Bare Metal Recovery of Windows 8/2012 Using Windows Recovery Environment

Bare Metal Recovery of Windows 8/2012 Using Windows Recovery Environment

Posted on 28/07/2014 by Kondratiev Aleksey

Hello everyone!

Some time ago, I decided to test the backup and restore functions of my system and discovered a few pitfalls that I want to share with you. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to perform a bare metal recovery of Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012 using a backup created with the Windows backup solution.

Let’s assume that we already have a successful remote backup stored on a network share.

Step-by-Step Recovery Process

Step 0: Prepare the System

• Create a new virtual machine or set up a physical server.
• Configure the network, disks, and other settings.
• Power on the system using Windows installation media.

Step 1: Enter Windows Recovery Environment

• Boot into the Windows Recovery Environment (Winre).
• Select Advanced options.
• Click System Image Recovery.

Step 2: Handle Missing System Image Error

• The system will scan for available backups but won’t find any.
• Click the Cancel button when prompted.

Step 3: Search for a System Image on the Network

• Go to Advanced settings.
• Select Search for a system image on the network.
• When prompted, confirm network access by clicking Yes.
• Specify the network location of the backup.
• Enter the credentials for accessing the shared backup.

Step 4: Fix Network Path Error (0×80070035)

At this point, you may encounter the error:
"The network path was not found. (0×80070035)"

This happens because Microsoft did not include network initialisation steps in the restore wizard. To fix this, follow the workaround below.

Workaround: Manually Initialise Network and Restart Recovery

Step 5: Open Command Prompt

• Instead of selecting System Image Recovery, choose Command Prompt.

Step 6: Initialise Network

• Run the following command:

wpeinit

Step 7: Configure Network Interface

• Use the netsh command to set a static IP address:

netsh interface ipv4 set address name="Local Area Connection" source=static address=192.168.0.5 mask=255.255.255.0 gateway=192.168.0.1



Step 8: Test Network Configuration

• Verify connectivity using ping:

ping

Step 9: Start the Restore Wizard Manually

• Run the recovery wizard using:

bmrui.exe

Step 10: Repeat the Recovery Process

• Go back to Step 3 and follow the recovery steps again.
• This time, the system should successfully detect the backup and restore your system.

Step 11: Celebrate! 🎉

Your system is now restored!

Final Thoughts

This method ensures that network initialisation is properly handled, allowing Windows to detect and restore from a network backup. If you encounter any issues, feel free to leave a comment, and I’ll be happy to help!

Let me know if you need any refinements or additional details!