Backups and partitions

[Guest]

I have a few questions about backups and partitions.

(1) When I make a Complete PC Backup from the System and Maintenance Control
Panel, will this re-partition my hard drive when I restore? That is, I
currently have a BitLocker-encrypted C: partition that houses my whole
system, a startup partition S: that is empty except for what BitLocker
preparation put there, and a 6 MB empty partition that used to be a hidden
partition housing restore information from Sony but that is now empty. I'd
like to expand the main partition so it also includes the space in the 6 MB
empty partition, but Vista doesn't like expanding primary paritions, so I
would like to nuke the whole drive and re-install from a Complete PC Backup.
I'm wondering if this will re-create the empty 6 MB partition and I will be
back where I started.

(2) If I re-install from a Complete PC Backup, will I need to re-activate
all my applications? I don't mind this, but I'm curious if it will raise
flags. (I will have the same physical hard disk with the same capacity,
manufacturer, model, and serial number, but it will be partitioned
differently and its volume ID will be different, I think, unless I take pains
to modify it to the original volume ID.) I will also have the same
motherboard with the same size physical RAM and the same MAC addresses on the
ethernet and networking cards. In other words, no hardware changes, but maybe
a volume ID change and definitely a partition change.

Setup: Sony VAIO (VGN-)SZ-120P/B laptop with Intel Core Duo and 2 GB RAM and
100 GB hard drive, originally came with Windows XP Pro, since wiped. Windows
Vista Ultimate installed as new installation, not as upgrade.

Thanks.

In addition, if anyone knows why BitLocker won't work properly in this
configuration, I'd love to know. I've nuked the TPM chip, taken ownership of
it, and installed BitLocker. The TPM chip is version 1.2. BitLocker works
perfectly, except it won't interact with the TPM chip properly: Every time I
boot, I have to re-enter the 56-digit recovery code. I've disabled BitLocker
(but not decrypted), restarted, re-enabled BitLocker, and still have the same
problem on the next boot. Windows BitLocker recovery console continually
tells me that something has changed in my boot information and, therefore, I
need to re-verify.

 

[AJR]

I cannot address BitLocker. However regarding the recovery partition - they
usually are not accessible via Explorer. You state it is now empty - how
was the partition"emptied"?
OEMS (some) provide an utility for moving the recovery information to DVD/CD
and an option to remove the partition.
Usually when the recovery partition is generated the MBR is modified to
present an option, function key, at boot up to restore the unit. If the
partition is removed by manually deletion - the MBR modification still
remains.

Regarding Complete PC - it restores the unit to exactly the status at backup
,- meaning the 6 mb partition would also be restored. Just had a thought -
you sure you mean 6 MB and not 6 gigs?

Reinstallation of applications would not be necessary - keep in mind
though - even if you change the partition structure Complete PC restoration
recreates the original structure.

You may want to consider the Acronis backup program - you can select drives
and/or partitions to backup and it is Vista compatible.

 

[lindacuster]

I cannot address BitLocker. However regarding the recovery partition - they
usually are not accessible via Explorer. You state it is now empty - how
was the partition"emptied"?
OEMS (some) provide an utility for moving the recovery information to DVD/CD
and an option to remove the partition.
Usually when the recovery partition is generated the MBR is modified to
present an option, function key, at boot up to restore the unit. If the
partition is removed by manually deletion - the MBR modification still
remains.

Regarding Complete PC - it restores the unit to exactly the status at backup
,- meaning the 6 mb partition would also be restored. Just had a thought -
you sure you mean 6 MB and not 6 gigs?

Reinstallation of applications would not be necessary - keep in mind
though - even if you change the partition structure Complete PC restoration
recreates the original structure.

You may want to consider the Acronis backup program - you can select drives
and/or partitions to backup and it is Vista compatible.









- Show quoted text -

Yes, I did mean 6 GB. Sorry.

I emptied the partition by using GPARTED, a Linux utility. (Windows
still works fine, but now shows the partition as empty and available
to be reformatted.)

OK. You answered my question. If it reconfigures the drive exactly the
way it is now, that's not what I want. I'll look into Acronis.

Thanks