Recovery partition backup - howto

I have the AS1410 with win7. I couldn't get the virtual cd solution to work (perhaps that is because the version is now 10 not 9 or that I'm on win7 64bit). So my approach is to copy the the first 2 partitions, PQService and the 100MB one, and track 0 (MBR). These are all that is needed to build a new system on a new disk (I think). So here is my how to:

1. Grab your free copy of Paragon Backup and Restore from here and install it and get a free serial number from the web page it gives when you install.

2. Run it and choose backup disk or partition. Tick to save track 0 + MBR, and the first 2 partitions before C: to an empty directory on C:. Remember to apply changes then wait for this finish.

3: Copy this directory to a PC with a DVD burner.

Inside the directory you'll find the archive files split into DVD size chunks. Burn these to DVDs together with downloads of Paragon Backup and Restore, 32bit and 64bit to cover all bases if you want, plus the serial number, and a text file telling yourself what to do, which is: Install Paragon Backup and Restore, combine all the archive files into one directory on a hard disk, then rebuild track 0 and the first 2 partitions.

 

This kind of makes me question what eventuality you are preparing for.

The chief reason laptop makers like recovery systems and partitions is that they can handle 75% of support queries by telling you reset to factory and then saying - hey what we sold you is fine (and unpatched, and out of date and missing all your data e-mails etc)

The only two times an adavnced user is going want to do a compete restore to factory are :
1) Initially : to see if it works at all
2) Before sale or warranty return to prove the point and conceal your own data

A common approach is to verify the laptop is fully functional, make any recovery DVD's (which often contain Media player and other applications not separately available), back up any useful windows Keys token etc and then using Paragon as you say above back up the entire HDD to a USB drive.
This is reasonably fast and fully supported by their free tools.

Swift Future recovery to factory state is now available even if the drive fails or is upgraded at some point and you have to slot a new one in.

Alternatively some users will just pull the original HDD and put their own upgrade/equivalent in at this point. This has the advantage that any warranty repair can go back with the original HDD, while the drive you were actually using sits in a drawer or another system pending the return of the wiped fixed system

If sticking with the original HDD you can then wipe it, install a clean version of whatever version you were using and use supplied factory key to register.
Install only the essential drivers fromthe second recovery DVD and you are off. Fully patch and Build that system with office, your music etc, mail logins etc and then make a second much larger image at that point.

This second one is the image you would use to recover your system surely - although Paragon lets you restore just the MBR or any partition selectively too. You get a patched setup and working system (ok out of date a bit) in about 1h30mins. The only issue with this is the need to have your USB drive and a paragon disk with you where you do the recovery. However with the factory restore you get a quick recovery to a system that needs 1GB of updates and has no passwords or applications . . so you are not that much better off in some hotel far from home. Get someone to overnight the USB drive !!

 

The eventuality is a hard drive fail. In that case I'd need to buy a new drive, put back the recovery partition and then boot and rebuild C:. That would put the laptop back to as bought state. True I'd want to back up my data and installed programs then that is a separate, and on going issue.

BTW, if you shrink disk C and make a disk D where you put all your data then a rebuild from the recovery partition does not destroy your data. Disk D is left alone. So the recovery partition is a get you going some what. If you keep product codes on D and have internet access then you could get enough apps to make a workable laptop.

 

Re C and D.

Yes I do still so that. I have not found it as easy to reliably move favourites and e-mail stores off the c drive in Vista and W7 as it used to be. So I have music, videos, documents and photos on D (reasonably static so very fast to incrementally backup as individual files using my own batch file and Robocopy)

Then on top of my initial 'clean' full drive image (incl boot sector etc I then re image the C drive every month or so (Fully patched to date and registered Windows, A current virus checker, installed programmes plus email but still quite manageable ).

So my crisis options are:
Plug USB HDD into any PC or laptop. Can access documents, domestic details, music etc immediately.

If HDD totally fried recover factory state in 30 mins then overlay latest C drive information in another 30 mins. at that point EVERYTHING is usable although the documents etc reside on an external drive . . copy those over as a backgound task . . or if the HDD is a temporary stand-in leave until the latest new replacement arrives.

There are however 1001 ways to do this . . and whatver you do the actual problem will be the least desirable in that context .

 

I would however re-visit my earlier remark. During year 1 the Laptop is more likely to fail than the HDD. If you put the supplied HDD aside in near virgin state then if the laptop need to go back (and get reset/wipred) take out your data and replace the virgin HDD. While you wait for speedyco to repair it you mount your laptop HDD in a caddy and plug in someplace else (you can even adopt /import your mail to another system)

When it comes back swap them over again and you have the fullest restore you can have.