SUMMARY
How to configure the Windows 2008 Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store for a Bare Metal backup and restore
ISSUE
Purpose
This article discusses how to configure a Windows Server 2008 Boot Configuration Database to allow a Bare Metal restore.
Applies To
Windows Server 2008
Description
The Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store contains boot configuration parameters and controls how the operating system is started in Microsoft® Windows Vista® and Microsoft® Windows Server® 2008 operating systems. The BCD database in Windows 2008 takes the role the boot.ini played in Windows 2003. The BCD store must be configured to allow a Bare Metal restore.
Resolution
To use Bare Metal backup and restore, some changes must be made to the Windows Server Boot Configuration Database (BCD). If the Windows Server system was installed with the \boot\BCD database existing on the same volume as the operating system (that is, the volume containing \Windows\System32), run the following commands from the command line before creating any Bare Metal backups:
BCDEDIT /set {bootmgr} device boot
BCDEDIT /set {default} device boot
BCDEDIT /set {default} osdevice boot
After these commands have been executed, Bare Metal backups may be captured while the server is active. These commands only need to be performed once.
The Appliance Protection software requires that the BCD exist on the same volume as the operating system. Bare Metal backup creates backup images of the operating system s system volume and this backup must include the BCD and bootmgr components.
IMPORTANT! If the BCD database (\boot\BCD) is located on a volume different from the one containing the operating system, restoring Bare Metal backups will be problematic. The actual restore of the Bare Metal backup can be completed; however, the reboot of a reboot of the system will fail and will require the use of the Windows Server repair/rescue disk to reconstruct the BCD properly. This type of BCD configuration is more common in cases where dual or multi-boot environments are desired. Currently, the Appliance Protection software does not support Bare Metal backup and restore in dual or multi-boot configurations.
Third-Party Resources
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-vista/cc709667(v=ws.10)