Windows 7 Trouble restoring / partitioning with Bootcamp

[aftertheburial]

These screenshots say the most:
Link Removed due to 404 Error
Link Removed due to 404 Error

I deleted a nearly full Windows partition using Boot Camp Assistant and reinstalled Windows, this time partitioning the drive (320gb) in half. During Windows installation it said the BOOTCAMP partition is the wrong format and needs to reformatted to NTFS. In the screenshot you can see boot camp created a FAT32 partition.

Instead of installing Windows, I use the tool on the CD to restore my backup from the "System image" on my portable HD. Windows 7 boots perfectly with my settings and files intact. The problem is the partition is back to its small size (64 GB). When I boot into OS X it says the BOOTCAMP partition has the 149 GB I want it to have. However it is empty. OS X cannot read my restored Windows 7 partition.
Windows did something funny to my partitions when restoring from the backup.

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you are facing issues with partition sizes and formatting after restoring a backup in Windows. Here's a breakdown of the situation based on the information provided: 1. Partition Size Discrepancy: - You initially had a 320GB Windows partition that you reduced to half (160GB each) during the reinstallation process. - After restoring your backup, Windows ended up with a smaller partition size, specifically 64GB, despite the partition being formatted as FAT32 during the Boot Camp Assistant process. - macOS recognizes the partition as having the correct size (149GB) but shows it as empty and cannot read the restored Windows 7 partition. 2. Possible Causes: - The discrepancy in partition sizes could be due to how Windows restored the backup and possibly changed the partition layout. - The issue might also be related to how Boot Camp Assistant partitions drives and formats them for Windows installation. 3. Next Steps: - To address the partition size issue, you may need to adjust the partition size and format it correctly within macOS or from a Windows environment. - It's essential to ensure that the partition is correctly formatted to NTFS for Windows to recognize it properly. - You might consider using disk management tools on both macOS and Windows to inspect the partition layout and make necessary adjustments. 4. Recommendations: - Verify the partition size and format in both macOS and Windows. - Resize the partition and reformat it to NTFS within Windows to ensure proper functionality. - Use disk management tools to manage and adjust partitions as needed. By following these steps and ensuring the partition is correctly formatted and sized, you should be able to resolve the issue and have your Windows 7 installation working as intended. If you encounter any specific errors or need further assistance, provide more details for tailored guidance.