Backup your system with Image_Backup.bat

This batch file is meant to easily create a system image of the boot drive and all other essential partitions and data needed to successfully boot the computer. It creates the backup on whatever drive it is installed on.

NOTE This utility only backs up the partitions needed to boot the system. In most situations, that is everything, but if the boot disk has been split or extra storage has been added (Drive D: for example), that drive will not be backed up.

Download or create the Image_Backup.bat file

I’ve written an article on downloading a set of Windows Tech Helper files. Just download the files, then extract all. The file Image_Backup.bat file will be in the Windows Image Backup section, along with a few others.

Or… get just the batch file HERE. You may get warnings because you’re downloading a batch file from the internet and should select to Keep the download. Also, right-click on the Image_Backup.bat file in File Explorer select <Properties>, then select <Unblock>

USAGE

  1. Plug in your backup media
  2. Copy the image backup.bat file to the backup media drive

  3. Open a command prompt as administrator on the backup media drive and execute the script image_backup.bat,

    Or… In File Explorer, navigate to the backup drive, then right-click on Image_Backup.bat and select <Run as Administrator>

You’ll see something like the following:


    D:\>image_backup.bat
wbadmin 1.0 - Backup command-line tool
(C) Copyright Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Retrieving volume information...
This will back up SYSTEM(EFI System Partition) (100.00 MB),Windows(C:) to D:.
The backup operation to D: is starting.
Creating a shadow copy of the volumes specified for backup...
Creating a shadow copy of the volumes specified for backup...
Creating a backup of volume SYSTEM(EFI System Partition) (100.00 MB), copied (0%).
Creating a backup of volume SYSTEM(EFI System Partition) (100.00 MB), copied (100%).
The backup of volume SYSTEM(EFI System Partition) (100.00 MB) completed successfully.
Creating a backup of volume Windows(C:), copied (0%).
Creating a backup of volume Windows(C:), copied (5%).
Creating a backup of volume Windows(C:), copied (10%).
.
.
.
Creating a backup of volume Windows(C:), copied (100%).
The backup of volume Windows(C:) completed successfully.
Summary of the backup operation:
------------------

The backup operation successfully completed.
The backup of volume SYSTEM(EFI System Partition) (100.00 MB) completed successfully.
The backup of volume Windows(C:) completed successfully.
Log of files successfully backed up:
C:\Windows\Logs\WindowsBackup\Backup-05-04-2023_16-20-11.log

A subdirectory or file D:\windowsimagebackup\FarmPC\Drivers already exists.

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.19041.844

Image Version: 10.0.19045.2604

Exporting 1 of 8 - oem0.inf: The driver package successfully exported.
Exporting 2 of 8 - oem1.inf: The driver package successfully exported.
Exporting 3 of 8 - oem2.inf: The driver package successfully exported.
Exporting 4 of 8 - oem3.inf: The driver package successfully exported.
Exporting 5 of 8 - oem4.inf: The driver package successfully exported.
Exporting 6 of 8 - oem5.inf: The driver package successfully exported.
Exporting 7 of 8 - oem6.inf: The driver package successfully exported.
Exporting 8 of 8 - oem7.inf: The driver package successfully exported.
The operation completed successfully.

D:\>

WHAT IT DOES

In these examples, the backup drive is D: and the computername is LENOVO

Executes WBADMIN

Executes the WBADMIN utility to back up just drive C and essential boot partitions. A directory WindowsImageBackup\your_computername is created on the backup drive wbadmin start backup -backupTarget:D: -include:C: -allCritical -quiet"

Resets permissions on WINDOWSIMAGEBACKUP

Since WBADMIN creates a directory on the backup drive which is protected, this script executes a few commands to unprotect the backup so it can be more easily viewed.
takeown /F D:\windowsimagebackup /a /r /d y > nl

icacls D:\windowsimagebackup /reset /T > nul

Exports special drivers to the backup directory

All special drivers not typically shipped with Windows are exported to WindowsImageBackup\your_computername\Drivers
dism /online /export-driver /destination:D:\windowsimagebackup\LENOVO\Drivers

If it exists, the product key is exported as well

wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey>D:\windowsimagebackup\LENOVO\ProductKey.txt