Restore an image on a new computer: Windows won't start

Windows won’t start after restoring to the new computer?

Run the startup repair — in the “Additional Tools” window of the rescue media. Your data in the image is fully intact.

How to run the startup repair

1. Get the rescue media. If you don’t have one: in Langmeier Backup, go to “Tools” → “Create rescue media” — as a USB stick, CD, or ISO file. Any computer with Langmeier Backup will do.
2. Boot from the rescue media.
3. Open “Additional Tools” and select “Startup Repair.” The window asks for the drive: specify the drive on which the restored Windows is located. Then restart the computer.

If you restore the image again, “Automatically detected” is preselected in the “Operating System” step. The wizard runs the startup repair itself after the restore.

Only load the driver if the wizard doesn’t show the disks

If you don’t see the disks in the recovery wizard, load the driver for the hard disk controller — with F10 “Load Driver”:

• Download the driver files from the manufacturer, extracted as .inf and .sys. A setup program won’t be accepted by the rescue media.
• Put the files in a separate folder on a USB stick.
• Press F10 to open “Load Driver” — in the recovery wizard or in the “Additional Tools” window of the rescue media.

After the restore, Windows won’t need a driver from you.

What else can get in the way

• Have your license key ready. On a new computer, Windows usually requires a new activation.
• Prevent this next time you create an image. In the BIOS of the old computer, change the hard disk mode to AHCI and start Windows once that way before you create the image.