backup will create a backup of the partition in the encrypted state (a Type B backup). Unless there is a specific need to back up the partition as encrypted data, using VSS is recommended. If necessary for security, the image can be encrypted by Image for Windows or you could save it to an encrypted partition.

Assuming VSS works properly on the system, the option to use it just needs to be enabled in Image for Windows settings. Then, make sure the partition has been unlocked (if backing up the Windows partition it would already be unlocked) and create the backup normally.

If VSS fails, Image for Windows will revert to using PHYLock, which will result in a Type B backup. This will also happen when backing up unlocked FAT/FAT32 BitLocker partitions. To work around this issue you can disable PHYLock in Image for Windows settings and use the Read from Volume option when creating the backup.”

For what it’s worth, I never use BitLocker, so this isn’t an issue for me.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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I don’t understand any of this.  I installed both IFW using default settings. If I need to customize it, I have no idea what to click on or off.

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Have you read the manual?

If you like, I can post screenshots of my settings that work for me.  I don’t use BITLocker, but I can indicate the settings you should use since you use BITLocker.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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I don’t even know what BITLocker is!

No I have not read the manual: too long and mostly not understandable to me.

 

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Ken wrote:

I don’t understand any of this. I installed both IFW using default settings. If I need to customize it, I have no idea what to click on or off.

I have updated the OP with additional information (what to click) on screenshots.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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Ken

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I am wondering if I should just use “simple operation”?????

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Ken wrote:

I am wondering if I should just use “simple operation”?

That would probably suit your needs.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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I tried simple operation on katjam. see screenshots. The result in the folder it created means what?

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Ken wrote:

I tried simple operation on katjam. see screenshots. The result in the folder it created means what?

From the manual:

“Simple Operations mode allows Image for Windows to automatically handle most options for you. Backup, Restore, Validate, and Copy operations are available in this mode. To use Simple Operations mode, enable the Simple Operations option in Settings.
Backups are saved to a store on the destination drive (e.g. E:\TeraByte_TBI_Backups). The storage area is automatically maintained and files are deleted as needed when it runs out of free space.”

The results you see are how IFW handles Simple Operations automatically.  Right-click on 2022_07_06_220018_Full.tbi and see if you can mount it as a drive letter.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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Yes, I can do that: it asks “select partition to mount”: what does that mean? The options are the four HD0 partitions. Anything  should do with this?

 

On previous replies, you used the abbreviations OP and OM…. what do they mean?

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Ken wrote:

Yes, I can do that: it asks “select partition to mount”: what does that mean? The options are the four HD0 partitions. Anything should do with this?

That is normal behavior when an entire drive image (including partitions) is selected for mounting by TBIView.  It won’t mount the entire drive, only a partition.  Just select whichever partition you wish to mount, and that partition will be mounted as a drive letter (a virtual drive).

“OP” means “Original Post/Poster”; the first post that started a thread, or the member who posted it.

I haven’t used “OM”.  I have used OS, which is “Operating System”.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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Sorry, I meant IMO

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I don’t use that one either, but it means “In My Opinion”.

Personally, I try to put my opinions into practice, and sometimes my opinions don’t work out the way I might have anticipated.  My preferred expression in offering advice is, “in my experience”, because I don’t want to advise something I haven’t tried myself.

I will also on occasion use YMMV, which means “Your Mileage May Vary”, implying that what works for me and my setup may not work in exactly the same manner for you in your setup.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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Again sorry, it was Paul T who used it.

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see attached screenshots of disk management for both pc’s and of partitions backed up in katjam

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You have one BitLockered drive and one open. See post #2458668 above for more.

cheers, Paul

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bbearren wrote:

That is normal behavior when an entire drive image (including partitions) is selected for mounting by TBIView.  It won’t mount the entire drive, only a partition.  Just select whichever partition you wish to mount, and that partition will be mounted as a drive letter (a virtual drive).

Is “mount drive letter” the same as “map network drive”? What is the purpose of mounting as a drive letter? What about the other two partitions? When it comes to recovery, what does one do?

 

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Ken wrote:

Is “mount drive letter” the same as “map network drive”?

No.  TBIView mounts a drive/partition image as a virtual drive and gives it a Drive Letter.

Ken wrote:

What is the purpose of mounting as a drive letter?

If you were to accidentally delete a file, you could mount your drive image, retrieve the file and copy it back to its original location.

Ken wrote:

What about the other two partitions?

Each partition can be mounted individually, if you choose to do so.  As I said, it is a means of retrieving a file or files without having to restore the drive image.

Ken wrote:

When it comes to recovery, what does one do?

To restore a drive image, launch IFW, select “Restore” and click “Next”.

On the next screen, select “Automatic” and click “Next”.

The next screen will ask you to “Select where the backup file is located.”  In your case, that would be “E:TeraByte_TBI_Backups”; double-click that folder and it will open in the next screen.  Select “2022_07_06_220018_Full.tbi” and click “Next”.  On the next screen, you will be given the opportunity to select one of the partitions or the complete drive image.  Make your choice and click “Next”.

You will be warned that everything on the drive/partition to which you are restoring the image will be lost, and asked if you want to continue.  Since you will be replacing the contents with the image, click “Yes” and then “Next”.  The next screen summarizes the operations that will be accomplished.  If you’re satisfied with the selections you have made, click “Start”.  The restoration process will begin.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

1 user thanked author for this post.

Ken

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