Vista - How to creat recovery partition with recovery image in vista to restore the system

I want to create a recovery partition on my windows Vista laptop. Pretty much i want to be pompted when the pc boots to hit f10 and have a count down of 10 seconds . I know this would be done through boot.ini however i have no idea how to do so. Also id make a seperate partition on my hd of ten gigs just for the backup image. if someone could help me.... Id appreciate it. Thanks

To add to Rick's response - the message to hit a "F" key to restore is
created by a MBR (Master Boot Record) modification. Consider a backup
imaging program, such as Acronis, which will not only create a restore
partition but also can be scheduled to keep he restore image current.

Programs (OEMs) that create recovery partitions modify the MBR (Master
boot record) to provide the function restore option - backing up the
recovery partition to another drive does not change the MBR modification -
in fact deleting the recovery partition does not remove the modification,
which is why OEMs provide a utility to do so if users desire to recover the
partition space by moving the recovery image to removable media.

A backup utility, such as Acronis will create a recovery partition, modify
the MBR and keep the image current - in addition you can create images on
external media - a must if your recovery partition is located on the
system/boot drive since loss of the drive also means loss of the recovery
partition.

Dear AL Thanks. Since the dell inspiron 1525 with the recovery partition D created by the dell company, with restoring command of hitting F8, I managed to to have an exact copy of recovery drive on external hard drive. will you help me to understand how to restore my system from the recovery partition availiable in external hard drive insted of recovery partition D (internal hard drive)

nisar6788 <guest@newsgroup-email.com> wrote:
I am sure that is not possible.

Hi nisar6788

One thing you need to know is the letter name of your Vista Recovery Partition (NOT Dell Recovery Partition). In my case it was "E".

The procedure is as follows

(1) Boot to WinRE using the Dell Vista DVD, i.e. <F12> etc.
(2) After Windows loads, select language/keyboard options and click on next.
(3) On Install Windows menu select "Repair your computer".
(4) on System Recovery Options menu select "Next".
(5) On System Recovery Options menu click on "Command Prompt".
(6) Type "path e:\windows;e:\windows\system32" and press <ENTER> key.
(7) Type "e:" and press <ENTER> key.
(8) Type "cd tools" and press <ENTER> key.
(9) Type "PCRestore" and press <ENTER> key and Dell Factory Image Restore window will appear.
(10) Click on "Next" and Confirm Data Deletion dialog will appear.
(11) Place a "check mark" beside "Yes, reformat hard drive and restore system software to factory condition" for the final confirmation and click on "Next" when ready. Note: The restoration process takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes, the format bar will run back and forth.
(12) Click "Finish" to reboot system!