> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://helpcenter.xopero.com/xopero-one-en/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://helpcenter.xopero.com/xopero-one-en/backup-and-recovery/workstations-and-servers/image-level-backup-recovery/bare-metal-recovery.md).

# Bare-metal recovery

**Bare-metal recovery (BMR) restores your entire system from an image-level backup, including the operating system, applications, and all associated data.**

***

## General information

BMR (bare-metal restore, also known as bare-metal recovery) enables rapid system recovery using a system image created with disk-imaging software. The image file restores the entire operating system and its underlying configurations in minutes, completely bypassing the lengthy process of manual OS and application re-installation. Because BMR allows you to quickly return a physical machine or server to its full operational state following a data-loss event or hardware failure, it serves as a cornerstone of an effective disaster recovery strategy.

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Initiating a bare-metal recovery will completely erase all existing partitions and data on the target system disk.** The process deletes the current disk structure, recreates the original partition layout from the backup, and then restores the operating system and files onto the machine.
{% endhint %}

In **Xopero ONE**, the BMR process is streamlined into four primary steps:

1. Create an ISO file that includes the pre-configured **Xopero ONE** backup agent.
2. Write the ISO file to a USB flash drive—or any alternative bootable media—to create a recovery drive.
3. Boot the target device (the device you intend to restore the system image to) using the newly created ISO media.
4. Log in to the **Xopero ONE Management Service** (**XMS**) and start the recovery process.

***

## Creating an ISO file (Windows)

The following steps outline the process of creating an ISO image with a pre-configured backup agent using the **SVS Creator** utility.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**SVS Creator** relies on the **Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit** (**ADK**) to generate recovery images. Please verify that **Windows ADK** is installed on your machine before starting the configuration wizard — if it's not, you must [download and install it](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install) before proceeding with the media creation process.
{% endhint %}

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
[Download the SVS Creator](https://xopero.com/latest-updates/) utility from the official **Xopero** website and extract the contents of the ZIP archive to a separate folder.

<figure><img src="/files/RgL4WshFvDwuZigBkwVf" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Run **SVSCreator.exe** to open the creation wizard.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
In the **SVS Creator** wizard window, specify the temporary working directory path, which also serves as the output destination where the final ISO image will be created. By default, this path is set to <kbd>C:\Windows\Temp</kbd>, but you can modify it to a different directory if needed. Once the path matches your preferences, click **Next**.

{% hint style="info" %}
Please note that the **SVS Creator** will automatically download three required components during this process: **Windows PE**, the **Java Runtime Environment** (**JRE**), and the **Xopero ONE** backup agent.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="/files/1aHKiwtu8HgTxDA1EMt6" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Select the appropriate OS architecture (32-bit or 64-bit), then click **Next**.

{% hint style="warning" %}
If the **Windows ADK** is not detected on the system, clicking **Next** will automatically launch the **ADK** installation wizard. Once the **ADK** installation is complete, you will be automatically returned to the **SVS Creator** window to resume the configuration.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="/files/qUfKfhniHnDiCSo226xF" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
The wizard will then automatically download and install the required components.

<figure><img src="/files/ewb7C1JLjqGeIRCnSOO7" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/xRZWEe79QQApJWOLSDJm" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Once all required components are successfully installed, you have the option to include specific drivers required for the target system's recovery. Click **Add** to browse and select the necessary drivers, then click **Next** to proceed.

{% hint style="info" %}
This step is optional — you only need to include drivers if your target device utilizes specialized components (such as dedicated RAID controllers or specific network interface cards) that require custom drivers to initialize during boot. Otherwise, you can safely skip this step.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="/files/5mfrPHaVqGB63mYeQtC2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
The wizard will then start generating the final **Windows PE**-based ISO recovery image.

<figure><img src="/files/LNWJqAORokPgJNI09h6j" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Once the ISO file is successfully created, an **"ISO image with Windows PE successfully built"** confirmation message will appear, displaying the exact output directory path of the file. You can then safely close the **SVS Creator** utility.

<figure><img src="/files/ak6Fvh8dTna99oMDxyyc" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Next, write the ISO image to a USB flash drive—or another bootable medium that fits your environment—to create a recovery drive. Use this bootable medium to boot the target device and initiate the image-level backup restoration.

{% hint style="info" %}
To create the bootable media, you can use a third-party utility, such as [Rufus](https://rufus.ie/en/).
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

***

## Booting the OS from the ISO file

The following steps outline the process of booting the target device using the previously created recovery drive.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Boot the target device using the newly created recovery medium to initialize the image-level backup restoration process.

{% hint style="info" %}
To launch the **SVS** recovery environment from a USB flash drive, configure the target device's BIOS/UEFI settings to prioritize USB-HDD in the boot sequence.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
After the device boots, the **SVS** application will automatically launch and display the following menu options:

<figure><img src="/files/KxwVvAP3Kpl3DXZKTTPm" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

1. **Xopero:** opens the **Xopero** window with additional recovery options.
2. **Shell:** opens the command-line interface, which can be used for manual network interface configuration.
3. **Reboot:** restarts the device.
4. **Shutdown:** shuts down the device.
   {% endstep %}

{% step %}
To recover the image-level backup, click the **Xopero** button.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
A new menu screen will appear with the following options:

<figure><img src="/files/6bRToHvJUzPsnXE3FD4M" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

1. **Device app:** launches the **Xopero ONE** backup agent application on the device.
2. **Fix boot problems:** resolves issues that prevent the operating system from starting; use this option to fix **SVS**-related problems.
3. **Drivers:** allows you to load or add new drivers.
   {% endstep %}

{% step %}
Select **Device app** to proceed with the recovery process.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Enter the service address and the device name to use in **Xopero ONE Management Service**, then click **Connect**.

<figure><img src="/files/iQOU8nNvUbcN62eSGQLA" alt=""><figcaption><p><em>Example of the service</em> <em>address in the on-premises deployment model.</em></p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/FhC3vsaiiKBArfxYNDiG" alt=""><figcaption><p><em>Example of the service address in the SaaS deployment model.</em></p></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
On another device, open the **Xopero ONE Management Service** panel and start the recovery procedure.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

***

## Starting the recovery process

The following steps describe the recovery process in **Xopero ONE Management Service**.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Click the 💻 laptop icon in the top-right corner of the management service panel.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Find the target device, select it, and click **Activate** to assign a license to it.&#x20;

{% hint style="info" %}
Once the target device successfully establishes a connection, it automatically appears in the **Agents without licenses** list.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
You do not need to select a license manually — **Xopero ONE** assigns it automatically.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="/files/JWcAsPMlofhjpgMe4KWH" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Next, locate the device from which you want to restore the system and click the **Restore** button.

<figure><img src="/files/WHRb2MZWWwQ3yck09NB2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Select the backup plan from which you want to restore the backup.

<figure><img src="/files/TgbMuTNoPWBvUs7j06Pi" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Choose the timestamp from which you want to restore the data, click **Restore**, and select the **BMR** recovery option from the drop-down menu.

<figure><img src="/files/CQt3CETrTuk1BMJdHjj3" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Next, select the disk you want to restore and click **Restore selected**.

<figure><img src="/files/L4vr0fGjVTp99fEQjiJd" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Verify that the **Restore to** field correctly displays your intended target device (the machine configured in the previous steps). If you need to modify this destination, click **Edit** and select the appropriate device. Next, navigate to the **Restore directory** section and specify the exact destination disk where the image-level backup copy should be restored.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Optionally, in the **Restore settings** section, select the checkbox to reset the system drivers, or leave it unchecked to keep the original driver configuration.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Double-check that the restoration data is correct, then click the **Start now** button in the bottom-right corner of the **Restore data** aside to begin the recovery process.

{% hint style="info" %}
You can monitor the restoration progress in the **Tasks** tab of **Xopero ONE Management Service**.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="/files/paZRwGxSaz4QzHwdzGZN" alt="BMR Recovery details"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

***

## Useful links and items

{% embed url="<https://xopero.com/latest-updates/>" %}

{% embed url="<https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install>" %}

{% embed url="<https://rufus.ie/en/>" %}