Can't RESTORE IMAGE I CREATED of my system in Windows 8.1

1. I assume you are talking about the BLUE SCREEN TOOLS (Restore, Advanced Options, Restore from Image, right?).  That set of tools?

I have seen them when I press ESC at boot.

2. I don't see ANY Windows 8 SPLASH SCREEN and "INSTALL" button, and no bottom left REPAIR YOUR PC" option button.

How do I get that?  I've never seen this screen?  Is that from a clean WIndows system install?

3. I AM BOOTING WITH the HP RECOVERY UEFI USB DRIVE, but after I hit ESCAPE, TROUBLESHOOT, ADVANCED OPTIONS, and select SYSTEM IMAGE RECOVERY, it FINDS MY PREVIOUS CREATED USB IMAGE from 05-13-2018, but tells me :

To restore the image, Windows needs to REFORMAT the drive Windows Recovery Environment is currently running on.  BUT IT BOOTED and is running on the USB UEFI DRIVE --- NOT THE NEW INTERNAL LAPTOP SYSTEM HARD DRIVE I installed! right?  Why can't it copy the image it found to the new internal hard drive I installed?  Isn't the USB UEFI DRIVE RUNNING the OS?

OR is it saying it needs to reformat the USB UEFI DRIVE which I'm scared to do.

4. I also tried another suggestion you had and mounted the image in diskmgmt.msc, but it shows just the main files, and no way to separate out any specific files that I can tell so I didn't understand the thought process.  It's just a big 600GB VHD file.  Am I supposed to see my personal files inside?
5. It does use some terms loosely.  I talks about using a system restore DISK (CD?) or recovery DISK (CD?).  Is this different than my 32GB USB RECOVERY STICK HP sent me for $50?
6. I haven't performed the Powershell processes yet.  So if I should, please advise.

And yes, I do understand you have shown me the new accepted process and I will certainly embrace this in the future.  I was not previously aware so for now I need to make the old system work or I have lost 2 years of my life.  I have spent inordinate amounts of time creating images, backups, and incrementals only to find out NONE CAN BE USED.  

What is Microsoft thinking?  Does everyone these days recreate their system from scratch installing all the software, setting up Outlook, configuring software defaults, installing their personal; files one by one.  Am I an idiot for thinking this should be possible?  I'll admit it.

I have no doubts of your expertise and am glad to pay for your time.  Can you suggest any other person or forum that may shed any more light?

WHY WOULD WINDOWS HAVE "CREATE AN IMAGE" in the software if there is no way to RESTORE FROM IMAGE?  None of it makes sense.  Also documentation speaks about creating a system restore DISK.  I see no where you can create a DISK, CD, or otherwise.  I'm an Electrical Engineer that has been in windows software development for 25 years, but of course I haven't had to restore a bad drive in 12 years.  I guess I'm dumb.  I'm following directions but at a complete loss.

If you want to use the windows image backup then you need to boot into the windows installation Media or recovery Drive, choose repair your computer on second screen, then from Advanced troubleshoot options choose recover using an image. Browse to the image you want to restore and select it. If you're lucky it will work, however as I said earlier it is no longer reliable and being phased out, and no expert suggests using that app any longer. I also told you which app most experts recommend and gave you a link to a tutorial on how to use it.

Greg,

Thank you very much.  This is very sophisticated and you are an expert.

in your 2nd sentence you stated I can use either "HP Factory Recovery image OR the Windows backup image", but not both. 

1. I do just want to use the WindowsImageBackup.  So where do I get to choose that option?

***2) I followed your link "Option 2" (diskmgmt.msc, mounted my external USB with the image), but not sure what to do next.  Do I somehow make it BOOT from this?

The rest seem to pertain to UNMOUNTING, so I will disregard for now.

What is the best/safest method to mitigate tweaking things?

I understand your comment regarding the advantage of a "fresh" install, but I do want the old hard drive exactly as it was.  I have too many apps, plug-ins , customized software and dll's) that would be almost impossible to re-install and reconfigure.  

=> And to ensure I am not so confused on terms let me point out I have a 2TB external USB drive that I used to store these images.  Sometimes 3 images at once ("WindowsImageBackup" 600GB each).  So the entire 2TB drive is not a bootable IMAGE (does that matter?), but a collection of WindowsImageBackup directories and miscellaneous files. This is recognizable as a drive and directories but not a bootable partition.

I created these monthly images, because I thought the IMAGE was a safe "GOLDEN"RESTORABLE option.

Thank you sir!  I'll be glad to send you $50 or buy you dinner as I seem to be out of my comfort zone.

Hi Derek. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 8 year Windows MVP, here to help you.

This is something that's not easily understood so others also make the mistake. You can use the HP Factory Recovery image OR the Windows backup image, but not both. Once one is applied you have the recovered OS so to run another would just overwrite it.

What you can do is mount the Windows image to copy data out of it if you want, even browse into Windows System 32 folder to pick up needed drivers. https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/61391-vhd-v...

But I wouldn't reimport too much more as that defeats the fresh install - even though it's the HP factory install which has the worst bloat of any maker.

If you're not happy with either recovery image then you can Clean Install following this tutorial: https://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clea... with media from here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/cr...

I would also change to another imaging app like the experts choice free Macrium because WIndows imaging is no longer supported and being discontinued: https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/7363/macrium-re...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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I am a fellow community member who likes to help my peers when able. The image reinstallation should be simple!e and straight forward. With such troublesome issues restoring the image
I would recommend you to contact Microsoft support for help with this issue.

You can Chat with Microsoft Support
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contactus/

Or

Talk to Microsoft via Telephone
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13948/...

You can also use their virtual agent here

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contact/vir...