creating a restore disk

[Jeff]

I am planning to buy a Lenovo® IdeaPad® Z570 (1024-3VU) Laptop Computer
with Windows 7 home premium 64 bit for my wife. The sales person at the
store offered to make a OS system disk for me. I told him I could do
that myself. He said "fine, but you get only one chance to do it".

I do not think that is true. I think there is a utility in Windows 7
that lets you create an OS (or restore) disk on to a DVD and lets you do
it more than once. Am I wrong?

How exactly does one create an OS backup disk?

Jeff

 

[Ken Blake]

I am planning to buy a Lenovo® IdeaPad® Z570 (1024-3VU) Laptop Computer
with Windows 7 home premium 64 bit for my wife. The sales person at the
store offered to make a OS system disk for me. I told him I could do
that myself. He said "fine, but you get only one chance to do it".

I do not think that is true. I think there is a utility in Windows 7
that lets you create an OS (or restore) disk on to a DVD and lets you do
it more than once. Am I wrong?

How exactly does one create an OS backup disk?

There is no utility within Windows to do that. But Lenovo should
provide a way of doing it (almost all OEM computers come with such a
way). You should find instructions for doing it in the documentation
that comes with the computer.

 

[SC Tom]

I am planning to buy a Lenovo® IdeaPad® Z570 (1024-3VU) Laptop Computer with Windows 7 home premium 64 bit for my wife.
The sales person at the store offered to make a OS system disk for me. I told him I could do that myself. He said
"fine, but you get only one chance to do it".

I do not think that is true. I think there is a utility in Windows 7 that lets you create an OS (or restore) disk on
to a DVD and lets you do it more than once. Am I wrong?

How exactly does one create an OS backup disk?

Jeff

What he offered (if I'm not mistaken) is the System Recovery DVD that will bring your computer back to day one in case
of a catastrophic laptop problem, HDD crash, etc. Whether or not you have one shot is up to Lenovo, and in the interest
of curbing piracy, he may be right. I know on my Gateway I had a limited time to do it (I think it was within 60 or 90
days of purchase), and if I waited until after that period, I'd have to pay Gateway for a set.

You can create a system repair disc from within Windows as often as you like to boot from and initiate boot repairs,
etc. Go to Start and type System Repair Disc in the search box and select "Create a system repair disc."

 

[KCB]

I am planning to buy a Lenovo® IdeaPad® Z570 (1024-3VU) Laptop Computer
with Windows 7 home premium 64 bit for my wife. The sales person at the
store offered to make a OS system disk for me. I told him I could do that
myself. He said "fine, but you get only one chance to do it".

I do not think that is true. I think there is a utility in Windows 7 that
lets you create an OS (or restore) disk on to a DVD and lets you do it
more than once. Am I wrong?

How exactly does one create an OS backup disk?

Jeff

You might be thinking of the System Repair Disk. It's basically a boot
CD/DVD for disaster recovery.

 

[Jeff]

What he offered (if I'm not mistaken) is the System Recovery DVD that
will bring your computer back to day one in case of a catastrophic
laptop problem, HDD crash, etc. Whether or not you have one shot is up
to Lenovo, and in the interest of curbing piracy, he may be right. I
know on my Gateway I had a limited time to do it (I think it was within
60 or 90 days of purchase), and if I waited until after that period, I'd
have to pay Gateway for a set.

You can create a system repair disc from within Windows as often as you
like to boot from and initiate boot repairs, etc. Go to Start and type
System Repair Disc in the search box and select "Create a system repair
disc."

Thank you both.

I own image backup software (Acronis True Image 2011, Macrium Reflect,
etc.) Don't they serve a similar purpose? Maybe better? If I create 1 or
2 full image backups to start with, do I really need the Lenovo "System
Recovery DVD"?

 

[Ashton Crusher]

Thank you both.

I own image backup software (Acronis True Image 2011, Macrium Reflect,
etc.) Don't they serve a similar purpose? Maybe better? If I create 1 or
2 full image backups to start with, do I really need the Lenovo "System
Recovery DVD"?

As long as you make that first back up before doing a lot of changes
then it should serve the same purpose. And don't erase it later. Just
make newer backups as you go and cycle them.

 

[Jeff]

As long as you make that first back up before doing a lot of changes
then it should serve the same purpose. And don't erase it later. Just
make newer backups as you go and cycle them.

