Creating Recovery Disc

Hello everyone!

Thank you so much for the assistance yesterday.

Although the computer mysteriously booted up today without issue, it was certainly suggested I create a Recovery Disc. I've read through the Tutorial and had a few questions:

• Why is this different than the Re-Installation Disk from Dell (which supposedly has the files to start Windows) and claims to be a boot disk in itself? (we actually do not have a Recovery DVD made by a store as the computer was ordered from Dell directly).
• We were nervous about writing over files (in case something goes wrong), I am guessing the answer is simply 'Create a Restore Point'?
• What is the file that is being written over?
• I know this Tutorial is very explicit and well presented, but my experience (anywhere, even on MS) somehow the snapshot screen examples never look like what appears on my screen (and that gets me lost very quickly, as I don't know how to read into any of it or make an 'educated' choice)

Sorry for all the questions, but appreciate the info.

FCUSA said:

Hello everyone!

Thank you so much for the assistance yesterday.

Although the computer mysteriously booted up today without issue, it was certainly suggested I create a Recovery Disc. I've read through the Tutorial and had a few questions:

• Why is this different than the Re-Installation Disk from Dell (which supposedly has the files to start Windows) and claims to be a boot disk in itself? (we actually do not have a Recovery DVD made by a store as the computer was ordered from Dell directly).
• We were nervous about writing over files (in case something goes wrong), I am guessing the answer is simply 'Create a Restore Point'?
• What is the file that is being written over?
• I know this Tutorial is very explicit and well presented, but my experience (anywhere, even on MS) somehow the snapshot screen examples never look like what appears on my screen (and that gets me lost very quickly, as I don't know how to read into any of it or make an 'educated' choice)

Sorry for all the questions, but appreciate the info.

Click to expand...

The reinstallation DVD will give you Vista like the day you took it home. You lose documents, settings, SPs etc. Again just like its day one
The recovery helps your recover from problems. If it works you have what you had before the problem
Make a restore point, and that is a copy of the OS. Also invest in an external hard drive, update everything once a month. In case of problems, worst case scenario, you lose only a month
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp
If you do a system restore all the non personal files of the OS are being written over. Not your documents etc
You have us if you do not understand the very clear and explicit tutorials written by our own Brink.
I would get him to help, if you had a question that I did not know.

Hello

I have not seen your other post. When you bought your computer from Dell, if you did not buy a set or if the did not make a set of recovery disk's you should.

I bought mine form the company I got my computer through.

If your computer crash's you will need a full set to do a factory restore. Your computer will have the restore or recovery software already on it for you to make a set of recovery disk's, we hope you never need them but I have had to use them quit a bit for mine.

You will not be writing over a file, just use new disks and make a set for yourself...

Richard -

Thank you for your quick response. (and Brink, if you're listening - your Tutorials are great!...it is my computer skills that lack finesse!)

Anyway, I do have an external drive (you mean for backing up data, correct? or are you referring to another external drive?) I backup data every week, sometimes more often if needed.

Can you tell me what type of file is being overwritten (the function/purpose of the file)?

When said back up to an external, I meant your entire hard drive, once a month. You can use the software I mentioned in my first post, to do it for free.

Can you explain a little clearer, what file you are referring to? Can you give me the quote as to what puzzles you?
I thought one thing and AmerCritic seems to have thought something else, yet you still have questions. It must have been something that I said or was in a tutorial contained in your first thread.

americancritic said:

Hello

I have not seen your other post. When you bought your computer from Dell, if you did not buy a set or if the did not make a set of recovery disk's you should.

I bought mine form the company I got my computer through.

If your computer crash's you will need a full set to do a factory restore. Your computer will have the restore or recovery software already on it for you to make a set of recovery disk's, we hope you never need them but I have had to use them quit a bit for mine.

You will not be writing over a file, just use new disks and make a set for yourself...

Click to expand...

Hello!

I did buy/receive my software CD's from Dell and this re-installation disk (according to all the Help documents says it actually also acts as a 'boot up disk' to get into repair when Windows will not boot up (this is probably all mute and it cannot hurt to have another recovery disk - I was just confused about the file that is being written over according to the instructions?

BELIEVE ME, I hope never to have to use it either!

I know all the fires in AZ, we are having the same issue here in FL. Has your area been spared? Hope so...love AZ, hate to see what is happening.

richc46 said:

When said back up to an external, I meant your entire hard drive, once a month. You can use the software I mentioned in my first post, to do it for free.

Can you explain a little clearer, what file you are referring to? Can you give me the quote as to what puzzles you?
I thought one thing and AmerCritic seems to have thought something else, yet you still have questions. It must have been something that I said or was in a tutorial contained in your first thread.

Click to expand...

OK, thank you for clarifying the backup drive...I did not know you could back up the entire hard drive (can you restore from that?).

Yes, the file I was referring to is in the Tutorial (sorry for the confusion - recdisc.exe - there is a download and then I believe the download replaces the file already on your computer. I was just wondering what the file is.

That file is a file that has to do with the creation of recovery discs. Overwriting should not affect your computer in any way.
but why worry?
Make a back up of your hard drive first and a system restore point. Any effects that you are not happy with can be reversed. And, yes, the back up can be used to restore your hard drove that is its purpose. Keep it updated once a month.

Backup software is standard with Seven.

richc46 said:

That file is a file that has to do with the creation of recovery discs. Overwriting should not affect your computer in any way.
but why worry?
Make a back up of your hard drive first and a system restore point. Any effects that you are not happy with can be reversed. And, yes, the back up can be used to restore your hard drove that is its purpose. Keep it updated once a month.

Backup software is standard with Seven.

Click to expand...

I will need to get the external drive! (you've seen enough of my posts to know I worry A LOT!! LOL)

I am having the trouble with Vista...not Seven?

I know you have Vista, just wanted you to know that the backups are so important that with Seven it comes as standard software.

richc46 said:

I know you have Vista, just wanted you to know that the backups are so important that with Seven it comes as standard software.

Click to expand...

Thank you again for that clarification. Right now, as mentioned, I backup my data to an external drive and we also backup the Seven to the same drive (I thought it was only data on the 7, now realize it is a full system backup).

So, I will go purchase another drive for the Vista. Here is my question: Do I continue to backup data (in a separate file on the same external drive) and maintain a System Backup also (in a separate file)? Trying to determine what size drive I should get.

I hope I presented the question correctly.

We have considered upgrading to 7, but I have a contact management software that MS no longer offers with 7 (would need to find a replacement) - I will need to contact MS on this issue.

Thank you again,

You can create separate partitions on the external hard drive. One can be used for the hard drive back up and the other for your personal documents. The partitions would be a personal choice, but its the way I would go. The answer to your question, you can keep the files on the same drive.