Is there some freeware app to do the trick?

TBLUHP said this on 1/17/2009 11:51 AM:
> Is there some freeware app to do the trick?

Some vendors put a small partition on the drive with the OS or a
restoration program there. Watch the screen on bootup, there is
usually some keystroke like F12 or something to get to the restore
program. These programs usually format and replace the entire drive so
you lose any of your data.

You can download Ubuntu 8.1 off the internet, its a linux look alike.

Look for Bart PE, but I'm not sure it is an OS or more of a diagnostic.
I've not used it.

Linux is the only free OS, anything else you have to buy.

"TBLUHP" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:9f049613-39b8-4df2-b161-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Is there some freeware app to do the trick?

No, not unless the laptop has a utility to make one. This utility saves
the manufacturer perhaps a dime in materials costs, and they often instead
include a "recovery partition" which will be inaccessible and useless if the
failure point is the hard disk. If that happens, you need a new disk and
a new OS license if you don't have and can't get the original install media.

Your best bet is to contact the manufacturer for reinstall media. It's
best to do this while the system is still in production. Expect a cost, and
it's worth it.

Alternately, you can create an image of the disk using a program like
TrueImage. Be sure to make an image of the entire drive, including the
recovery partition.

HTH
-pk

"Mick Murphy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
newsDBB0E0E-AECB-4720-BB71-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Contact the Maker of your computer and ask them for info on how to make
> the
> Recovery disks.
>
> Or ask them to mail you a set of recovery disks.
> They will charge you a nominal fee to do it, say $30- $40.
> --
> Mad Mike
>
>
> "TBLUHP" wrote:
>
>> Is there some freeware app to do the trick?
>>

I've often seen the term "nominal fee" applied to obtaining OEM discs, and
am surprised to see it so high - I'd always assumed it would be postage
plus, say, $5 - $10 for the trouble. Eyes opened now!