I am confused about the Dell Backup & Recovery application. So many questions, and no where do I find answers it seems:

1. What benefit(s) is(are) there (if any) over using Windows 8.1 own Backup and Recovery functions?

2. I made a System Repair Disk using Dell B&R, which I assume included the factory install Dell image. That image is what the system came with, hence doesn't include any settings or apps I might add. So recovering that image is only good if I wish to wipe out several days of effort setting up my system. What if I want to image my system once I am done installing all my applications and settings?

Will the Dell B&R (Basic) allow me to (which I could do in vanilla Windows):

a. image my entire hard drive and save that to an external USB Drive

b. restore my system using that image rather than the factory default ?

3. What if the Disk Drive I am recovering to isn't the same size as the original? Are all the "hidden" partitions on my main drive backed up in the drive image, or will it only contain the physical "C:" drive? Can I restore to a different drive and/or drive size (e.g. SSD)?

4. When creating the System Repair Disk, was the hidden Dell partition on my main hard drive freed and reallocated (which I could do in vanilla Windows)?

5. I read that in Windows 7, Dell B&R disabled Windows "Create System Repair Disk" and "System Restore from an Image". Is that also true for Windows 8.1? If so, will all functions be restored by removing Dell B&R, which apparently wasn't the case in Win7 ?

6. When recovering the system using Dell B&R, is the recovery main screen a custom Dell screen or the Standard Windows 8.1 recovery options screen?

7. How do I turn off the annoying Icon Overlays (little blue clock), which makes reading the screen more difficult, and consumes CPU cycles, hence slowing down the rendering of large folders.

8. I also read in another forums that in order to recover a system image, Dell is demanding to pay for an "upgrade" to the Dell B&R application i.e. you can not restore system image with the Dell Bf&R Basic app, and nor can you do it in Windows if it has been disabled by Dell, effectively holding the user hostage: pay or lose ! Is there any truth to this statement? I don't want to find that out the day I have to restore my system.

Tx to anyone who might shed some light on the misteries of the Dell B&R, any feedack will be much appreciated.

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