how to partition HDD like retail PC's

[bassfisher6522]

Like the thread title says, how do I partition the HDD like retail PC's to where that partition has the hidden recovery OS on it. If the big branded companies can do it why can't us little guys.

 

[essenbe]

You may consider something like - Recovery Partition Create.

 

[emaraszek]

You can do it, you just need a Windows 7 disc. Basically you copy the winre.wim image off the disc and onto the partition, use the command line to point the recover environment to it and even set a boot key. I've done it on quite a few machines at work, I'll post the steps I use once I find them

 

[bassfisher6522]

Thanks guys....

 

[gregrocker]

It's more practical to save a backup image externally so that it can be easily reimaged if your HD fails.
Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
System Image Recovery
Macrium - Image your system

 

[emaraszek]

I just published a tutorial on the process, here's the link:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/211595-creating-recovery-partition.html#post1772104

 

[alphanumeric]

Emaraszek, nice tutorial, but what exactly happens when you launch this recovery option? It sounds like this is an option to repair your install without having to actually boot from your Windows 7 DVD. I was thinking the OP was asking how to create a system recovery partition. The equivalent to OEM recovery partition that restores the factory image.

 

[gregrocker]

I just published a tutorial on the process, here's the link:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/211595-creating-recovery-partition.html#post1772104

Is this not already on the F8 Advanced Boot Options on most preinstalled and retail Win7 installs?

However there is another thread today where OP is asking how to move WinRe to System Reserved and make it bootable. Perhaps this can be adapted.

 

[emaraszek]

Well by definition a recovery partition is what my tutorial shows how to create. If the OP is looking for an image recovery they can simply elect to restore from a system image while using the recovery environment, however they will need to take a recovery image first.

 

[emaraszek]

I just published a tutorial on the process, here's the link:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/211595-creating-recovery-partition.html#post1772104

Is this not already on the F8 Advanced Boot Options on most preinstalled and retail Win7 installs?

However there is another thread today where OP is asking how to move WinRe to System Reserved and make it bootable. Perhaps this can be adapted.

The purpose of this tutorial is to create a recovery partition on a computer after a reinstall of the OS. I originally looked into doing this for several re-imaged computers at work, like I said in a previous post.

 

[gregrocker]

After a reinstall you would also have WinRE on F8. However it may not always work on reimaged HD.

We have occasional requests to move or map WinRe to hotkey, including today: WinRE - Advice on How to move to Boot (System Reserved) Partition? - Windows 7 Forums

In fact your help could probably be used in the thread now.

 

[emaraszek]

Good to know, I'll check out that other thread.

As far as after a reinstall, you're saying that this partition exists even after a reinstall using a retail disc? In my experience that isn't the case but then again I use a heavily customized installation disc

 

[gregrocker]

What partition are you referring to? WinRE is a file in Win7 which installs to the C drive and writes itself onto the F8 Advanced Boot Options menu.

A Recovery partition contains the factory image placed there by the manufacturer so purchasers can make their Recovery Disks from its image, or boot it to run full Factory Recovery to reimage the HD back to factory condition - not run WinRe.

 

[wanchoo]

Thank you. A most enlightening tutorial at least for me.

I just published a tutorial on the process, here's the link:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/211595-creating-recovery-partition.html#post1772104

 

[DeaconFrost]

You can do it, but it makes very little sense to do so. In fact, for many of us, the first thing we do is create recovery discs, and then blow away that recovery partition. What happens if your hard drive fails? There goes your recovery method. Anytime my wife gets a new laptop, we create a set of recovery medium put the discs in our safe, and then I blow away the entire hard drive to do a clean install.

 

[alphanumeric]

I don't know, it seems to me that its always nice to have options. It might make sense to some people. Lets say you like having the recovery option but don't like all the factory included bloatware. Making a new image without the bloatware and all the latest drivers might be nice. I wouldn't mind doing that on my daughters netbook which doesn't have an optical drive.

 

[gregrocker]

Alpha - The solution I'd suggest then for your daughter's netbook is to write the Win7 DVD to flash stick using Universal USB Installer, so if it becomes irreparable using System Recovery Options from F8 or stick, you can reimage from an externally stored Win7 backup image.

With built-in drive imaging it makes it easy to make your own recovery but store it more safely on external so it isn't lost if the HD fails.

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
System Image Recovery

 

[DeaconFrost]

I don't know, it seems to me that its always nice to have options. It might make sense to some people. Lets say you like having the recovery option but don't like all the factory included bloatware. Making a new image without the bloatware and all the latest drivers might be nice. I wouldn't mind doing that on my daughters netbook which doesn't have an optical drive.

I completely agree, and that's why I do a clean install on all OEM systems. My point is, having your recovery method on the same hard drive that's in use makes little sense. I only create the factory OEM ones for when I eventually resell the laptop (when we upgrade) so I can return it to it's original state.

If you want a new restore disc, you can always create that after you do a clean install, and store the disc(s) someplace safe as well. For me, I don't create them because it is a sub-two hour process for me to do a clean install. I only back up her data to our home server, and that's it.

 

[alphanumeric]

Alpha - The solution I'd suggest then for your daughter's netbook is to write the Win7 DVD to flash stick using Universal USB Installer, so if it becomes irreparable using System Recovery Options from F8 or stick, you can reimage from an externally stored Win7 backup image.

With built-in drive imaging it makes it easy to make your own recovery but store it more safely on external so it isn't lost if the HD fails.

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
System Image Recovery

I'm way a head of you on that one. I already do all my installs from thumb drives. I have two 4 gig universals , one 32 bit and one 64 bit. Plus a custom made OEM SLP thumb drive just for her Netbook. All my drivers, windows updates, and most used programs are stored on thumb drives, all color coded for easy identification. The only reason this PC has an external USB DVD drive is to play games with DRM that looks for the original game CD/DVD. The only other thing I us it for is to burn music Cd's for the car stereo. Oh, I also used it to burn a set of recovery disks for said netbook.

 

[alphanumeric]

I don't know, it seems to me that its always nice to have options. It might make sense to some people. Lets say you like having the recovery option but don't like all the factory included bloatware. Making a new image without the bloatware and all the latest drivers might be nice. I wouldn't mind doing that on my daughters netbook which doesn't have an optical drive.

I completely agree, and that's why I do a clean install on all OEM systems. My point is, having your recovery method on the same hard drive that's in use makes little sense. I only create the factory OEM ones for when I eventually resell the laptop (when we upgrade) so I can return it to it's original state.

If you want a new restore disc, you can always create that after you do a clean install, and store the disc(s) someplace safe as well. For me, I don't create them because it is a sub-two hour process for me to do a clean install. I only back up her data to our home server, and that's it.

Me, I don't need it, or the restore disks, like you I would never use them. If my step daughter ever moves out though, it might save me a house call to fix her netbook. Without my external DVD drive her recovery disks are useless anyway. She would only miss place them anyway, along with the thumb drives if I were to entrust them to her. Having a working recovery that she can launch by pressing a keyboard key is doable for her. Not having it just because the hard drive may fail some day seems short sited to me. Thats not meant as a dig, flame or insult, I do respect your opinion, thats just my spin on it.