The recovery partition on the hard drive is a convenient way for Dell to provide this to the customer but not the way I would suggest for an end user. What I would do is as follows:
1. Install Windows, updates and drivers only.
2. Use either the Windows backup and recovery utility or Dell Datasafe to create a hard drive image on a blank DVD. There are also third-party programs such as Acronis True Image that you can use to do this.
3. Store that disc in a safe place. If you ever need to restore the hard drive, it's a 15-20 minute exercise to install the OS, then all you need to do is add the programs and your files.
4. For daily backup, you can use Dell Datasafe or Windows Backup for your important files. Acronis is also a great program for this purpose. You can backup to a blank DVD but I find an external hard drive the most convenient way to do this.
If a hard drive image is better than using Recovery Discs, why does Dell (and other computer brands) recommend Recovery Discs? I'm not challenging your answer, i'm just really curious about what the difference is. I guess you would have to be able to boot your computer into some kind of os that loads cd - dvd drivers in order to reinstall using the cd image?
The image on the hard drive is convenient but I personally would rather have a bootable disc with my drive's image.
There are two times when you need a backup image, when your OS is corrupted and when your hard drive fails. In either case, having the image on a bootable DVD solves the problem.
Hello Osprey4. Thanks for getting back to me. I was away all weekend so this is the first opportunity I have gotten to reply to you. I do some questions still.
First, what is the difference between a Windows Backup or Dell Datasafe and the OS DVD that came with the Laptop in the first place? Second, when the system needs to look for the installation source for OS files, drivers or anything like that, will she need to pop the DVD in each time? Also, on item 2 above, would a Windows Backup DVD be boot-able? I've never used Windows Backup or Dell Datasafe (is this a free tool?) before.
To me the beauty of this recovery partition is that when you need to do a Factory restore or say you want to have the Office 2007 Media available at all times, everything you need can be made available right there on the Recovery Partition. Plus the original system recovery disk set is always left in pristine condition. If I wanted to create this partition and perform the installation from that partition, would that be possible?
I ask this because back in the Win98 era and up until XP, I used to always boot with the CD into a command line and copy the installation files (i386 folder and setup.exe) to the second partition and then I would run setup and perform the installation from that partition. I would also do this with the Office CD too. Is this a bad idea? If not, can you still set this up using a Dell OS Recovery DVD?
Sorry if this sounds a little picky. I have always seemed to like doing things a certain way. But....I just haven't attempted to do this on a Dell or for anyone using Vista or Windows 7 for that matter.
Good morning from Scotland, it just so happens that my sons Inspiron 1525 160GB hdd at 18 months old has decided to crash. Although the OS partition is duff I've managed using Acronis to copy the recovery partition which appears to be ok to a replacement hdd (different capacity SATA hdd)
Only finished this last night, without me re-inventing the wheel what is the best way using the recovery partiton on the new hdd to re-install the Vista OS ??
My son as normal has lost the backup disks created by me....
Dell DataSafe is the utility provided by Dell. It's a bit more convenient to some people than Windows Backup. The OS disc would only be needed to perform a manual reinstallation of the operating system.
All of the files, drivers or anything else requiired of the OS is already on the hard drive, the OS disc is not needed for that.
Yes, it is possible to create the recovery partition on the hard drive but there are no inherent advantages over having a recovery partition on a DVD-R disc. And you can certainly create a recovery partition that includes the installation of Office 2007. But if any Office filoes are needed, then you still need to insert the disc, the recovery partition would not be accessible to Office Update.
I've installed a new hard drive and Vista. I have the Dell Data Safe 2.0 recovery discs but can't use them with Dell data safe 2.0 on new drive. I get an error that the recovery partition is corrupt or missing. With the new drive I don't have a recovery partition. I installed the Dell support software but can't use the discs to restore as it indicates that I have not made discs for the new hard drive. I did make a partition named "RECOVERY (D:)
How can I use the recovery discs with the new hard drive?
I used to always boot with the CD into a command line and copy the installation files (i386 folder and setup.exe) to the second partition and then I would run setup and perform the installation from that partition.
You said you have the Dell DataSafe recovery discs. Were these the discs you created using Dell DataSafe when you first got your system? If so, you should be able to boot to the first DataSafe recovery disc and follow the instructions to restore the original image to the new hard drive.
osprey4
4 Operator
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34.2K Posts
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May 7th, 2010 12:00
Hi Delcarto,
The recovery partition on the hard drive is a convenient way for Dell to provide this to the customer but not the way I would suggest for an end user. What I would do is as follows:
1. Install Windows, updates and drivers only.
2. Use either the Windows backup and recovery utility or Dell Datasafe to create a hard drive image on a blank DVD. There are also third-party programs such as Acronis True Image that you can use to do this.
