Boot From Image

[Peter Neumaier]

Hi NG!
I heard that the latest generation of Notebooks has a hidden partition
on their HDD to boot from in case of emergencies. However, I dont have
this feature on my notebook, so what is the best way to implement it?

What is the best way and which software is helpful to create an image
to boot from (cd/dvd AND hdd)?
Ideally I would like to choose from a boot menu from which I can choose
at the beginning (before I boot my OS) which OS/Version to boot: "Win
XP Regular" or "Win XP RECOVERY IMAGE".

I am quite new to this and it would be great if you guys could advise
and/or suggest tutorials/software!?

Thx and best regards,
Igor

 

[Brian A]

Hi NG!
I heard that the latest generation of Notebooks has a hidden partition
on their HDD to boot from in case of emergencies. However, I dont have
this feature on my notebook, so what is the best way to implement it?

What is the best way and which software is helpful to create an image
to boot from (cd/dvd AND hdd)?
Ideally I would like to choose from a boot menu from which I can choose
at the beginning (before I boot my OS) which OS/Version to boot: "Win
XP Regular" or "Win XP RECOVERY IMAGE".

I am quite new to this and it would be great if you guys could advise
and/or suggest tutorials/software!?

Thx and best regards,
Igor

The best place to find information is at the manufacturers support site or any
documentation that was supplied with the Notebook. It may very well be that the
partition is there and when you use the Recovery/Restore disk it has the files on it
to access the partition which then runs the Recovery/Restore.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Peter Neumaier]

The best place to find information is at the manufacturers support site or any

documentation that was supplied with the Notebook. It may very well be that the
partition is there and when you use the Recovery/Restore disk it has the files on it
to access the partition which then runs the Recovery/Restore.

I dont have it on my notebook

 

[Brian A]

Then you don't need it, the Recovery/Restore disk supplied with the Notebook will
need to be used. Without further details I am unable to further help.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi NG!
I heard that the latest generation of Notebooks has a hidden partition
on their HDD to boot from in case of emergencies.

First, although it is unfortunately more and more common these dyas, it's
not "the latest generation," it's something that *some* notebook vendors do.

Second, it's not "to boot from in case of emergencies," it's to reinstall
the operating system from.

However, I dont have
this feature on my notebook, so what is the best way to implement it?

If you don't have it, consider yourself lucky. Of the three possible ways
the vendor may give you to reinstall Windows, this is far and away the
worst. The three ways are

1. An OEM copy of Windows
2. A restore CD
3. A hidden partition on your drive, with restore information.

That last way, the one you want, is the worst way because a hard drive crash
can leave you with nothing. If you don't have that, you should have either
number 1 or 2. Check your documentation or contact your vendor to find how
you can reinstall if becessary.

I would never choose to buy a computer that came with an operating system
unless I got a complete generic installation CD for that operating system.

 

[Peter Neumaier]

Ok, I see. Initially I tried to keep my post short and simple, but I'm
realizing that I need to provide you with more details.

Ken: I do have a restore CD, but the problem is that I cant access my
CD/DVD drive due to a hardware problem (need to change the motherboard,
but it's too expensive). So I keep using it as it is. That's why I
would like to create an image to boot from, just in case my windows
installation crashes. Does this make more sense now?
So back to my initial question: what is the best way to create a
bootable image?

Thanks,
Peter

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Ok, I see. Initially I tried to keep my post short and simple, but I'm
realizing that I need to provide you with more details.

Ken: I do have a restore CD, but the problem is that I cant access my

I don't know if I'm the Ken you're addressing, but if so, let me point out
that you quoted nothing of the previous message, and since I read and answer
many newsgroup messages each day, I have no memory of what this is about.
Like many, if not most, newsgroup particpipants, I don't keep already-read
messages here.

CD/DVD drive due to a hardware problem (need to change the
motherboard, but it's too expensive). So I keep using it as it is.
That's why I would like to create an image to boot from, just in case
my windows installation crashes. Does this make more sense now?
So back to my initial question: what is the best way to create a
bootable image?

In general you can *not* do this unless your vendor provides a restore
partition that it can be done from. And even if you could, without a working
CD drive, where would you put it?