Need to create system recovery disks from RECOVERY (D:) drive

[fr8train]

My Laptop came preloaded with Windows 7 Home Premium and I would like to create system recovery disks. I have a drive labeled RECOVERY (D. How do I create recovery disks from this drive?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

We know nothing about your laptop, so it's hard to say. Who made it?? What model?

You probably have to access some program, either from a choice in your list of programs or through a particular keystroke during the boot process. Look in your list of available programs for something related to recovery or consult your manual.

 

[fr8train]

Oh. Sorry about that.HP Presario CQ61 Notebook, AMD Sempron M120 2.10 GHz, 4GB RAM, 64 Bit.

I have launched the Create System Image utility from within the control panel and it appears that it will create an image that includes the RECOVERY (D drive. I just don't know if this is going to be a bootable image or not. I have several DVD-R's so mistakes can be made.

Here's what I would like to do...I want to crate a copy of my current system that I will be able to restore to in the event of a catastrophic failure. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Creating a system image of the laptop in its current state is different than creating a set of recovery disks to return it to the state it was in the day you got it.

The latter can be done by using the recovery partition or making a series of DVDs.

The former requires that you make an image of the current C drive and store that image somewhere, typically on a hard drive other than C. You could make DVDs, but it's not nearly as reliable.

 

[fr8train]

The only other option I have is to create a system repair disc.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

What is your goal?

Be able to restore the PC to the way it was when you first got it?

Or be able to restore to the way it is now?

As I stated, they are separate ideas.

 

[fr8train]

Restore it the way I got it. Here's what's going on. I would like to install a Linux distro. If after awhile I decide I want to go back to windows 7, I need the disks to install the OS. My laptop did not come with disks, just the recovery drive. How can I create Windows 7 disks?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If you just want to install Linux, you can create a separate partition and install Linux to it. Windows 7 will still be there. You would have a "dual boot" and choose which OS you wanted..

You can create "recovery disks" from your recovery partition. Once made, they serve the same purpose as the recovery partition and it's a good idea to have them. But that has nothing to do with creating a separate partition and installing Linux.

The disks you can create from the recovery partitions are NOT Windows 7 installation disks per se. Instead, they recreate your system to the way it was on day 1.

If you want Windows 7 installation disks, you can download legit versions from mydigitallife.info. These come in the form of ISO files. You burn the ISO file to a disk and it is then a "Windows 7 installation disk" that you can use to reinstall Windows, using your existing Product Key. If you use this Windows installation disk, you would end up with a clean install of Windows, but would NOT have all the stuff your HP had on it when you got it--all of the extra HP stuff would be gone. Maybe you don't want that stuff anyway.

But you don't need to get involved with Windows disks just to install Linux. Just make a separate partition using Windows Disk Management.

Dual Boot can be testy at times. Some would advise you to install Linux to a separate drive, rather than to a separate partition on the same drive as Windows.

 

[mjf]

Have you read your manual and is this your notebook
HP Presario CQ61-100 | Compaq Presario CQ61 Notebook PC and HP G61 Notebook PC -

 

[fr8train]

Thanks! No I had not read the manual. I understand it a bit better now.

 

[karlsnooks]

fr8train,
HP and Compaq Desktop PCs: Looking for Recovery Discs? - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

Lost your Windows discs? How to get replacement media, legally | ZDNet