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    Creating a system recovery media - does it include any changes you've made to the system

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Fenella, Apr 9, 2011.

  1. Fenella

    Fenella Notebook Enthusiast

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    Sorry if this has been raised before but I had a quick look. I got a Dell XPS15 and will need to create the system recovery media for the Windows 7 OS etc - I intend to use a USB key but won't get this til later next week. In the meantime, while I am doing basic surfing, multi-media etc, I get the dialog boxes flashing up asking me to update drivers, confirm settings etc.

    I know the recommendation is to do the recovery media after Windows have been set up. But do all these changes I've made to the system also get copied to the system recovery media when I get round to doing one or is it just the files that started out with the laptop when it was shipped? I'm assuming it won't copy things like internet browsing logs or additional files that I've created.
     
    Fenella, Apr 9, 2011
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  2. Gracy123

    Gracy123 Agrees to disagree

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    I haven't tried it out, but I assume it does create a recovery media of the system the way it is at the moment of creation... that's why they recommend to do that first thing you do after starting the PC...
     
    Gracy123, Apr 9, 2011
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  3. J&SinKTO

    J&SinKTO Notebook Deity

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    Can't speak to Dell (but assuming same), but HP and Sony make a recovery disk that is the out-of-the box state. has nothing to do with changes/updates etc you have made. The recovery makes an image set from your hidden factory image partition.
     
    J&SinKTO, Apr 9, 2011
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  4. anseio

    anseio All ways are my ways.

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    This is correct.

    Recovery Media is intended to recover/repair your system and bring it back to a factory state. If you want a good backup, you should get an external drive and make regular system images from Windows. That way, if something really bad ever happens, you can just restore from that image and have everything exactly as it was at the time the image was made.
     
    anseio, Apr 9, 2011
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  5. olyteddy

    olyteddy Notebook Deity

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    The back up media is just a clone of the hidden recovery partition so no, it won't include any changes made to the system. Not even updates.
     
    olyteddy, Apr 9, 2011
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  6. booboo12

    booboo12 Notebook Prophet

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    Indeed, that backup media you create in Dell DataSafe will replicate the contents of the recovery partition....so its best to just make it now and get it out of the way. Saving to make them later wont do any good, and you can only make them once to begin with. See the guide in my signature for more info. :)
     
    booboo12, Apr 10, 2011
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  7. Fenella

    Fenella Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thank you very much all of you for this. I will do this.
     
    Fenella, Apr 10, 2011
    #7