[samba99]

I recently bought a computer with vista already installed, now the time has come to reinstall but I have no idea how to backup just the OS, preferably to a DVD. I'd rather do a clean reinstall than just repair. Is this possible to make a vista CD/DVD, and if not what other alternatives do I have?

[Noyb]

Welcome to the TSG forum.

What Brand of computer ??? ... Did you get (or make) your recovery DVDs ??
Many Computers have recovery partitions and you have to burn your own recovery DVDs.

More about alternatives later.

[samba99]

I've got a Maxdata computer, and I'm hoping to get the recovery partition onto a DVD as right now I have no way of getting my PC back to its 'Factory like' state.

[Noyb]

You do NOT put the recovery partition on a DVD ... it's not that easy.
Look under Programs ....
Somewhere there's a routine to make your own recovery DVDs ....
There should also be a routine to recover the computer back to the original state ...

[samba99]

Under programs I have found a backup and restore centre, but all I can do here is backup files and folders, restore them, or revert my PC to a previous point in time which only goes to around 2 weeks ago, I'd rather do a fresh install than reverting to a time not so long ago.

So will I have to download extra software to do this?

[Noyb]

The backup and restore centre is a Vista program .. I think.
You're looking for something else.
There's nothing in your computer manuals about this ??

[samba99]

Yeah it is a Vista program, I'll have a look for the manuals... If there are any...

[samba99]

Nope no manuals, don't think it came with any. What other alternatives do I have? Is there any software that can enable me to get the Vista files and back them up onto a DVD or something?

[Rich-M]

Contact seller or manufacturer this should all be explained to you when you bought it.

[Noyb]

YES ... But first you should contact the manufacturer, and see what it takes to get the recovery DVDs ... or burn our own.

The best way to backup your computer is with .. Acronis True Image ... And an external Hard drive.

This will backup your computer the way it is ... but not put it back to the way it came from the factory.

Edit .. Opps .. Didn't mean to trip over you Rich

[Noyb]

Is this the manufacturer of your computer ???
http://www.maxdata.co.uk/extras/contact/index.jsp

[samba99]

Yes it is, I suppose this is the only option I have, thanks for all the help.

[Noyb]

Any chance you can attach a screenshot of your Disc Managment screen ??
or do you see a recovery Partition listed ...
Something like this (which doesn't have a recovery partition) ...

[samba99]

Not sure how to get to that on Vista, I'd post a picture if I knew how.

[Noyb]

Right click on "Computer" ... Choose > Manage > Disc Managment ...
Then press Alt + PrtScr.

Now open an Image Editor and do a PASTE.
Here's a good Free Image Viewer and Editor (for Vista) ... http://www.irfanview.com/

Irfanview is a very good default replacement for Picture Gallery.