Backup and Recovery

[Connie]

I'm concerned my system may crash and I have no back up and recovery disk or
Vista installation disk. I was told I could order one from the manufacturer
but I'm wondering if there is a way to create one after setup. I have a XP
Home Edition I suppose I could use but I would rather create a Vista backup,
if possible.

 

[Michael]

I'm concerned my system may crash and I have no back up and recovery disk
or Vista installation disk. I was told I could order one from the
manufacturer but I'm wondering if there is a way to create one after
setup. I have a XP Home Edition I suppose I could use but I would rather
create a Vista backup, if possible.

All computer come with a hidden partition with the original out-of-the-box
software installation. Can you explain in detail exactly what you want to
do?

 

[Connie]

Yes, my sister had her computer crash yesterday with numerous viruses. We
took it to Best Buy and the tech advised us to do a system restore. I said
we could not do that so he advised her to use her back up and recovery disk
and if she did not have one to call the manufacturer and for a price they
would send a backup and recovery disk. I then realized I have no backup and
recovery disk either. So if my laptop crashes, is there a way I can restore
it with out a Vista installation disk? Can I create a backup and recovery
such as he was referring to?

 

[Michael]

Number 1--Stay away from the Geek Squad. What most computer technicians
forgot they never learned.

Who manufactured your computer?

 

[Connie]

Toshiba

Number 1--Stay away from the Geek Squad. What most computer technicians
forgot they never learned.

Who manufactured your computer?

--


"Don't pick a fight with an old man.
If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you."

 

[Connie]

OOPS! Sorry, I responded too quickly. I have two; one is Toshiba and the
other is HP.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I'm concerned my system may crash and I have no back up and recovery disk or
Vista installation disk. I was told I could order one from the manufacturer
but I'm wondering if there is a way to create one after setup. I have a XP
Home Edition I suppose I could use but I would rather create a Vista backup,
if possible.

Two points:

1. Regarding reinstallation of Vista: is your computer one that came
with Vista preinstalled?

If so, be aware that OEM computers with Windows preinstalled are
required to provide you with a means of reinstalling Windows. They can
do that in any of three ways:

a. Give you an OEM installation CD

b. Give you a restore CD

c. Put a hidden partition on your drive that can be used to do a
restore.

The third way is most common these days. Contact the manufacturer for
details on what to do.

2. Regarding backup, if you have files on you drive that are important
to you, and you don't do a regular backup of them, you are playing
with fire. It is always possible that a hard drive crash, user error,
nearby lightning strike, virus attack, even theft of the computer, can
cause the loss of everything on your drive. As has often been said,
it's not a matter of whether you will have such a problem, but when.

You might want to read this article I wrote on backup: "Understanding
Disk Partitioning" at
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=326

 

[Connie]

Thank you Ken. I do regular back ups. I'm only concerned with my hard drive.
My laptops came with pre-installed Windows Vista. I have a recovery
partition on both. I was thinking I could perhaps copy the recovery back up
or acquire a recovery disk. I realize I should have created a disk on set up
but I didn't know it at the time. One computer is under and extended
agreement so perhaps I can get Hp to provide a recovery disk. I'm going to
read the info you provided as well as that in the previous post. Thanks to
you both!

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thank you Ken. I do regular back ups.

Glad to hear it, and sorry to have misunderstood you.

I'm only concerned with my hard drive.
My laptops came with pre-installed Windows Vista. I have a recovery
partition on both. I was thinking I could perhaps copy the recovery back up

Yes, you normally can. Contact your manufacturer, check in your
manual, or check on the web site for instructions.

or acquire a recovery disk. I realize I should have created a disk on set up
but I didn't know it at the time. One computer is under and extended
agreement so perhaps I can get Hp to provide a recovery disk.

You may be able to, but you probably don't need to. You can probably
create one yourself, as I said above.

I'm going to
read the info you provided as well as that in the previous post. Thanks to
you both!

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[Connie]

I contacted HP and I was able to order a backup recovery disk for just
$13.86 including tax and shipping. Of course I am able to take standard
shipping because I don't really need it "right now." It would $18 -$25 to
have it expedited but that is quite reasonable IMO since it was something I
simply failed to do through ignorance. I'll be sure to do it up front on
any new products. I hope this helps someone else and my thanks again to you
Ken and to Michael.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I contacted HP and I was able to order a backup recovery disk for just
$13.86 including tax and shipping. Of course I am able to take standard
shipping because I don't really need it "right now." It would $18 -$25 to
have it expedited but that is quite reasonable IMO since it was something I
simply failed to do through ignorance. I'll be sure to do it up front on
any new products. I hope this helps someone else and my thanks again to you
Ken and to Michael.

You're welcome. Glad to help.