Differences: ISO vs. "recovery discs"

nate42nd

nate42nd

Learing every day
Member
I am not clear on this issue. When I purchased my HP computer, I created "recovery discs" using the software shipped with HP. It took 30 minutes and used 3 DVD+R discs. I am not clear on if I am covered or if I need to get Imgburn or some other program and create an ISO image. What is the difference? I think I know the answer but want to make sure.

Also, if you create an ISO image, does this include your theme, drivers, settings, ect. Recovery discs would take you back to when you opened the box and plugged the computer in. What is the difference for an ISO image?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    The Terminator
    CPU
    Core 2 Quad
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
    Memory
    4X2GB GSkill 1066Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 9500 GT
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 932 bw 19" and Syncmaster 2033 20"
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900 and 1600 X 900
    Hard Drives
    Patriot Torqx 128GB SSD
    WD Black 640GB
    PSU
    Corsair 750HX
    Case
    Lian Li PC-B70
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro 7
    Keyboard
    An old e-machines PS-2 (I have HUGE fingers and it works)
    Mouse
    Microsoft wireless laser mouse 5000
    Internet Speed
    7 Mps
An ISO image is a complete image of what's on your hard drive, everything. Settings, themes, files, etc. Just like it was when you made the image.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Airbot 2.0
    CPU
    Core i7 920 (D0) @ 4Ghz, 26c idle- 65c full load on air
    Motherboard
    Asus P6X58D Premium -Sata 6Gb/s - USB 3.0
    Memory
    12GB Corsair Dominator -CMD12GX3M6A1600C8
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA Nvidia GTX 480 -Fermi
    Sound Card
    ASUS Xonar D2X
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 24" Flatron W2453V-PF Full HD 1080p 2ms response time
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080@60hz
    Hard Drives
    1 OCZ Vertex2 180GB SSD
    1 TB Samsung Spinpoint F1 7200RPM 32MB cache
    2 500GB WD Caviar Blacks 7200RPM 32MB cache (WD5001AALS)

    Pioneer DVD Burner DVR-S18M
    PSU
    Corsair HX1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master HAF 932
    Cooling
    Case Fans -3 230mm, 1 140mm/CPU - Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless MK700
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless MK700
    Internet Speed
    100 MBPS DL 30.17Mbps UL 0.98Mbps
    Other Info
    Windows 7
    Processor-7.7 RAM- 7.9 Graphics-7.9 Gaming Graphics- 7.9 HDD- 7.8

    W.E.I final score= 7.7

    Windows Vista=5.9
Okay, so YES everyone needs an ISO image for repair and.....? Could you use an ISO to get vista back in case something horrible happened or is that why you need recovery discs. My computer did not come with a disc. I had to create recovery discs. Those are in case you need to re-install Vista right?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    The Terminator
    CPU
    Core 2 Quad
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
    Memory
    4X2GB GSkill 1066Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 9500 GT
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 932 bw 19" and Syncmaster 2033 20"
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900 and 1600 X 900
    Hard Drives
    Patriot Torqx 128GB SSD
    WD Black 640GB
    PSU
    Corsair 750HX
    Case
    Lian Li PC-B70
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro 7
    Keyboard
    An old e-machines PS-2 (I have HUGE fingers and it works)
    Mouse
    Microsoft wireless laser mouse 5000
    Internet Speed
    7 Mps
If you want to save anything that you don't want to find again then yes you are correct. Also yes you are correct in your last question for example if you couldn't get rid of a virus infection or your computer couldn't be fixed by any means you would reinstall Vista to the factory condition.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Compaq Presario/SR5113WM
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ 1.9Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N68-LA
    Memory
    PNY Optima Memory DDR2 2GB 2x1 kit
    Graphics Card(s)
    PNY Nvidia 8400 GS 256MB
    Sound Card
    On board RealTek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer X163W LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital 160 GB SATA 3G (3.0Gb/sec)
    7200 rpm
    Western Digital 160 GB IDE
    PSU
    Dynex 400w
    Case
    Nothin Special
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Standard 102 key with volume and sleep buttons
    Mouse
    Wireless Logitech LX7
    Internet Speed
    Comcrap 10mb cable
    Other Info
    Insignia 2.1 speakers, wireless Xbox 360 controller w/plug n play charger, Belkin wireless G + mimo usb network adapter.
Hi nate,

I think you are meaning that you want to make your own image to restore if you need to - rather than the factory image on the HP discs.

That's a good idea because the HP image won't have all your programs and updates , or any of your own documents and data - you would lose all that if you restored the image on the HP discs.

You can easily do that - I do it all the time.

You would not use Imgburn to create an .iso for that.

There are special programs which will make such an image for you, including only the used space on the drive - and excluding certain system files you don't need on there, such as pagefile, and hyberfil.sys. They also compress it .

You save the image onto either a separate partition, or, better, an external HD or split across a couple of dvd's. You make a new image every now and again to keep it up to date.

You would usually restore the image by booting a cd the program will create for you - this loads a restore program which you point at the image you previously made.

You may like to get this - an excellent program , the paid version has extra features, but you may find the free version does everything you need.

Macrium Reflect Free Edition - Free software downloads and reviews - CNET Download.com

Hope it helps

SIW2
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
Thank you SIW2. I will download Macrium and try to figure it out. I see there are some good tutorials on various sites. I sure wish I could just spend a day with one of you guys who know all of this stuff. It would be a good way for me to learn.

Thanks for the info!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    The Terminator
    CPU
    Core 2 Quad
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
    Memory
    4X2GB GSkill 1066Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 9500 GT
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 932 bw 19" and Syncmaster 2033 20"
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900 and 1600 X 900
    Hard Drives
    Patriot Torqx 128GB SSD
    WD Black 640GB
    PSU
    Corsair 750HX
    Case
    Lian Li PC-B70
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro 7
    Keyboard
    An old e-machines PS-2 (I have HUGE fingers and it works)
    Mouse
    Microsoft wireless laser mouse 5000
    Internet Speed
    7 Mps
SIW2's advise is very good! I owned my laptop for 17 days and had to use the recovery disks twice, so including the first time, I have had to install my programs three times! Of the 17 days, five have been wasted installing again and again.

Get an image or some kind of backup, there are many to choose from, and update it often. You don't ever want to use that recovery, wipe out method.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G50Vt plus two XP shop machines used for trouble-shooting client problems
Hi all

I'm a comp noob... need advice pls

Just got a new comp for few months and now i try create a recovery disc using the HP manager but to my surpise i was prompted something like "unable to create partition".... i had C and D (factory image) drive. Is it trying to create another partition or the partition is referring to this D drive?

rgs
Frankie
 

My Computer

System One

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