I want to create a recovery partition on my windows Vista laptop. Prett
much i want to be pompted when the pc boots to hit f10 and have a coun
down of 10 seconds . I know this would be done through boot.ini howeve
i have no idea how to do so. Also id make a seperate partition on my h
of ten gigs just for the backup image. if someone could help me.... I
appreciate it. Thank

Hi,

The kind of recovery you are referring to is generally done by manufacturers
by placing an image on the disk to begin with. What you would need to do is
look at imaging software that will create a "picture" of the system as it is
at a given moment in time and allow you to store this on a separate volume
where you can later restore from. It wouldn't be done via boot.ini, but
rather through some mechanism of the recovery software that you choose.
There are many available, here is one example:
http://www.terabyteinc.com/image-for-windows.htm

To add to Rick's response - the message to hit a "F" key to restore is
created by a MBR (Master Boot Record) modification. Consider a backup
imaging program, such as Acronis, which will not only create a restore
partition but also can be scheduled to keep he restore image current.

Programs (OEMs) that create recovery partitions modify the MBR (Master
boot record) to provide the function restore option - backing up the
recovery partition to another drive does not change the MBR modification -
in fact deleting the recovery partition does not remove the modification,
which is why OEMs provide a utility to do so if users desire to recover the
partition space by moving the recovery image to removable media.

A backup utility, such as Acronis will create a recovery partition, modify
the MBR and keep the image current - in addition you can create images on
external media - a must if your recovery partition is located on the
system/boot drive since loss of the drive also means loss of the recovery
partition.

Dear AL Thanks. Since the dell inspiron 1525 with the recovery partitio
D created by the dell company, with restoring command of hitting F8,
managed to to have an exact copy of recovery drive on external har
drive. will you help me to understand how to restore my system from th
recovery partition availiable in external hard drive insted of recover
partition D (internal hard drive

nisar6788 <guest> wrote:

>
>Dear AL Thanks. Since the dell inspiron 1525 with the recovery partition
>D created by the dell company, with restoring command of hitting F8, I
>managed to to have an exact copy of recovery drive on external hard
>drive. will you help me to understand how to restore my system from the
>recovery partition availiable in external hard drive insted of recovery
>partition D (internal hard drive)

I am sure that is not possible.

Hi nisar6788

One thing you need to know is the letter name of your Vista Recovery
Partition (NOT Dell Recovery Partition). In my case it was "E".

The procedure is as follows

(1) Boot to WinRE using the Dell Vista DVD, i.e. <F12> etc.
(2) After Windows loads, select language/keyboard options and click on
next.
(3) On Install Windows menu select "Repair your computer".
(4) on System Recovery Options menu select "Next".
(5) On System Recovery Options menu click on "Command Prompt".
(6) Type "path e:\windows;e:\windows\system32" and press <ENTER> key.
(7) Type "e:" and press <ENTER> key.
(8) Type "cd tools" and press <ENTER> key.
(9) Type "PCRestore" and press <ENTER> key and Dell Factory Image
Restore window will appear.
(10) Click on "Next" and Confirm Data Deletion dialog will appear.
(11) Place a "check mark" beside "Yes, reformat hard drive and restore
system software to factory condition" for the final confirmation and
click on "Next" when ready. Note: The restoration process takes
approximately 10 to 15 minutes, the format bar will run back and forth.
(12) Click "Finish" to reboot system!