System Recovery and Recovery Media

[cm711]

My A665-S6095 laptop hard drive is failing after less than one year use. I've backed up everything to external drive except Windows7 OS which was preinstalled on my computer, how do I back it up?

[Jerry_Lippey]

Satellite A665-S6095

You should back up the entire disk. That means every single byte, including all the data files, Windows, the master boot record - everything. It all goes into a single file, called an image. You'll restore it to the new hard drive.

   Back up your programs, system settings, and files

   Restore your computer from a system image backup

[cm711]

Thanks Jerry. I have a large external hard drive, will have my computer friend help copy everything per your instructions. Next need to decide what hard drive to buy, don't want to go through this again so want something reliable. Any suggestions?

Chris

[Jerry_Lippey]

If you were restoring the hard disk to its original out-of-the-box contents using Toshiba recovery media, Chris, I would suggest you stay away from the new drives with advanced-format technology. See my message from a year ago.

But I would be really surprised if Microsoft's Windows 7 restore has such a problem.

If you want to play it safe, the Scorpio Black WD5000BEKT and the Scorpio Blue WD5000BEVT (as examples) do not use AFT.

[cm711]

How do I tell if the drive uses AFT? Best Buy has a Seagate Momentus 500GB internal Serial ATA hard drive for laptops model ST905003N3A1AS-RK for $84.99 but I have no idea if it's comparable to my original drive or how reliable it is.

Chris

[Jerry_Lippey]

Looks okay to me.

   At Newegg.com

[cm711]

I did a system image copy to 7 DVDs but just read instructions in manual from Toshiba Creating recovery DVDs/media which says "When you create recovery DVDs/media, only the operating system files, applications & drivers originally shipped with the comuter are backed to the external media & can be restored from this media. Any files you created are not backed up on the recovery DVDs. You will need to separately back up the files you created". Note also says "You cannot store your system's applications on the same drive or discs set where the rest of th system recovery files are stored". The Microsoft link you sent me to Back Up Your Programs, Systems & Files says "You can create a system image, which contains a copy of Windows & copies of your programs, system settings & files. The system image is then stored in a separte location from the original programs, settings & files. You can use this image to restore the contents of your computer if your entire computer stops working". So do I need back up Office 2010 & other software, Documents, Outlook etc separately from the 27 DVD's I already made? This is very confusing.

Txs

Chris

[Jerry_Lippey]

Not sure what is the part that confuses you, Chris. These are totally separate ideas.

1. Toshiba (an application program actually) provides for you create discs that will restore a hard disk to the out-of-the-box contents of the original drive. They are created from a hidden partition which contains that image. The Toshiba User's Guide describes all this.

2. Microsoft (Windows 7) provides for you to create an image of the current state of a drive. I would never consider putting this image on discs. It should be on your external drive. The Windows repair disc enables you to restore it to a new drive. There are, BTW, many third-party applications that do this a bit better.

One has nothing to do with the other.

Consequently, anything you've installed since the computer arrived (e.g., Office) is not in #1 and is in #2.

I rely on #2, but many here prefer to restore the original stuff and start from scratch.

[peterpangloss]

I installed Windows 8 today. During the installation process I got a message that I had to uninstall the Recovery Media Creator. I did so, and the installation proceeded. Now I would like to reinstall the Recovery Media Creator. Is this possible? Is there a new Windows 8 version in the works, or would the previous version work?