HP Backup and reinstall for Vista

In anticipation of my dv2000t, I am doing some research.

From what I have read about Windows XP, the HP program will generate a 3 disk set for you to burn. I assume Vista will be the same.

Will that recovery set allow a complete system rebuild off of a new hard drive so it would create the Quickplay folder, recovery, and the OS partition?

I have read both the DV2000t and DV2000z reinstall guides and it sounds like the QuickPlay is a temperamental piece of software. Do I even NEED it?
I just want to be able to use the media buttons on the keyboard.


Lastly, do they allow you to build a Vista disk off the files in the recovery partition?
I know ThinkPads have the necessary files to build an auto-installing the XP disk slip streamed with the key and everything already. Have a technique of that sort been discovered for vista yet?
Currently I only have the Vista Business I got from school and it might be useful to build a copy.

 

Odd, there used to be a nice reply here... anyways we cant read the HP recovery D: partition it seems... or is there a way around it? =] im buring the swsetup folder now but dunno what else to backup.

 

Yeh, and I believe I wrote it. No idea WTF happened to it. Let me try again.

I'm sure some of these questions have been answered, but just in case...

Not sure if I read your question correctly, but if you're referring to the partitition layout of the drive, I'll give it a shot.

Yes, somewhat.

On machines preloaded with XP, the disk layout was a) XP on C, b) recovery set on D, and c) Quickplay Direct on an undefined partition (1gb in size). For Vista, there is no Quickplay Direct partition. AFAIK, HP has not chosen to explained why.

So, the recovery set for Vista would perform a restoration of the OS and Recovery partitions only.

I assume here you're talking about QPD. It's a moot point, since preloaded Vista machines do not come with Quickplay Direct, and no you don't NEED it. Some liked the convenience of not having to boot into a full version of XP though.

You will have, however, Quickplay for Windows. And, yes, the media buttons will work there.

Ah, the $64,000.00 question. Vista uses an image based install, described here:

http://www.apcstart.com/3834/inside_vistas_new_image_based_install

On the preloaded XP machines, all one needed was the i386 and SWSetup folders both of which were supplied on the XP drive, along with a copy of nLite or AutoStreamer to create a clean XP install disc. Someone may know how to create one from the Vista recovery set, but I haven't run across it yet. nLite does have a version for Vista named vLite.

BTW, I accidentally unlocked the recovery partition when I recovered a year old XP backup using True Image. Don't know why it happened. Someone else may be able to give you directions on how to do it yourself.

 

I looked at the Recovery partition of the HP preinstalled with vista.

Go to dos
D:\Sources
D:\preload

Within those two folders are the WIM files... is there anything we can do with WIM files? Im more curious than anything...

 

If you can manage to copy those folders to an external hd or dvd, you might be able to create a disc using vLite.

"Sources" is the key folder. I don't believe "preload" is necessary, but just to be safe, my suggestion would be to dump both folders, and whatever other files are lying around, within another folder (called Vista Setup Files or something like that) and point vLite to it when asked.

You may also need the boot files for the disc and I'm not sure vLite will be able to generate them for you, unless they're contained within either of the 2 folders above. That may be your biggest problem.

All that said, your best best is to hit the vLite forum and ask. From what I can gather, it's still somewhat buggy, but with a little luck and some helpful posters, you could be up and running in no time.

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showforum=153

 

=] this is so fun!

Ill check it out...
I haven't had a prebuilt machine in years so much of this OEM with recovery stuff is new to me so im having some fun playing with this haha

copying the files from the folders...

Aww dead end. Seems like the WIM files just aren't enough for vLite. I tried to copy my business files to my hard drive then put in the WIM files from the recovery (BTW, same ones are in the recovery DVDs) and it seems that the Boot one is OK, but the other I think Install.wim file is different for HP who has about 8 base.wim files that are probably split to combine into one HUGE install image. Since I don't know how to recombine those files, I guess this is the end

 

There's an exe called imagex (formerly ximage) you can use to append .wim images. It's contained in a package called Windows Automated Install Kit. You may be able to combine those "base" images into one install.wim image which is what I think vLite is looking for.

My nb came with XP so I don't have the restore discs for Vista, although I do have it installed, hence I can't check it out myself. If you feel adventurous, you may be able to figure out what's needed, possibly with help from the vLite forum.

The WAIK is huge (almost a gig IIRC) but has a lot of useful tools, especially if you intend on creating unattended/customized Vista install discs.

WAIK:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...9123-679830d629f2&DisplayLang=en#Instructions

and the user guide:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...7d-f12c-4676-917f-05d9de73ada4&displaylang=en

 

I deleted my recovery partition after creating recovery dvds, but it seems like the recovery disks lack a boot loader. Does anyone know if it's possible to create a Vista boot disk in case I ever need to repair the MBR?

 

unlike xp... where each cd kit was different ( as in oem, retail ) and you could not repair one with the other witout major complications...

VISTA - includes ALL versions on the dvd... basicly you can download a dvd image off the internet and then use your key on it.

there is however a catch... the preloaded windows vista DOES NOT need to be activated since it is OEM... but you CAN convert ANY vista instalation to OEM, thus skipping activation IF you have the required key and OEM certificate.

 

Anyone here can make OS Recovery with this solution?

vlite + imagex?