Backing up/Reinstalling OS on a Netbook

TrishC said:

OK well I take your point. I'll have to obtain a new version of Win 7 to install on the machine I want to keep. I presume there are versions for installing from a flash? or would I have to create one since there is no optical drive.

But this raises another question then. On a netbook with the OEM version of the OS installed what would happen if the HD either failed or became corrupted so you couldn't recover it? Am I correct in assuming that you'd be well and truelly screwed since you don't have install disks?

There is no seperate edition/version of Windows to install from USB. You have to create the bootable UFD with the ISO.

You may use WiNToBootic WiNToBootic - the ultimate Windows 7/8 USB Boot Disk Maker or Rufus Rufus - Create bootable USB drives . Both are as easy as it can get.

If there was no possibility of creating the Recovery CDs/ DVDs for your netbook, you should contact the OEM and ask them to send the recovery media or the OEM will undertake the installation on the new HDD. ( I did it and DELL sent me the OEM Reinstall DVD.)

If you do not want to be at the mercy of OEMs, one can take the complete image of the sytem hard drive when received ( all partitions - visible and invisible :)) and save it to an external media. In the event of a HDD replacement, you can restore the complete image and get going.(I do)

And of course, you can always do a clean install and activate using the COA key on the sticker.

(Always note the COA key on the sticker on receipt of the machine and save it safely.The sticker on the machine may become unreadable in due course. )

Hi,

I'm trying to create a bootable system repair disc on a flash drive.
I have downloaded the bootable CD/USB tool from the MS website and installed it.

Here's the problem. It prompts me to locate the ISO file on my PC. I don't have installation discs for this netbook which also does not have an optical drive.
I was led to believe I could download the files for a bootable repair disk/USB from the MS wevsite. I cant find them?

Have I been misinformed or what?

Thanks

If you are looking for a legal Windows 7 ISO, you can find all of them here:

http://www.mydigitallife.info/offici...digital-river/

ignatzatsonic said:

If you are looking for a legal Windows 7 ISO, you can find all of them here:

http://www.mydigitallife.info/offici...digital-river/

Thanks..
Uhm I'm not quite sure if thats what I need or not. I just wanted to create a system repair disc not an installation disk, or more specifically a USB .

Windows won't let me do that because it wants a cd/dvd drive. So I downloaded the tool from MS to create a USB but that prompts me for an ISO already saved on my PC which i don't have. I just need the boot files and I'm getting a bit confused.

Again all I want to do is boot from a USB if I have problems so I can then restore using a system image

Have you looked at part 1 of this:

Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

Or possibly this:

USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create

ignatzatsonic said:

Have you looked at part 1 of this:

Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

Or possibly this:

USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create

Yes I have. The problem is that this assumes you already have the ISO on your hard drive or you have the installation discs which I don't.

You can download a Windows ISO to your hard drive as I mentioned in post 15.

Can you do that?

ignatzatsonic said:

You can download a Windows ISO to your hard drive as I mentioned in post 15.

Can you do that?

Yes I can, I think thats the full installation ISO though.
But... I'm just reading your second tutorial link above again using command prompt. I might be able to create it fingers crossed. Will post back in a bit. I admit I got a bit confused with all this.

Thanks for help so far!