How to make a Recovery Disk?

I just got a new XPS 1530 with Vista Home Premium 64 bit. I'm told, before I do anything, I should make a Recovery Disk. How do you do that?

Under Help, it talked about Windows Complete PC Restore (which restores the hard disk from a backup), but it says it's not available with Vista Home.

I think the recovery disk is used in case everything crashes. It's different from a Boot disk (which isn't needed anymore, since you can use the OS installation disk to start Vista if needed). Also, I'm not talking about System Restore, which reloads your system from a time before your last SW install.

 

Should have shipped with installation media...every other Dell I have ever seen did, including mine...

Did you not get like 2-? (number of discs depends on the software packages you ordered) cd's in your box? There should at least be a Windows disc and a Dell utilities disc. Those are your recovery media for stock restoration...

If you want to do a full backup-style restore, look into Acronis True Image, Norton Ghost, or something of the like to make a full drive image...

 

if it didnt include any restore media and there is no options under programs to make the disks I would invest in acronis true image. its really great software. you make a backup of your drive. if anything happens you put in the acronis boot disk and select your backup media. it will restore the computer exactly the way it was in 10-15 minutes. I usually back up all my systems on a western digital passport drive, but you can make recovery disks with it too.

 

Yes, you should use the Restore DVD you should have received with your notebook. If you did not get it, have Dell send you a disc.

 

Yes, I got the installation disks for Vista, Drivers & Media Direct. But I was told sometimes they don't send you all the CD's you really need so you should make a Recovery Disk. Do I really need one?

Also, I was told that after I get the computer all set up the way I want, I should make another Recovery Disk. Guess that's what you're talking about when you list the SW. I'll look at those.

 

Is it labeled as "Restore DVD"? The CD's I got were labeled Vista, Drivers & Media Direct. Should I have received a Restore CD?

 

Under Start; All Programs, I didn't see where I could create a Restore Disk. Maybe someone else knows where it is.

 

On systems from other vendors, like HP, you have to burn off system recovery discs yourself. Dell did this for a short time period around 2004-5 but reverted back to sending you a full version of Windows on disc.

Here's what you should have received from Dell:

The Dell "Reinstallation DVD" for Windows Vista. This DVD resembles something like this: (Color may vary depending on your Windows Vista version-Mine, for example, is blue)


By rickhamilton620

The Dell Resource CD/DVD, containing drivers (the way the hardware inside your laptop "talks" to Windows and vice versa) along with the Dell QuickSet Software that controls such things like the Wi-Fi catcher, On-Screen Volume/screen brightness notifications, Keyboard backlighting, etc.

CD's for most of the software that came preloaded on your computer: (Security Suite if you opted for it, Microsoft Office if you opted for it, DVD playback software, etc.)

The benefit of Dell doing it this way is that you have the choice of what software gets put back on your system after you do a recovery. Many "power users" like having a Windows install that's as "clean" as possible.

There is an additional way to restore a Dell system that doesn't involve the disc's you received. It's called Dell Factory Image Restore and it uses a hidden part of your hard disk that contains an image of how the system was setup before it left the factory. The advantage to using this method is that it's fast, you'll be up and running again within 15-20 min. not including installing Windows Updates. The downside of this approach, is that if your hard drive died for any reason, you wouldn't be able to use it. That's why HP and other vendors who also use this method of recovery ask their customers to burn copies of that partitioned image onto DVD's. Also, that factory image includes stuff you may not want-all of the junk/trialware that you got when you first started the machine will be present in your newly restored system as well.

Since you have a full Windows DVD and a Drivers disc, your covered if for some reason the Dell Factory Image partition on your hard drive is inaccessible, or if you just want a clean Windows install with only the software you choose.

 

any guy make iso and upload it ?

 

If you lost your disc's, Dell will send you another set free. https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form

 

Booboo12, thank you so much for your info. It was very helpful. Yes, I got the "Reinstallation DVD" for Vista. I don't know about the "Dell Resource CD/DVD". I got one called "Drivers & Utilities" that contains "Device drivers & Diagnostic & utilities". Is that right?

Say the OS gets corrupted & the computer won't boot. I think I can then use the Reinstallation DVD for Vista to reinstall the OS. But if it won't boot, how do I run the DVD? Do I put it in the slot & then power on & somehow it'll work?

Tell me more about "Dell Factory Image Restore". Is it the D: drive called RECOVERY (8 GB)? How would I use it? Would it help for me to copy it to a DVD in case my disk goes bad? Can I just do a copy, or do I need to do a disk image (that requires other SW)? Once I have it (on DVD or hard drive), how is it used in case of a crash?

 

Correct, for some reason Dell uses both names for the disc.

Only a hardware problem will prevent the computer from actually turning on, even if the OS got corrupted you can still pop in the Windows Vista disc and boot from it. When you do this, you'll be brought to the Windows Setup screen.

Sure. That "D" drive you see is, in fact, the Dell Factory Image partition. Usually this would be hidden in XP but you can see it in Vista. You can't really burn it to disc/transfer it's contents to an external hard disk, and expect it to work (I think, feel free to correct me anyone )

To restore from the Factory Image, you'll push the F8 key on the keyboard after the Dell splash screen appears at startup but before you see the Windows boot animation. This brings up the "Advanced Boot Options" menu. From there, you'll arrow down to "Repair Your Computer" and hit Enter. You'll then be asked to choose your language and log on to an Administrator account. (This is a security precaution) Click the link called "Dell Factory Image Restore" to begin the recovery process.

Remember that, regardless of which recovery method you choose, it's important to backup your data as it will all be erased when you recover.

Hope this helps you out
Ricky

 

That helped so much. Thanks for all the details. I have so much to learn & appreciate all you have told me. I've summarized it here, so hope I have it right.

These notes tell how to restore your system in case of a failure. This will restore the operating system, drivers & utilities, as installed by the manufacturer. It will not restore programs & data you have stored on the computer, so be sure to backup that data separately.

If computer will not turn on:
take it to a shop to get the hardware fixed

If the computer will turn on but not boot:
put Vista Reinstallation CD into drive & power on
will get Windows Setup screen
(restores to factory spec, i.e., all data is lost)

If the computer will boot but is corrupted:
turn on power
when Dell splash screen appears (but before Windows boot animation), push F8
(keep pushing?)
will get Advanced Boot Options menu
arrow down to Repair Your Computer; Enter
log on as Admin
choose Dell Factory Image Restore (uses data from D: drive)
(restores to factory spec, i.e., all data is lost)


Just "one" more question. As time goes on, I'll be loading a lot of programs on my computer (my old one has 150 programs on it). I understand, in order to restore all that, I need to get a program (e.g., ghost or acronis) that will make a disk image. If I do that & the computer can boot, I can use that CD to restore my programs. But if the computer turns on, but does not boot, can I still use that CD, or do I need to use the Vista Reinstillation CD?

 

acronis true image has its own boot disk. so even if there is no os at all on your hard drive it can put a backup you have back on.

 

No problem, that's what people are (hopefully) here for-to help out each other. Yes, you'll need a program like Acronis to create a disk image of your hard drive in order to be able to restore any programs you added. And, yes, like the Windows Vista DVD, etc. you can use the Acronis Boot Disc to restore your computer even if you can't "boot" into your current Windows install.

 

That's good to know.

 

One thing I did not understand... I received two separate DVDs both labled Windows Vista 32bit apart from all the usual discs. Why Two ?? Is there any difference ??

 

Thank you for all your help. I now have a basic understanding of backup & recovery.