[parttimetechie]

Does Windows XP have the "create recovery disk" option that Vista and 7 do?

[Lance1]

XP does not in itself have that option. Manufactures such as HP integrate that option into there systems.

[parttimetechie]

Thats unfortunate, I have come ot like that feature in 7.

[DoubleHelix]

What is the exact description of the feature you're seeing in Windows 7? Are you confusing the new full backup features of Windows 7 with manufacturer's recovery disks?

[parttimetechie]

Im not sure. I know in Win 7 I go to start, programs, maintenence, backup and recovery and then make a set of disks.

Those are "recovery disks" in my mind

[DoubleHelix]

Yes, they're a type of recovery disk, but they're not the manufacturer's recovery disks that return a computer to the state it was in when purchased. You're making a backup of the computer as it is today.

Previous versions of Windows simply didn't include that feature.

[parttimetechie]

But if you make recovery disks at the time of first boot, then you should essentially have a restore disk to factory settings

[Byteman]

I often see the same mixups here at TechGuy and other forums.....

DoubleHelix has it right.....

The HP XP and Vista Reciovery CD-DVD Creator program that ships on HP or Compaq computers from 2003 and later is not the same as the Vista and Windows 7 Backup feature..... It only creates the files needed to restore Windows and the various preloaded software that shipped with the system. This media creation program is only dependent on the HP Recovery Partition- what shape this recovery partition is in determines the success or failure of the disk set being able to work or not. At the end of running the recovery disk set program, and after each disk is burned, the program verifies the data on the disk and tells you if the burn was good. This utility can only be used once to create one full set of disks....whether you choose to create CDs or make the 2 DVDs if your system has a DVD burner..... one set of disks per system. (When you run a Full Recovery the utility does work again- )

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...cname=bph08097

*PLease note, that there are 3 ways to do a system Recovery on these type of HP computers! (And there are 2 types....a Full wipeout and factory restore, or a Non-Destructive type where you get to keep your files and installed programs).

1. Right from in Windows, without disks.....just run the HP Recovery. (When the computer will boot, and there aren't hardware issues)

2. From a keypress at bootup- F10 or F12 on later machines. (Runs right from the recovery partition without disks needed)

3. From the first Recovery disk you made. (Disks only allow you to wipe everything out and factory restore= Full Recovery)

But> you do not have to make this disk set immediately, and you should not consider not making them, if you were one who waited some time then found out about doing the disk set creation.

I have quite a bit of experience with making and using these Recovery disk sets, for the older HPs/Compaq and the newest. The feature you are mistaking, in Windows 7 and in Vista, is the built-in Backup, which CAN create a restorable copy of the main drive, or selective backups of your choice....and it works when you wish it to and is part of Windows, not a tool from the manufacturer of the system.

That should not be mixed up with the Recovery disk Creator utility that ships with HP and Compaq computers.

I've used the Reocvery disk creator a year after the system was in use with no issues--- it just depends on what the users have done to the Recovery Partition...hopefully, they've let it alone..... and this is why you are concluding that it is critical to make the set of disks as soon as possible....it is the best way but changes you make to installed programs, etc are not reflected in the created Recovery disks. It just copies an image from the extra small partition.

*** There are online specialty stores where you MAY be able to purchase an inexpensive set of these HP/Compaq Recovery sets.

[parttimetechie]

I don't believe im mistaking anything. I knew Win 7 and Vista had a restore feature that was independent from Compaq/HP computers

[Byteman]

I think the naming of the feature has a lot to do with why it gets mixed up.....and the way it is described in Windows 7 Backup and Restore Center is similar to making Recovery disks (what you wrote in about).

Originally Posted by parttimetechie

But if you make recovery disks at the time of first boot, then you should essentially have a restore disk to factory settings

It looked to me that you meant "Creating Recovery disks" in both posts.....and not a Complete Backup.

My post was meant to help UNconfuse anyone reading this thread.

[parttimetechie]

So the "recovery disks" made in Windows 7 are closer to Macrium Image or Norton Ghost disks?

[Byteman]

Well yes...they are made to reflect the current situation of your system.

You have to create new backups or images when you make changes, as you go along.

It's more like Windows System Restore in that respect, but with a lot more power.

Backup is not only to make a system image...there are flexible things you can select to back up, or you can even allow Windows to pick what it should back up....of course you would select the checkbox to create a system image if you wanted a total backup of the total drive to Restore in case of a failure.....

HP/Compaq has used 6 different methods since 1999 for people to do a system recovery (aka factory restore and/or partial recovery which you keep files and programs)

HP's Backup and Recovery Manager is the name of the newest one that they provide on their computers....though it may be on an HP computer, that is not part of standard Vista or Win7.....

Windows Vista or 7 have the Backup and Restore Center

Windows 7's feature is a lot better than Vista's....and, there are differeences in the various types of Vista and Win 7 as to what features
trhe Backup and Restore Center has or can do.