system recovery?

[kas187]

Hi people,

I think its time to clean install windows XP on my machine but i have a few questions to the method of doing a successful install.

I have a sony VAIO machine and from the support site http://www.vaio-link.com/ i see 2 different ways to do a full system restore.

If you go to the above site, enter as guest, click tutorials then click How to use your Vaio and it's software, you will see a list of how to's.

The first method is, How To Restore The Original System Configuration (Desktops) II and the second is How can I perform a full recovery.

Which one should i follow? Do they both do the same thing?

[pyrate83]

Ok, what I've found is(i have an HP with the same deal), the "how to restore the original system configuration" is where all of your files are kept but all of the original software, drivers, etc. is reinstalled. The full recovery would be your best bet. I have used the full recovery more than a few times when I screwed something up. Just put all of your files you want to save onto a DVD+/-RW and it will make everything straight and simple.

Clear as mudd???

[kas187]

Cool, another question would a full recovery also install the drivers and software or would i have to do that later myself.

[pyrate83]

If your sony is like my HP, there is a hidden partition on your hdd that will include everything including drivers. You should be fine and it should install the original drivers. One thing I WOULD recommend is that you make a backup copy of the security patch that prevents the msblast worm from getting on your computer. The second you connect to the internet after the reformat, your comp. is very vulnerable and probably will get the blast worm if you don't apply the patch first.

It's just a suggestion and a precaution.

[kas187]

thanks for all your help,

when i do a system recovery i plan to install that very patch first then install my firewall, then upgrade my antivirus definitions then to do windows update, that should keep me busy a day or two.

thanks again

kas

[kas187]

hey pyrate83

I know there is an option on miscrsofts website somewhere to save any recommended updates on to the hard drive and then I can burn them on CD-r but i cant find it nowhere, can you help?

kas

[kas187]

hey pyrate83

I know there is an option on miscrsofts website somewhere to save any recommended updates on to the hard drive and then I can burn them on CD-r but i cant find it nowhere, can you help?

kas

Its ok i found the site http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/catalog/en/default.asp

[pyrate83]

No problem Kas, glad I could help! :P

[handyguy]

Also, what about your OS license? Under support center you can search for license & learn how to back it up first.

Look at the manual that came with your computer it should have instructions on how to restore, as does the support center.

[Grant_H]

One thing I have found very helpfull is "norton ghost" after you do a fresh windows install, and install all the programs, drivers, patches, etc. that you use. Norton Ghost can make a backup of your HDD. so the next time your comp. goes all waky on you, is all you need to do is pop in the disk(s) you created with norton ghost, and in a few min everthing is right back to were it was when you created the disk(s). It's just something to think about in the future.

[kas187]

whats happening people,

just an update, i managed to do a full recovery and all is well, thanks to all that helped.

@ Grant_H

i've heard that some people have had issues with using norton ghost, nonetheless i will think about it, what are your thoughts?

what are the differences between the Windows builtin restore point and Norton Ghost?

kas

[testicool]

Is it possible to make a recovery disc with all the drivers on the disc with the OS so when you reformat everything will be installed... for example you don't need to reinstall video driver, sound, etc.

[Craig Tucker]

Sure, use Norton Ghost.

[Solarjetman]

what are the differences between the Windows builtin restore point and Norton Ghost?

The built-in restore only tracks certian files for changes. When you restore, it only replaces critical files. Ghost on the other hand backs up everything. If you use Ghost, your computer is 100% identical to the point at which you backed it up.

In that instance, Ghost is a better system restore program. However, the built in windows restore has advantages too. With Ghost, you need to boot into DOS and run it. Windows Restore can do it within windows (sometimes). Also, because windows restore does not back up everything, the disk space to store the backup is drastically reduced (a few hundred megs) while ghost files take a large amount of space (several gigs). The final advantage is since Ghost runs in DOS, you must save your files to a FAT32 partition. This means your backup files are going to have to be split at the 2GB mark. Windows restore can save to an NTFS partition.

[kas187]

@solarjetman

thanks for the clarification, much obliged.

kas