That's what I thought. I could label it something obvious like "initial
new laptop backup".
Thanks.

 

[Ed Cryer]

I am planning to buy a Lenovo® IdeaPad® Z570 (1024-3VU) Laptop Computer
with Windows 7 home premium 64 bit for my wife. The sales person at the
store offered to make a OS system disk for me. I told him I could do
that myself. He said "fine, but you get only one chance to do it".

I do not think that is true. I think there is a utility in Windows 7
that lets you create an OS (or restore) disk on to a DVD and lets you do
it more than once. Am I wrong?

How exactly does one create an OS backup disk?

Jeff

HP desktops used to come with the OS and OEM software on a special
partition on the hard drive. There was also a SmartRestore program that
would restore the thing to ex-factory prime condition.
That program had the option of putting the partition onto disk, after
which it would erase the partition and incorporate the space in the main
C partition.
They also had a tattooing requirement for system hard drives.

Ed

 

[Jeff]

HP desktops used to come with the OS and OEM software on a special
partition on the hard drive. There was also a SmartRestore program that
would restore the thing to ex-factory prime condition.
That program had the option of putting the partition onto disk, after
which it would erase the partition and incorporate the space in the main
C partition.
They also had a tattooing requirement for system hard drives.

Ed

What is a "tattooing" requirement?

 

[pjp]

Vendors must (I believe) provide a means for the end user to create a set of
media disks for restoring the pc in case of future failure. MS demands this
of them. Most of them choose to provide a small utility that allows the end
user to create these restore/reinstall disks. However they also put in place
some protection to prevent someone from making multiple copies, e.g. just
one copy can usually be made. I'm sure there are ways around this but it's
likely vender specific.

That said, brand new laptop got for daughters refused to create the disk.
Called tech support and they sent me out (2 copies actually) of the
restore/reinstall dvds without charge.

 

[Bob I]

See here.

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/research/hints-or-tips/detail.page?DocID=HT004960

 

[Steve Hayes]

I own image backup software (Acronis True Image 2011, Macrium Reflect,
etc.) Don't they serve a similar purpose? Maybe better? If I create 1 or
2 full image backups to start with, do I really need the Lenovo "System
Recovery DVD"?

I would say no.


Acronis restores both your system and data, whereas the system recovery
software only puts the operating system on.

When my power supply died recently I bought a new computer without an OS, and
with two hard disks.

I used an Acronis recovery CD to boot it, and did an Acronis restore of all
the partitions, only on the new computer the parititions were much bigger (in
the case of the C: drive 500 Gb instead of 30).

I then booted from the hard disk and all my programs and data were intact,
without needing to reinstall. I installed some hardware drivers on a disc that
came with the computer, and backed up again using Acronis.

So I'd say yes, if you are using Acronis, don't bother about the other, which
would require you to re-install all software other than the OS, and copy all
data back from backups, etc.

 

[Jeff]

See here.

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/research/hints-or-tips/detail.page?DocID=HT004960

Thank you.

Will create the system restore DVD plus the image backup. (Belt and
suspenders).

 

[SC Tom]

Thank you.

Will create the system restore DVD plus the image backup. (Belt and suspenders).

Good idea! Can't be too careful

I see on that link that it says "Your Microsoft(R) Windows(R) license permits you to create only one data medium . . . "
It's kind of vague, though. Does that mean that once you create one medium, the laptop will no longer allow you to
create any more (as your sales guy said), or does it mean you are on your honor not to create more because of the MS
licensing agreement? (More of a rhetorical question for curiousity's sake than one that needs an answer.) The sales
person seems to imply that if you blow it, or the DVD doesn't work, too bad, that's your only shot at it.

 

[Ed Cryer]

What is a "tattooing" requirement?

"When HP builds or rebuilds a computer, they "tattoo" the motherboard
with these BOM numbers. If the install disks do not discover these BOM
tattoos on the motherboard, they will not install. This is to prevent
piracy."
http://www.geek.com/forums/topic/changing-motherboard-and-hard-drive-in-hp-computer

 

[Paul]

Good idea! Can't be too careful

I see on that link that it says "Your Microsoft(R) Windows(R) license
permits you to create only one data medium . . . " It's kind of vague,
though. Does that mean that once you create one medium, the laptop will
no longer allow you to create any more (as your sales guy said), or does
it mean you are on your honor not to create more because of the MS
licensing agreement? (More of a rhetorical question for curiousity's
sake than one that needs an answer.) The sales person seems to imply
that if you blow it, or the DVD doesn't work, too bad, that's your only
shot at it.