3. Store that disc in a safe place. If you ever need to restore the hard drive, it's a 15-20 minute exercise to install the OS, then all you need to do is add the programs and your files.
4. For daily backup, you can use Dell Datasafe or Windows Backup for your important files. Acronis is also a great program for this purpose. You can backup to a blank DVD but I find an external hard drive the most convenient way to do this.
linda092
18 Posts
0
May 7th, 2010 17:00
If a hard drive image is better than using Recovery Discs, why does Dell (and other computer brands) recommend Recovery Discs? I'm not challenging your answer, i'm just really curious about what the difference is. I guess you would have to be able to boot your computer into some kind of os that loads cd - dvd drivers in order to reinstall using the cd image?
osprey4
4 Operator
•
34.2K Posts
0
May 7th, 2010 17:00
The image on the hard drive is convenient but I personally would rather have a bootable disc with my drive's image.
There are two times when you need a backup image, when your OS is corrupted and when your hard drive fails. In either case, having the image on a bootable DVD solves the problem.
delcarto
9 Posts
0
May 10th, 2010 12:00
Hello Osprey4. Thanks for getting back to me. I was away all weekend so this is the first opportunity I have gotten to reply to you. I do some questions still.
First, what is the difference between a Windows Backup or Dell Datasafe and the OS DVD that came with the Laptop in the first place? Second, when the system needs to look for the installation source for OS files, drivers or anything like that, will she need to pop the DVD in each time? Also, on item 2 above, would a Windows Backup DVD be boot-able? I've never used Windows Backup or Dell Datasafe (is this a free tool?) before.
To me the beauty of this recovery partition is that when you need to do a Factory restore or say you want to have the Office 2007 Media available at all times, everything you need can be made available right there on the Recovery Partition. Plus the original system recovery disk set is always left in pristine condition. If I wanted to create this partition and perform the installation from that partition, would that be possible?
I ask this because back in the Win98 era and up until XP, I used to always boot with the CD into a command line and copy the installation files (i386 folder and setup.exe) to the second partition and then I would run setup and perform the installation from that partition. I would also do this with the Office CD too. Is this a bad idea? If not, can you still set this up using a Dell OS Recovery DVD?
Sorry if this sounds a little picky. I have always seemed to like doing things a certain way. But....I just haven't attempted to do this on a Dell or for anyone using Vista or Windows 7 for that matter.
Thanks for being available and helping me out.
arob1305
1 Message
0
May 11th, 2010 01:00
Good morning from Scotland, it just so happens that my sons Inspiron 1525 160GB hdd at 18 months old has decided to crash. Although the OS partition is duff I've managed using Acronis to copy the recovery partition which appears to be ok to a replacement hdd (different capacity SATA hdd)
Only finished this last night, without me re-inventing the wheel what is the best way using the recovery partiton on the new hdd to re-install the Vista OS ??
My son as normal has lost the backup disks created by me....
This could help out Delcarto also
osprey4
4 Operator
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34.2K Posts
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May 12th, 2010 18:00
Dell DataSafe is the utility provided by Dell. It's a bit more convenient to some people than Windows Backup. The OS disc would only be needed to perform a manual reinstallation of the operating system.
All of the files, drivers or anything else requiired of the OS is already on the hard drive, the OS disc is not needed for that.
Yes, it is possible to create the recovery partition on the hard drive but there are no inherent advantages over having a recovery partition on a DVD-R disc. And you can certainly create a recovery partition that includes the installation of Office 2007. But if any Office filoes are needed, then you still need to insert the disc, the recovery partition would not be accessible to Office Update.
new student
1 Message
0
December 19th, 2011 12:00
Osprey,
I've installed a new hard drive and Vista. I have the Dell Data Safe 2.0 recovery discs but can't use them with Dell data safe 2.0 on new drive. I get an error that the recovery partition is corrupt or missing. With the new drive I don't have a recovery partition. I installed the Dell support software but can't use the discs to restore as it indicates that I have not made discs for the new hard drive. I did make a partition named "RECOVERY (D:)
How can I use the recovery discs with the new hard drive?
idoitss
14 Posts
0
December 19th, 2011 17:00
I used to always boot with the CD into a command line and copy the installation files (i386 folder and setup.exe) to the second partition and then I would run setup and perform the installation from that partition.
osprey4
4 Operator
•
34.2K Posts
0
December 20th, 2011 03:00
Hi New Student,
You said you have the Dell DataSafe recovery discs. Were these the discs you created using Dell DataSafe when you first got your system? If so, you should be able to boot to the first DataSafe recovery disc and follow the instructions to restore the original image to the new hard drive.