Using StorageCraft Recovery Environment

A backup created using System Backup and Recovery can be restored on a target machine by booting up the machine using the StorageCraft Recovery Environment ISO.

Note: This same online topic is available as a quick start guide in PDF format.

Note: This document only describes commonly used features in the StorageCraft Recovery Environment. See the StorageCraft Recovery Environment User Guide for more information.

Creating the StorageCraft Recovery Environment CD

1. Navigate to the System Backup and Recovery > Images > Mount page within the VSA.
2. Select the machine with the backup image you want to restore.
3. Click Download Recovery ISO and save the zip to a download location.
4. Extract the bootable StorageCraft Recovery Environment ISO from the zip file.
5. Create a recovery CD based on the ISO.

Recovery Environment Prerequisites

1. Ensure the computer you want to restore can boot from a CD.
2. If accessing the backup image by network location:
   • Identify the network location and credential required to access the location of your backup. Backup locations are specified by profile on the VSA > System Backup and Recovery > Profiles > Manage page.
3. If accessing the backup image by local, external USB drive:
   • Copy the backup image to the USB drive.
4. Identify the password the backup image is encrypted with, if one was used to create the backup. The password displays on the VSA > System Backup and Recovery > Profiles > Manage page.

Running Recovery Environment

1. Insert the StorageCraft Recovery Environment CD into the target computer you want to restore.
2. Boot the target computer from the CD.
3. Select a language.

   

   Note: The following instructions assume you are backing up from a network location. If accessing a backup on a local, external USB drive, in step 4 click Cancel and ignore steps 5 through 9.

4. Select OK to set options for accessing a backup on a network location.

   

   Note: If you see a time zone dialog, as shown in step 10 below, the Network Support dialog might be hidden behind the StorageCraft Recovery Environment window. Select a time zone, then minimize the window. If you still do not see the Network Support dialog, restore the StorageCraft Recovery Environment window and click the Network Configuration link to display the same Network Support dialog.

5. Select an adapter. Options include:
   • Obtain an IP address automatically – Recommended.
     • DHCP Details
     • Release
     • Renew.
   • Use the following IP address. You can specify multiple IP addresses and gateways, if necessary.
     • IP address,
     • Subnet mask,
     • Default gateway.
   • DNS and WINS Servers
     • Click More to specify one or more IP addresses for the DNS or WINS environment.
   • Network Identification
     • Recovery Environment generates a computer name to use. You can overwrite it.
     • Workgroup
     • Primary DNS suffix
6. Click Apply to save your settings but do not click Close.

   

7. Click Network Drives to configure drive mappings and file sharing.
   • Use Map Network Drive to manually configure drive mappings, or
   • Use Browse Network to browse by domain or computer name.

   Either method populates the Mapped Network Drives list. You may be asked to provide a credential to complete the mapping.

8. Click Close, then Apply, then Close to save your settings.

   

9. Expand the minimized StorageCraft Recovery Environment window if necessary.
10. Select a time zone.

    

11. Click Restore Wizard.

    

12. Click Next.

    

13. Click Restore.

    

14. Select the backup image to restore.

    

15. Browse to the network location or external USB drive location where your backup image is located.

    

16. If the backup image selected was encrypted with a password, you are prompted for a password. The password displays on the VSA > System Backup and Recovery > Profiles > Manage page.

    

17. Select the hard disk on the target computer you want to restore.

    

18. Check the Finalize the volume at the end of this restore checkbox.

    

19. Select restoration options.
    • Set partition active - If checked, the system boots from the active partition.
    • Restore MBR - If checked, restores the master boot record (MBR).
      • Restore MBR from the image file - Restores the MBR from the backup image file.
      • Restore original Windows MBR - Restores the default MBR for the version of Windows you are restoring.
      • Restore disk signature - Restores the original hard drive physical disk signature.
    • Restore Disk Hidden Track - Restores the first 63 sectors of a drive. Some boot loader applications require this for the system to boot.
    • Use Hardware Independent Restore - Launches the Hardware Independent Restore (HIR) utility when finalizing the volume. You can use this to restore to a different hardware configuration. For more information, see Using HIR in the StorageCraft Recovery Environment User Guide.

    

20. Review the details of the restore operation, then click Finish.

    

21. The restore operation begins and Task Manager displays its progress.

    

22. Remove the CD from the target computer and reboot it to test the recovery of the backup image.