How to Make a 'Create a System Image' Shortcut in Windows 10

   Information

A system image is a copy of the drives required for Windows to run. It can also include additional drives. A system image can be used to restore your computer if your hard drive or computer ever stops working; however, you can't choose individual items to restore.

This tutorial will show you how to create or download a shortcut that opens directly to the Create a system image wizard in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to create a system image.

CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Download a "Create a system image" Shortcut
• Option Two: To Manually Create a "Create a system image" Shortcut

EXAMPLE: Create a system image

OPTION ONE

To Download a "Create a system image" Shortcut

1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .zip file below.

Create_a_System_Image_shortcut.zip

Download

2. Save the .zip file to your desktop.

3. Unblock the .zip file..

4. Open the .zip file, and extract (drag and drop) the shortcut to your desktop.

5. If you like, you can Pin to Taskbar, Pin to Start, add to All apps, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

6. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .zip file if you like.

OPTION TWO

To Manually Create a "Create a system image" Shortcut

1. Right click or press and hold on an empty area on your desktop, and click/tap on New and Shortcut.

2. Copy and paste the location below into the location area, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

%windir%\System32\sdclt.exe /BLBBACKUPWIZARD

3. Type Create a system image for the name, and click/tap on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You could name this shortcut anything you would like though.

4. Right click or press and hold on the new Create a system image shortcut, and click/tap on Properties.

5. Click/tap on the Shortcut tab, then click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)

6. In the line under "Look for icons in this file", copy and paste the location below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

%windir%\System32\sdclt.exe

7. Select the icon highlighted in blue above, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot above)
NOTE: You could use any icon that you would like instead though.

8. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 5)

9. If you like, you can Pin to Taskbar, Pin to Start, add to All apps, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

That's it,
Shawn Brink

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• How to Enable or Disable Create a System Image in Windows 10
• How to Create a System Image in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove a Windows Backup and Restore context menu in Windows 10
• How to Manage Windows Backup Disk Space in Windows 10

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