Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Recovery disc help, Please!

by Jan 29, 2013 2:51AM PST

I need some common sense help here that I have been unable to get on my google search. 25 different answers, all of them different.

I have a Dell XPS laptop running Win 7 that has a hard drive on it's way out. It does not have a recovery partition installed.

My question, if I burn the recovery DVDs using the Win 7 function in the Backup/Restore area, can I replace the drive and use them to reinstall windows? Or, do I need the Win7 DVD that doesn't come with the compluters anymore?

What is the recovery discs used for?

Discussion is locked

4 Posts
- Collapse + Expand Details
- Collapse -
Answer
You should be able to use recovery discs but check w/Dell
by Jan 29, 2013 2:58AM PST

Usually the recovery discs contain everything you need, but it's possible they might need something from the recovery partition, so check with Dell. I'd definitely burn the discs, but I'd also get myself an external hard drive and good backup program and do a full system backup. You can buy 1 TB external HDs for around $70 and there's an excellent free backup program Easeus Todo Backup Free, which you can download from http://www.todo-backup.com/products/home/free-backup-software.htm .

Good luck.

- Collapse -
Answer
I've Used The System Repair/System Image Disks...And...
by Forum moderator Jan 29, 2013 9:55AM PST

...they worked just fine.. I also make sure to save the System Image to DVD's NOT an external hard drive. Some have had issues with re-imaging the new hard drive when a USB external hard drive was used so I use DVD+R's. Generally, as long as you make sure that ALL items on the operating system drive are included when creating the System Image Disk, it will reinstall everything back to it's original state. If I remember correctly, it will ONLY recover the primary Windows drive, not secondary drives.

Remember, it's best to create BOTH a System Repair and a System Image disk.. After installing the new hard drive, put the System Repair in first, choose the correct recovery option (System Image Recovery is usually the correct option), then insert the System Image disk and follow the prompts to install Windows and all other programs and files which were included when the System Image was created....

Hope this helps.

Grif

- Collapse -
Answer
What?
by Feb 2, 2013 12:10PM PST

Backup/Restore doesn't create a Recovery Disk. Before your hard drive fails I would create a system image. If you can't you will need a copy of Windows 7. I bought a copy from a computer repair shop for $30. Of course you will need a valid key. Should be on bottom of your laptop.

Dell might give you a replacement copy or Recovery Disk. Check website. Doesn't hurt to try.

- Collapse -
Answer
Try live CD
by Feb 5, 2013 9:47PM PST

Try live CD last version

Back to Windows 7 forum

CNET Forums

Operating Systems
Software
Electronics & Gadgets
Hardware
Tablets & Mobile Devices
General Help
Brand Forums
Roadshow Autos
Off Topic

Other Forums

Forum Info