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Windows Complete PC Restore is a feature of Windows Vista and Server 2008 that allows for disaster recovery, but can only be run by booting from a recovery disc or recovery hard disk partition.
To restore your entire Windows computer, you must have created a Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore image beforehand. This recovery option is not recommended for casual use, as it will remove all programs and files added after the backup point. It's only suitable as a last resort when other methods fail.
The function to create and restore from a complete computer backup has been removed from Windows after Vista, making it unavailable in Windows 11/10/8/7. As a result, users must find an alternative to achieve this functionality.
To restore your entire computer with Windows Complete PC Restore, follow these steps: Insert the Windows CD, restart your computer, and press any key to boot from the CD. Once the Windows Setup screen appears, click on "R" to start the repair process.
Step 1. Boot the computer from the CD or DVD and configure language and location options in Vista Setup.
Step 2. Click on the Repair your computer option.
Step 3. To proceed with repairing a Vista installation, select the desired installation from the list and press the Next button when ready.
Step 4. Click on the Windows Complete PC Restore option.
Step 5. Complete PC Restore will select the latest backup to restore by default, but you can choose a different backup version by checking the "Restore a different backup" option.
Step 6. When you're done, click the Finish button.
When the above operation is completed, your Windows system has been recovered, but there are some issues that need attention.
Therefore, we'd better choose convenient and safe software to help us recover Windows Vista, such as Qiling Disk Master Standard.
Qiling Disk Master Standard is a high-quality backup and restore software that allows you to back up your system, disk, and files in advance, and then restore them as needed, with the option to enable Universal Restore for system images from different hardware.
All editions of Windows, from Windows 11 to Windows XP, are supported. You can download this complete PC backup and restore software to try it out.
1) A backup of your system and data, and 2) a bootable external drive with a system image or a recovery drive. This ensures that you can restore your system to a previous state in case of a crash, minimizing data loss and getting your computer up and running quickly.
▶ To create a system image, go to Backup > System Backup.
▶ To create a WinPE bootable disk, go to Tools > Create Bootable Media. This allows you to boot your computer in case of boot failure, enabling you to troubleshoot and potentially recover your system.
Step 1. Go to the Backup and recovery tab, then click Select Task or Browse for recovery to locate an image file.
Step 2. Select the system backup task from the list and click Next.
Step 3. The backup can be restored entirely or partially, and the program will restore the computer system to its original location by default, unless a different location is chosen.
Step 4. All the operations will be listed. Just confirm the operations, and then click Proceed if there isn't any mistake.
Windows Complete PC Restore can be a reliable method for restoring a system, but it may not always succeed due to certain issues. A safer and more efficient alternative is the third-party software Qiling Disk Master Standard, which can provide a more effective solution for restoring a system.
AOMEI Backupper is a great software that not only provides backup and restore functions but also allows for free disk cloning. However, if you only need to clone the system, you may want to consider upgrading to a paid version like Qiling Disk Master Professional.