OS clean install, boot repair gone!

[gregrocker]

I suspected errors and performance problems on my eMachine t5234 might be
related to the factory bloatware, so I used the included VIsta Premium OEM
disk to do a clean reinstall, formatting the C drive while preserving the D
recovery. Loaded great with no bloat or programs at all, drivers installed
themselves and Updated, got Java and Adobe(s) from their website, instant
performance and connection improvement. I only needed Works off of factory
recovery so eMachines chat provided link to start menu hotlink into recovery
sector to retrieve Works. All good, so far.

And THEN.....I check Safe Mode for Repair my Computer and it isnt there!
eMachines tech says I disabled Recovery Partition with OS clean install from
OEM disk, yet I have access via Start Menu Recovery Center link to
Applications and Drivers (where i got my Works). I check my Repair options
on the OEM/OS disc: Startup repair, System Restore are there, but Complete
Restore option cannot locate CD even though it is running in the drive!
Guess I can use Install again.

Unfortunately eMachines is not able to tell me what has happened, only that
I should have used their bloated Recovery partition/disk, that my OS disc is
not replaceable if ever corrupted (have to buy a bloat disk for $20) and that
my Recovery partition is probably no longer of any use except to retrieve the
one program I want off of it via Start Menu hotlink. Does anyone out there
have any advice on what I should do. I still like the trimmed down OS
reinstall with no bloat, errors and faster. But I can't help but think I've
screwed up pretty bad here, somehow.

 

[gerryf]

My assessment is screwed up to the good.

The only thing you did wrong was leave the recovery partition there rather
than taking the space for your perfectly fine OS

Why, pray tell, do you want the option of recovering the bloated emachine
crap anyway? You have a good machine now, be happy.

Here's what happened, for what it is worth.

The recovery partition and installation routine was accessed via a special
boot loader in the primary partition's boot record. When you installed Vista
cleanly, you rewrote the master boot record and the primary partition boot
record, eliminating access to the bloatware partition and the installation
routine for it.

If you ever have a problem, you can always reinstall Vista from your OEM
dvd, so your good there. You did not mention what OS you have (Vista
premium, business or ultra). If you are concerned, and have either of the
latter, you could always do a complete back up to that partition to restore
to the current state, or by a third party imaging program like Acronis and
create a back up image with that.

Not sure the method you used to get Works back, but you could a) copy the
install files to another media if possible, or b) dump it and go with Open
Office, which is superior anyway

 

[gregrocker]

Thanks Gerry, I feel better already. Is there any way using my Vista
Premium or freeware to overwrite/format my 10g recovery sector with a
recovery image of my OS (with Works) so I have another back up besides the
OEM disk? I am a little concerned about the OEM disk which has scratches
visible. I got Works from the eMachines Recovery Center they helped me
recover into my Start Menu which appears to access the dead D: recovery
sector for Applications and Drivers & Manual). Thanks.

 

[AJR]

Vista Premium does not included:"Complete PC Backup" - only file/data
backup. Consider gerryf's suggestion of Acronis or other 3rd party utility.

Acronis will create a hidden recovery partition using the recovered space
and will provide for automatic update of the recovery partition.

Keep in mind that only having a backup image on the primary drive is not
good procedure since if you cannot boot to the drive you cannot recover.
However Acronis (I'm sure others also) provides for backing up to a separte
internal/external drive or removeable media.






"gregrocker".

 

[gregrocker]

Can I make an image copy to a DVD of my current OS config which would act as
a recovery disk in case I needed to reinstall? I'd like to have another back
up besides my OEM OS disk and Apps. and Drivers recovery disk I originally
made before losing my D: drive (I have now deleted useless D: drive,
formatted and clean reinstalled).