That's usually enforced by the utility making the media for you.

On my laptop, I think it ran a verify after the burn, for each disc.
But I've heard that in the past, the utility making the media,
may burn them blindly, without checking them afterwards. If
your DVD burner isn't tuned up and "known-working", then without
a verify step, you're taking a chance. As long as you make the attempt
soon after buying the product, you can always return the whole
lot to the vendor. (So if the burn is bad, and the utility refuses
to allow you a second try, just return the whole box to the vendor.)

Paul

 

[SC Tom]

That's usually enforced by the utility making the media for you.

On my laptop, I think it ran a verify after the burn, for each disc.
But I've heard that in the past, the utility making the media,
may burn them blindly, without checking them afterwards. If
your DVD burner isn't tuned up and "known-working", then without
a verify step, you're taking a chance. As long as you make the attempt
soon after buying the product, you can always return the whole
lot to the vendor. (So if the burn is bad, and the utility refuses
to allow you a second try, just return the whole box to the vendor.)

Paul

Seems kinda drastic, though, doesn't it? I think in a case of not having the original recovery media, I'd make sure my
images worked. I create them on a regular basis, and as was suggested earlier on, one image should be maintained from
when the laptop was new.

My Gateway came with the recovery partition and the ability to create the recovery DVD, but unfortunately, it mostly
pointed to the partition on the HDD. I say "unfortunately" because the HDD crashed shortly after I bought it. I
contacted Gateway, but with their company being in buy-out hell at the time, I ended up buying my own HDD since they
lost my old one, and refused to send me a new one without charging me for it ($300 vs. the $120 I paid at the Big Box
store). Put the drive in, booted to my ATI CD, and restored the last image I made, which happened to be about a week
old. In less than an hour after getting home with the new drive, I was up and running again with little loss. I'm a firm
believer in images

 

[Ed Cryer]

Seems kinda drastic, though, doesn't it? I think in a case of not having
the original recovery media, I'd make sure my images worked. I create
them on a regular basis, and as was suggested earlier on, one image
should be maintained from when the laptop was new.

My Gateway came with the recovery partition and the ability to create
the recovery DVD, but unfortunately, it mostly pointed to the partition
on the HDD. I say "unfortunately" because the HDD crashed shortly after
I bought it. I contacted Gateway, but with their company being in
buy-out hell at the time, I ended up buying my own HDD since they lost
my old one, and refused to send me a new one without charging me for it
($300 vs. the $120 I paid at the Big Box store). Put the drive in,
booted to my ATI CD, and restored the last image I made, which happened
to be about a week old. In less than an hour after getting home with the
new drive, I was up and running again with little loss. I'm a firm
believer in images

My latest Acer machine with Win7 has all the usual recovery procedures,
including the back-to-ex-factory option from hidden partition on HD; no
facility, though, to put that partition out to disk.
So I've left it like that.

I use Paragon Backup & Recovery to get an archive of the whole HD every
month or so onto an external HD. That includes all partitions, with the
restore one.

That way you don't need to keep an original image; just a couple of
latest archives.

Ed

 

[Char Jackson]

"When HP builds or rebuilds a computer, they "tattoo" the motherboard
with these BOM numbers. If the install disks do not discover these BOM
tattoos on the motherboard, they will not install. This is to prevent
piracy."
http://www.geek.com/forums/topic/changing-motherboard-and-hard-drive-in-hp-computer

Since you mentioned piracy, the first time I heard about this was when
I saw that the pirates had developed a solution to get around it. I
wondered how many minutes it took for them to do it.

 

[Char Jackson]

Vendors must (I believe) provide a means for the end user to create a set of
media disks for restoring the pc in case of future failure. MS demands this
of them. Most of them choose to provide a small utility that allows the end
user to create these restore/reinstall disks. However they also put in place
some protection to prevent someone from making multiple copies, e.g. just
one copy can usually be made. I'm sure there are ways around this but it's
likely vender specific.

That said, brand new laptop got for daughters refused to create the disk.
Called tech support and they sent me out (2 copies actually) of the
restore/reinstall dvds without charge.

I'm not quite sure why you'd want them in the first place, since using
them will likely restore the laptop to the state it was in when you
first got it. Wouldn't it be much better to make your own backups that
reflect the way you use the laptop?