Solved Will Windows recovery using system image delete other partitions?

[lala1990]

hi, i would like to ask, i have a HP laptop, which has a HP Recovery Partition created (my main system partition is C:, the recovery partition is D: ). because i'm afraid that if my harddisk fail one day, if even the recovery partition is damaged or corrupted, i won't be able to recover my system. i cannot rely on hp support, because i'm living in singapore, and i bought my hp laptop from my polytechnic. but the support hotline given in the hp website will forward the caller to the Helpdesk in India, and they will not understand about the softwares that are preinstalled by HP specially (given by my school) for my studies. so i was thinking about creating a system image from the control panel, but i'm afraid that if i try recovering my system from the backup system image, the recovery partition (D: ) created by HP will be deleted. so, can anyone experienced enough clear my doubt on this? thanks in advance.
P.S. When i made the system image, only C: drive and the System Reserved drive are checked, i did not check the D: drive.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

The HP recovery partition will NOT restore the PC to the way it is now.

It will restore it to the way it was when shipped from HP.

You should be able to make a set of "recovery" DVDs that will also restore the PC to the way it was when shipped from HP. If you have a set of recovery DVDs that work, you don't need to keep the recovery partition.

I think your recovery partition will be restored IF AND ONLY IF you include it in your image backup. An imaging program is the only way to restore your PC to the way it is NOW.

Personally, I would use an imaging program such as Macrium to back up my system rather than the Windows program, but it is your choice.

 

[seavixen32]

Before you consider any other option, it's in your interest to create a set of HP recovery discs so that you can restore your computer to its factory state should the recovery partition become corrupted or unusable.

If you didn't include the recovery partition in your backup it won't be restored if you choose a system restore from your backup.

The only difference between using the recovery partition or recovery discs is the length of time it takes for a factory restore to complete - using the recovery partition is a lot quicker.

You can also create another system image backup, but this time include the recovery partition.

If you have backup discs for any software you have installed you might also want to consider a clean install using the product key attached to your computer when you activate the operating system.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

 

[lala1990]

Before you consider any other option, it's in your interest to create a set of HP recovery discs so that you can restore your computer to its factory state should the recovery partition become corrupted or unusable.

If you didn't include the recovery partition in your backup it won't be restored if you choose a system restore from your backup.

The only difference between using the recovery partition or recovery discs is the length of time it takes for a factory restore to complete - using the recovery partition is a lot quicker.

You can also create another system image backup, but this time include the recovery partition.

If you have backup discs for any software you have installed you might also want to consider a clean install using the product key attached to your computer when you activate the operating system.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

i do not have the windows installation disk, i was only given 2 recovery disks by hp when i first bought the laptop, so a clean reinstall won't be an option.. also, the recovery disks did not include the programs preinstalled in my laptop by hp (i purchased the laptop through my school so there are programs needed for my studies included)...
so what u are saying is, if i never include the recovery partition in the image, when i use system restore using the image, my whole harddisk will be wiped and only the C: is recreated?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

i do not have the windows installation disk.................a clean reinstall won't be an option.

A clean install is an option. You can make a legitimate installation disk from a downloaded ISO file. Whether you want to do that is another question.

 

[lala1990]

hm? i always thought different windows installation disks have different cd keys? they are universal? and can i ask, if i manage to get the cd key of the microsoft office 2010 professional plus from my laptop, i can also make a clean reinstall of the office using the key? because they didn't include the installation disk for the office as well...

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Windows installation licenses (as opposed to disks) have unique Product Keys. If you have a legitimate 25 character Product Key, you can use that Product Key to activate an installation for the same version of Windows 7 (Home Premium as an example). You could borrow such a disk from a friend or burn such a disk from a downloaded ISO, but you must use your existing Product Key to activate it.

Windows installation disks by themselves aren't of much use without the Product Key. You can install without a Product Key, but you cannot activate and the installation will eventually expire.

I'm not sure if Office works exactly the same way.

 

[lala1990]

ok so can i ask, do i need a macrium reflect 64 bit edition to do an image backup with my 64 bit os, or can i just use a 32 bit version?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

ok so can i ask, do i need a macrium reflect 64 bit edition to do an image backup with my 64 bit os, or can i just use a 32 bit version?

I doubt it---but you may as well get the 64-bit version. That's what I use on my 64-bit PC. If I recall correctly, you can get either version.

 

[lala1990]

ok thank you so much i'm going to try using macrium now, will post again if there are any problems!