[Buffalopride]

I bought an Acer 5315-2153 a couple of years ago when Walmart had them on sale. It came with Windows Vista preloaded. Also, once already I have been able to reinstall Vista from the partition that it is saved on on my hard drive. The hard drive is 80GB, but under My Computer shows it as two drives, C: and D:, both about equal sizes. I am guessing Acer has partitioned this 80GB drive into two sections?

I am exploring the possibility of switching to Ubuntu Linux. However, I am concerned that if I wipe the hard drive, install Linux, and then decide I don't like it I won't be able to go back to Vista. I was wondering if there is a way to burn the Vista installation files or whatever it is onto a cd so that if I had to go back to it I can install it off of a disc. Also, if my hard drive ever crashes and I have to buy a new one then I won't also have to buy Vista again. A fellow coworker said it is possible but requires 4 discs. Can someone help me with this? Thanks so much.

[leroys1000]

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...0121212AAZyMGa

Windows backup and restore in control panel if
you don't have this application.

[Noyb]

I use an External Hard Drive and Acronis

Some Freeware Imaging suggestions.

[Buffalopride]

Originally Posted by leroys1000

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...0121212AAZyMGa

Windows backup and restore in control panel if
you don't have this application.

The link above sounds like what I am looking for. Is the Empowering Technology (green e button on my laptop) way of doing the same as the Control Panel way? Seems to me like doing it the Control Panel way is backing up all of the files on my computer...pictures, videos, etc.

Also, if I do it the empowering Technology way, can I install Windows off of that disc if I decide I don't like Linux. Is a Recovery CD the same as a Windows Vista cd you would by from the store? Or...is it safe to install Linux on the "D:" part of my drive since it looks to me like Windows is on the "C:" part. Obviously I would still want to get a Windows disc.

[Elvandil]

It would be best to make an image of your entire hard drive, both the system partition and the recovery one.

Macrium Reflect
PING (Partimage Is Not Ghost) (Free alternative to Ghost with more features)
Paragon Drive Backup Express
Drive Image XML
G4U - Ghost For Unix (Platform-independent, floppy or CD)
DiscWizard (For Seagate or Maxtor drives - contains reduced version of Acronis)

[leroys1000]

The empowring technology creates a diskset that will restore
the computer to the original factory settings.
It will not save any programs,settings or data.
It's just a windows reinstall.
Backup and restore will create a backup image of the entire drive.
It usually needs a windows boot disk.
Don't know if it work work with the restore disks.

[aka Brett]

i have found the easiest way to play is buy another hd
put it in and experiment
I buy an external
take it out of the case put it in the pc then take the old hd and put it in the case.
after installing the new os on the new hd i then plug in the ext which now has the old hd and copy the files i want from it.

if you want to just play with ubuntu the go then you can install wubi
it will install ubuntu within your c and you can remove it later.
some of the acers and ubuntu dont go good together and you can get the driver to get online...so again it is best to use wubi to install ubuntu with c and not have to change your windows install..if after a couple weeks you are happy with ubuntu then go for the dedicated install

http://wubi-installer.org/

[Elvandil]

I agree with all you said except that you could then go to a "dedicated install". WUBI actually is a "dedicated install" and looks and runs exactly as it would if it had its own partition (which it actually does, though it is on a virtual drive). Since there is really no difference in the way it runs in WUBI and how it would behave if the drive were partitioned, you can stay with WUBI forever, unless you need to make it independent of Windows so they can be separately manipulated or reinstalled.

[aka Brett]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

I agree with all you said except that you could then go to a "dedicated install". WUBI actually is a "dedicated install" and looks and runs exactly as it would if it had its own partition (which it actually does, though it is on a virtual drive). Since there is really no difference in the way it runs in WUBI and how it would behave if the drive were partitioned, you can stay with WUBI forever, unless you need to make it independent of Windows so they can be separately manipulated or reinstalled.

when you install ubuntu to its own partition you then gain the abilty to have hibernate which is a bonus for me.
also with a dedicated install to its own partition it does run a little better as it ends up on the outer edge of the hd which is a little faster.
the main thing though is if you have to redo windows then you lose your ubuntu if using wubi.
Ubuntu is nice..but unless you are a die hard linux person you will still have to have windows from time to time.nothing worse than losing two installs because have to redo windows over a trojan or simular.

[Buffalopride]

Cool thanks for the help guys. I think I will take a some of each advice. Seems to me my best option is the Wubi way since I won't lose Windows. Then, when i get some extra money I can buy a separate hard drive and install just Ubuntu on it, although if Wubi is the same exact thing I can't see how that would be practical. I'll be back if I have any other problems. Thanks again all of you.

[aka Brett]

Originally Posted by Buffalopride

Cool thanks for the help guys. I think I will take a some of each advice. Seems to me my best option is the Wubi way since I won't lose Windows. Then, when i get some extra money I can buy a separate hard drive and install just Ubuntu on it, although if Wubi is the same exact thing I can't see how that would be practical. I'll be back if I have any other problems. Thanks again all of you.

wubi is they best way to try out ubuntu and gives you a chance to see if all your hardware will work as well.
if you dont reformat your windows very often..then the wubi install should fit you nicely

[Elvandil]

WUBI works fine in Windows, but as brett888 and I have both pointed out, you may want to make Ubuntu independent of your Windows installation at some point. Though if you make an entire disk image, both will be backed up.

Macrium Reflect
PING (Partimage Is Not Ghost) (Free alternative to Ghost with more features)
Paragon Drive Backup Express
Drive Image XML
G4U - Ghost For Unix (Platform-independent, floppy or CD)
DiscWizard (For Seagate or Maxtor drives - contains reduced version of Acronis)