Creating your own 'Recovery partition' ?

Crazy_Eddy

Crazy_Eddy

Moderator
Level K
Branded systems have Recovery partitions that can revert it back to its original factory install. I believe there are techniques to do this on non-branded systems too.

Some of the techniques I've seen, just say you can image a drive and get it to a partition but they still require you to create a bootable disk to actually start the recovery process.

Is there an extremely simple way where you just select an option when you boot up and it does everything automatically; instead of having to insert disc, browse through to select image file, etc ?

Anyone with any experience/recommendations on doing this?
 
I will be interested in this, as restoring from drive is difficult due to changes in partition size sometimes.
 
Acronis True Image will do this. It has an option to create a 'Secure Zone' and then modify your MBR to allow you restore your drive by adding a "Press F11 to Enter recovery mode" option in it.

Secure Zone is a hidden partition where your recovery image is placed but this drive cannot be seen/accessed by ordinary applications. To add it doesn't get harmed by viruses and other malwares.

Here is a nutshell guide on how to make Secure Zone:-

1. Download and install Acronis True Image.

2. Run the program.

3. Click Create and Configure Backup Locations > Manage Acronis Secure Zone > Select Drive > Specify drive size > You are presented with an option to password protect it(ah! great) > Activate Acronis Startup Recovery Manager(modify your MBR) > Proceed > Reboot.

4. Voila! You can see your "Press F11 to Enter recovery mode". Use it to start your recovery process whenever required.

Have used it in past and works great. :)
 
Thanks CA50 and Xtechmaniac.

@CA50 your suggestion requires to have a recovery disk ready or we have to restore from a booted system, while the second suggestion seems promising.
 
I'm practicing good old Ghost & it has been serving me well since more than a decade now.

No automated recovery though but i keep a spare meare 10gb for ghost images+ghost app and another unpartitioned space 30gb spare for extracting/imaging the ghost OS image to the blank partition.

It takes exactly 2.32secs for me to complete the ghosting of my Win7 on a blank space & 1.20sec for Winxp image.;)

P.S: both the OS are fully loaded with all swares like office, antivirus, audio/video players, all system drivers, idm, mozilla etc,.as per my needs.

So its like just ghost it and you are ready to work as if nothing changed from on your old dead OS.:)
 
Well I was thinking of the same . But making image and restoring it using a software is what I will not like . cant we have the same thing ? Well I haven't tried Acronis True Image.
 
Acronis True Image is the "set it, forget it" type. Easy to use interface. It also asks if you would like to make a bootable disk.

Suggest that you do both - leave the Acronis on non-stop back-up mode and also make the recovery disk.

Recovery disks can also be made using other software like Nero.

But be careful while choosing the options for non-stop back-up, any software you finalize would have default folders (My Dox etc) selected. If you keep your dox elsewhere (like I do!), then ensure that you choose those folders only that you need backing up. These back-ups take a lot of space and tweaking the settings should do the trick!
 
The simplest implantation i found is used by MSI
It is a simple executable that utilizes ImageX and writes a install.wim placed on the recovery partition type 0x27 back to your C:\ drive labeled 'OS_Install' (for some reason it needs this label, tested on vBox)

Using the guide here in combination with this MSI utility you should be able to create your own recovery partition fairly easily.
Making A Recovery Partition With Windows 7 Plus Recovery Disc(Advice)
 
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