Creating OS install disc's from harddrive

[Connor]

After someone gets everything on their harddrive just the way they want to keep it, including programs and eliminating everything not wanted and such, how can you copy that harddrive to CD's or DVD's as a complete re-install disc to put back into your HD should your original HD become corrupted? Seems like this would save a lot of redoing everything when things go south.

Connor

[Sasha]

You can use a backup/disk cloning software like Norton Ghost or Acronis...

[Leon]

ACRONIS!
It is also PC Editors Choice.
Here is link for free trial:
http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/download/ATICW/

Please add location and other pertinent information to your profile. Not required, but appreciated.

[krosenstein]

Acronis

[selvan777]

Acronis TrueImage is best IMO:

All kinds of hard drive image backup software: from online system disk backup program to disk cloning with operation system and bare-metal restore solution
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/pr ... trueimage/

[storage_man]

I aggree with everybody, Acronis is the way to go. Ghost 9 just can't keep up

Storage_man

[Connor]

Leon:

Updated my profile

Thanks for the replys. In case it might be of importance as to what I'm using this info for I'm using a ThinkPad R40 2681 CU3. What I'd really like to do is replace the hidden partition with my own setup. I don't know if this is possible but if anyone has any ideals please let me know

[selvan777]

It makes no difference what computer you're using and I would delete the hidden partition before creating the backup using Acronis.

[Connor]

Can someone give me a fairly detailed description of how to go about getting the results I'm looking for? This is what I have in mind:

1. Use Partition Magic to enlarge IBM's hidden partition section so that it will be large enought to hold my new customized OS and additional software programs in place of IBM's.

2. Create a second partition to hold my primary working OS and additional software programs.

2. Install XP Home on the second partition of the HD using my IBM recovery CD's, customize it and include my other software.

3. Defrag the just installed customized OS plus programs to clean everything up.

4. Delete all information on the IBM restore hidden partition.

5. Copy the new customized OS partition to the hidden partition so that I can then use it instead of IBM's to rewrite the normally used custom OS partition should it become corrupted.

6. Do this in a way that I can still use my ThinkPad's "Access IBM" button to get me into the recovery partition.

I bought my thinkpad used and the seller erased the HD to protect himself from possible unsavory things downloaded on the laptop from the previeous owner. I'm not sure how they did it but I could never use IBM's recover partition to reinstall my OS. IBM sent me the recovery disc's and now the hidden partition is there, I just can't use it to reinstall. I always have to use my recovery disc's.

I'm sure there are some pitfalls in doing this so that's why I need everyones help before starting this project. If it works then I won't be stuck with using IBM's choice of starting from scratch when my HD needs a reinstall of my OS. I'm sure this will take some time but I intend to keep records of what and how I do everything so that I can post it here in case someone else would like to do the same thing. With permission I would like to credit those in the final post who have helped make this task a success.

Thanks for listening:

Connor

[selvan777]

This is what I think you should do:

Format your HDD, install XP using IBM's CD or a retail version, install all Windows and IBM's updates, delete the hidden partition, customize and clean things up to your hearts content, and finally create a back-up to removable media or an external HDD using Acronis TrueImage.