eastbay80 Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 OK, these days when you purchase a new computer you don't recovery discs anymore, instead you get to create them- and this is what i need recommendations for.Basically, I am always reformatting my hard drive every few months and I always end up re-instally everything disc by disc, re downloading drivers, etc. etc.What software is recommended to use to create recovery discs (like the ones from Sony, or HP's)...Basically I wanna be able to just pop in 2 or 3 dvd-r's to recover versus having to reformat, re install, and re download ...etc etc.I could really use some feedback.Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Why not use Acronis True Image.It will make a full image copy of your hard drive(s), can be incrementally updated at whatever frequency you wish, and can restore your drives to their previous state quickly and easily. To restore - it boots the computer from an emergency CD you create when you first instal the programme.Click on the Acronis logo at the top of the Forum page for a link to buy at a good price and get further details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 My Acronis backup has saved a full reinstall on several occasions, and I swear by it. I got the program after pops mentioned it for about the millionth time. Thanks pops, its a big time saver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 - - -and if you want a new installation every three months, retain an Acronis image of the machine immediately after you have set it up. This should not stop you also keeping a regular backup though - and increments of that to keep your system up to date. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastbay80 Posted September 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Thanks for superfast responses. i will most definately look into Acronis and reporte back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohn Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 As per the wise advice above. Also I bought a new system today for my lad its an emachine from Staples and terrific value for money. This also does not have a recovery partition as they used to have and gives you two methods of making your own. One is to make a full recovery disk or you can copy XP SP2 and the drivers for all the hardware installed on the machine and make a disk of that. First method is to reinstate your machine to the same as bought, second method is if you want to format your drive and set it up different with partitions for example or if you decide to add more hardware in the future. I would suggest using both methods then put the disk away safe.This new idea is excellent in the sense you have the choice of which way you want to set up your machine, previous method of supplying just a recovery disk was difficult if you changed any hardware or if you needed a separate copy of XP. Software for doing this is, or should be, already on your PC courtesy of the manufacturer. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Surely it's wise to insist on a full installation disk with a new computer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohn Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Afraid you can't andsome. When my new machine was built 10 days back because it was built by my local shop I ordered XP SP2 with it and the shop kindly installed it along with other drivers ready for me to add printer/scanner/camera drivers etc along with all the other usual programs. When you buy one of the ready built ones such as compaq, HP, Fujitsu and so on they come with a restore disk, or used to.As you know this could make things difficult if ever you needed to format the hard drive or if you changed parts round. Apart from that the restore disk which usually gave access to hidden partition was/is ideal for those who know little of computers simply because if anything did go wrong all one had to do was insert the disk which would allow you to format and reinstall everything back to the exact same state as the day bought with the user only needing to tap his/her name in along with day/date/time/region. Very easy to do.With the emachine desktop I bought my lad yesterday and a new HP laptop I was installing security applications on last week, both came with the option of making the restore disk as above or, burn a separate copy of XP and other drivers on the machine so that you have the choice in the future of either route. I chose both options for the laptop and the desktop unit last night.I would normally advise building oneself or by reputable local shop as in my machine which is built to a very high specification with 4.2 dual core CPU and 3 x 300 SATA2 hard drives, 2 x Nvidia SLI 16 express 6600GT video cards and and 2 Gb of dual channel memory. For my lad who has a high end laptop and only wanted a decent desktop uinit for general work and surfing then it would have been impossible to have had a local built or bought machine at the same spec at such a low price. I was very surprised at its specification and quality and it will last him for quite a few years for the use he intends, and of course it was available to bring home from the store there and then. I bought it from Staples who have some excellent machines on offer at the moment with a back up service to match. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Surely then this is an indication that people should NOT buy from companies that will not supply a full installation disk. When my local shop built my computer, I made it clear that I wanted a disk. If sales dropped, then the big companies would soon change their tune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 I knew there was a good reason for me to build my own :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohn Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Sorry andsome, I don't understand your point. I make it quite clear they now give you the option to make your own in a few easy steps. They give you the best of both worlds. I know they didn't use to but now they do, or at least with the two machines I worked on.If Microsoft do not drop their advertised price of $400 dollars for 'Vista' due out in January then many people will be pleased if it comes preinstalled on a machine costing £500 in total. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Sorry andsome, I don't understand your point. I make it quite clear they now give you the option to make your own in a few easy steps. They give you the best of both worlds. I know they didn't use to but now they do, or at least with the two machines I worked on.If Microsoft do not drop their advertised price of $400 dollars for 'Vista' due out in January then many people will be pleased if it comes preinstalled on a machine costing £500 in total.How many people would know where to begin to make their own, or even that it was expected of them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastbay80 Posted September 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 I got acronis today and it was easy to install.... very fast..i just created a 8gb partition and created restore with bootup option. so far it looks good. still haven't had time to learn how to create back up dvd-r method yet. the reason why i wanted to create recovery disk is because ms office has a limited number of installations to activate and register online, so i am hoping that this will avoid the online registration thing...thanks again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 I always back up to a separate hard drive - more reliable than a DVDR and much, much more reliable than a DVDRW - in fact, I would strongly advise against using a rewritable DVD (or CD) for anything important.On some machines I have a secondary hard drive installed in the computer, on others a USB external drive. Either way, I use the Acronis Secure Zone for the backup.Make sure you prepare an Acronis boot disk and keep it safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 I have a separate external plug in hard drive. They don't cost a fortune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyWhirly Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 I have a separate external plug in hard drive. They don't cost a fortune.I also use one to store my Drive Image 7 'images' and it is used exclusively for backups and nothing else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 I have a separate external plug in hard drive. They don't cost a fortune.I also use one to store my Drive Image 7 'images' and it is used exclusively for backups and nothing else.Mine too is exclusively for back ups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 So are mine. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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