Vista - Complete PC Backup

Hey,

My brother just got a computer (windows vista home basic) and I am helping
him set it up. Usually one of the first things I do is back up the operating
system in case something goes awry but I am not finding that option. Further
reading says that there is no such option in the Home Basic edition of vista.

I find this a bothersome since I paid for the operating system when I bought
the computer but can't back it up? If the system does get messed up will my
only option be to purchase a new operating system?

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can back up the system?

Thanks!

/Sunfish/ said:http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/imagew.html
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing...cts/trueimage/

Both are superior to "Complete PC Backup" - in my opinion.

Hi Sunfish,

Your computer should of came with a Vista Recovery partition and/or a Vista Recovery installation DVD. If not, you can order a copy of from the OEM for just a small shipping and handling fee. This will only do a clean install of Vista and will not restore anything else though. I would recommend backing up your files manually to a DVD that you do not want to lose, or you can use the regular backup feature in Vista Home Basic. See this tutorial for how.

Backup Files


Acronis True Image is a great 3rd party backup program. You can try it out with this 15 day fully functional trial version. It will let you make a installable clone DVD(s) of your entire hard drive.

Download backup software trial of HDD ghosting, data backup and restore software for home and home office PCs

Shawn

Hi,

Only Business and Ultimate editions come with CompletePC Backup.

The other editions come with a files backup. It will backup all user-related
files. You can find it by typing backup in the Start Search box.

What that doesn't do is backup the entire drive, it only backs up all user
account's files.

You could either use the files backup to backup files, and use Windows Easy
Transfer to backup all settings you've made. Or, you could use a 3rd party
program for making a backup of your entire drive. DriveImage XML is free and
is good, but you must read into it to make sure you know how to restore the
entire image if the worst happens. If it doesn't work properly on Vista (I'm
not sure), run it by right clicking it and selecting Run as administrator.
If that doesn't work, go to its properties and go to the Compatibility tab
and run it as Windows XP. It does work on Vista though, one way or another.

Again, you could upgrade to Business or Ultimate for CompletePC Backup if
you really wanted to.

"Sunfish" <Sunfish@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:8CB025F5-54BC-4040-AEC5-494DAFE9ED3C@xxxxxx

The Complete PC Backup & Restore feature is only available on Vista Business,
Enterprise, and Ultimate. However, the other Vista versions can do System
Backup & Restore, and File Backup & Restore. Details in these tutorials.

System Restore Point - create

System Restore - How to

Backup Files

Restore Backup Files


"Sunfish" wrote:

When I bought my HP Pavillion four months ago it came preinstalled with
Vista. At some point in all the (interminablel) setup proceedures it
instructed me to insert a couple of DVDs and it created a backup of Vista for
me. I haven't tried to use it, but it purportedly is everthing you need to
reinstall Vista should everything go phooey.

"Sunfish" wrote: