How to create an image of a new Windows 11 computer

[Mate M.]

How can I create an image of a newly purchased computer with Win 11 Pro?
I want to make sure that I can restore the computer to its original state at any time later.
Can someone show me some kind of instructions here in the forum?

I have already created a Veeam Recovery Media (bootable USB stick) on my old Windows 10 PC. I would now connect this USB stick to the new PC before booting it (the new PC) for the first time and starting the Windows installed on it. With the Veeam USB media, I would then somehow create an image of the computer hard drive (2 TB SSD) and save it on an external USB hard drive (2 TB SSD).
Is this possible?
Is this the right way?

[jorgedlcruz]

Hello,
That is right, first thing you need is the Veeam Recovery Media ISO, os a bootable disk, do not lose it. Then you will need to do an Entire Compure backup of your Computer:
https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agent ... tml?ver=60

Once that finish, you have your "image" you can come back at any time. To perform a restore from the Veeam Recovery Media:
https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agent ... tml?ver=60

I have used that method many times, but instead of having an unique initial image, I am backing up my pc daily. Once I had a problem with the drive, I purchased another one and restored the image from yesterday, all good.

Hope it helps.

[Mate M.]

Hey Jorge,

thanks for your rapid response.
I've booted my new computer from the Veeam Recovery Media (USB stick) and got the following options:


1. Bare Metal Recovery
2. Windows Recovery Environment
3. Tools

None of these options let me create an image of the hard disk.

---> I don't want to start Windows 11, because I want to be able to reset the computer to the "untouched" original OEM installation later.
When I boot Windows 11, the initial setup of the operating system will start. I want to avoid this by creating an image / drive backup from a boot media.

[Mate M.]

OK, I understand that Veeam Backup for Windows isn't able to create an disk image, only a file backup. I therefore used CloneZilla to create an image from the factory new hard drive that I can later use to restore the PC to factory default state.
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