system restore discs

If you try to restore a preinstalled OS using a CD from another preinstall brand, it will not work.

This is because the restore disk contains only the specific drivers that the OEM used to built the PC.

A retail version of the OS contains drivers for most all devices and chipsets. But of course this is going to cost you a lot of $ unless you use Linux.

So, for example, you have lost the XP recovery disk, but now want to try Doze 7. Pay M$.

The recovery CD is free since you already have a license. Just pay for the media, shipping, handling, etc. I recently got hit with a fee of $20 USD to replace the lost recovery CD on a Sony Laptop. I had 4 other recovery CD's and none of these worked.

Hi

Thanks for reply.So my current knowledge is correct. Mfg./Model sys. specific

restore disc. Good

Now I am running ubuntu linux on laptop.So could I make my own disc from driver

& O/S downloads.Would I not require system specific addressing info for mem &

devices?

Or does O/S kernal do all that?

This is interesting me.

Thanks again.

My understanding of limiting the restore disc to a particular manufacturer is a function of th licensing agreement between Microsoft and the manufacturer, and the restore disc itself contains the lock that prevents it from being used on another machine.

One has no problem loading Linux or BSD on virtually any manufacturer's equipment, as long as the equipment meets certain physical constraints (for example, one generally can not load a distro built for 64-bit operating systems on a 32-bit system).

I have also discovered that one can purchase a manufacturer-specific version of Windows XP (Hewlett Packard, in this case), and do a complete fresh install on a generic machine- this is not the same thing as restoring. Also, it is most likely that the appropriate drivers for your ancillary devices will not be included in the "generic" Windows disc- a problem that Linux appears to have overcome quite well...

Can't I burn a image disc of what ever operating system to use for recovery?

Yes, you can. In fact, during the XP days, a lot of manufacturers included a disc image on the hard drive for exactly this purpose, although they generally did not include clear instructions in just what this file was for. The disc image generally has a .iso extension, and is a pretty large file. I don't know if this practice has been continued into newer systems. A major problem with this approach is that, once the system is corrupted, the disc image is inaccessible, unless you knew to burn a disc in advance. Ubuntu has instructions in some of their on-line documentation in how to build a disc image from an installed system, something I have never tried- it is easier to just download a new image for Linux systems. I don't know if the Windows system permits this- I suspect Microsoft would be a bit concerned about customers bootlegging the operating system if they made it too easy...

I knew if I lobbed it, you would hit it out of the park

Image discs are just another kind of back up...

You know that procedure that you don't remember until it's too late

An image can also contain all your favorite applications too...

When I have problems restoring I will pull the hard drive and use another computer to restore it then reintall the hard drive. the only problem is between some manufacturers but that can be over come too.

Hi

Original poster here.

By image disc i assume you mean a global sys. state capture or restore point

correct? What does .iso stand for "image sys. operating" or some such thing.

I am going look for that help file mentioned to prep. for worst case crash.

Although i am new linux user and am very impressed with it's stability and smooth

fast performance.Will never go back to ms. now.

Thanks to all responders!!!