creating a restore disk

I am planning to buy a Lenovo® IdeaPad® Z570 (1024-3VU) Laptop Computer
with Windows 7 home premium 64 bit for my wife. The sales person at the
store offered to make a OS system disk for me. I told him I could do
that myself. He said "fine, but you get only one chance to do it".

I do not think that is true. I think there is a utility in Windows 7
that lets you create an OS (or restore) disk on to a DVD and lets you do
it more than once. Am I wrong?

How exactly does one create an OS backup disk?

Jeff

On Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:05:23 -0400, ""
<> wrote:

> I am planning to buy a Lenovo® IdeaPad® Z570 (1024-3VU) Laptop Computer
> with Windows 7 home premium 64 bit for my wife. The sales person at the
> store offered to make a OS system disk for me. I told him I could do
> that myself. He said "fine, but you get only one chance to do it".
>
> I do not think that is true. I think there is a utility in Windows 7
> that lets you create an OS (or restore) disk on to a DVD and lets you do
> it more than once. Am I wrong?
>
> How exactly does one create an OS backup disk?


There is no utility within Windows to do that. But Lenovo should
provide a way of doing it (almost all OEM computers come with such a
way). You should find instructions for doing it in the documentation
that comes with the computer.

<> wrote in message news:j5ioq5$mb5$...
>I am planning to buy a Lenovo® IdeaPad® Z570 (1024-3VU) Laptop Computer with Windows 7 home premium 64 bit for my wife.
>The sales person at the store offered to make a OS system disk for me. I told him I could do that myself. He said
>"fine, but you get only one chance to do it".
>
> I do not think that is true. I think there is a utility in Windows 7 that lets you create an OS (or restore) disk on
> to a DVD and lets you do it more than once. Am I wrong?
>
> How exactly does one create an OS backup disk?
>
> Jeff

What he offered (if I'm not mistaken) is the System Recovery DVD that will bring your computer back to day one in case
of a catastrophic laptop problem, HDD crash, etc. Whether or not you have one shot is up to Lenovo, and in the interest
of curbing piracy, he may be right. I know on my Gateway I had a limited time to do it (I think it was within 60 or 90
days of purchase), and if I waited until after that period, I'd have to pay Gateway for a set.

You can create a system repair disc from within Windows as often as you like to boot from and initiate boot repairs,
etc. Go to Start and type System Repair Disc in the search box and select "Create a system repair disc."
--
SC Tom

<> wrote in message news:j5ioq5$mb5$...
> I am planning to buy a Lenovo® IdeaPad® Z570 (1024-3VU) Laptop Computer
> with Windows 7 home premium 64 bit for my wife. The sales person at the
> store offered to make a OS system disk for me. I told him I could do that
> myself. He said "fine, but you get only one chance to do it".
>
> I do not think that is true. I think there is a utility in Windows 7 that
> lets you create an OS (or restore) disk on to a DVD and lets you do it
> more than once. Am I wrong?
>
> How exactly does one create an OS backup disk?
>
> Jeff

You might be thinking of the System Repair Disk. It's basically a boot
CD/DVD for disaster recovery.

On 9/23/11 4:43 PM, SC Tom wrote:
>
> <> wrote in message news:j5ioq5$mb5$...
>> I am planning to buy a Lenovo® IdeaPad® Z570 (1024-3VU) Laptop
>> Computer with Windows 7 home premium 64 bit for my wife. The sales
>> person at the store offered to make a OS system disk for me. I told
>> him I could do that myself. He said "fine, but you get only one chance
>> to do it".
>>
>> I do not think that is true. I think there is a utility in Windows 7
>> that lets you create an OS (or restore) disk on to a DVD and lets you
>> do it more than once. Am I wrong?
>>
>> How exactly does one create an OS backup disk?
>>
>> Jeff
>
> What he offered (if I'm not mistaken) is the System Recovery DVD that
> will bring your computer back to day one in case of a catastrophic
> laptop problem, HDD crash, etc. Whether or not you have one shot is up
> to Lenovo, and in the interest of curbing piracy, he may be right. I
> know on my Gateway I had a limited time to do it (I think it was within
> 60 or 90 days of purchase), and if I waited until after that period, I'd
> have to pay Gateway for a set.
>
> You can create a system repair disc from within Windows as often as you
> like to boot from and initiate boot repairs, etc. Go to Start and type
> System Repair Disc in the search box and select "Create a system repair
> disc."
Thank you both.

I own image backup software (Acronis True Image 2011, Macrium Reflect,
etc.) Don't they serve a similar purpose? Maybe better? If I create 1 or
2 full image backups to start with, do I really need the Lenovo "System
Recovery DVD"?

On Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:53:05 -0400, ""
<> wrote:

>On 9/23/11 4:43 PM, SC Tom wrote:
>>
>> <> wrote in message news:j5ioq5$mb5$...
>>> I am planning to buy a Lenovo® IdeaPad® Z570 (1024-3VU) Laptop
>>> Computer with Windows 7 home premium 64 bit for my wife. The sales
>>> person at the store offered to make a OS system disk for me. I told
>>> him I could do that myself. He said "fine, but you get only one chance
>>> to do it".
>>>
>>> I do not think that is true. I think there is a utility in Windows 7
>>> that lets you create an OS (or restore) disk on to a DVD and lets you
>>> do it more than once. Am I wrong?
>>>
>>> How exactly does one create an OS backup disk?
>>>
>>> Jeff
>>
>> What he offered (if I'm not mistaken) is the System Recovery DVD that
>> will bring your computer back to day one in case of a catastrophic
>> laptop problem, HDD crash, etc. Whether or not you have one shot is up
>> to Lenovo, and in the interest of curbing piracy, he may be right. I
>> know on my Gateway I had a limited time to do it (I think it was within
>> 60 or 90 days of purchase), and if I waited until after that period, I'd
>> have to pay Gateway for a set.
>>
>> You can create a system repair disc from within Windows as often as you
>> like to boot from and initiate boot repairs, etc. Go to Start and type
>> System Repair Disc in the search box and select "Create a system repair
>> disc."
>Thank you both.
>
>I own image backup software (Acronis True Image 2011, Macrium Reflect,
>etc.) Don't they serve a similar purpose? Maybe better? If I create 1 or
>2 full image backups to start with, do I really need the Lenovo "System
>Recovery DVD"?
>

As long as you make that first back up before doing a lot of changes
then it should serve the same purpose. And don't erase it later. Just
make newer backups as you go and cycle them.

On 9/23/11 5:09 PM, Ashton Crusher wrote:
> On Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:53:05 -0400, ""
> <> wrote:
>
>> On 9/23/11 4:43 PM, SC Tom wrote:
>>>
>>> <> wrote in message news:j5ioq5$mb5$...
>>>> I am planning to buy a Lenovo® IdeaPad® Z570 (1024-3VU) Laptop
>>>> Computer with Windows 7 home premium 64 bit for my wife. The sales
>>>> person at the store offered to make a OS system disk for me. I told
>>>> him I could do that myself. He said "fine, but you get only one chance
>>>> to do it".
>>>>
>>>> I do not think that is true. I think there is a utility in Windows 7
>>>> that lets you create an OS (or restore) disk on to a DVD and lets you
>>>> do it more than once. Am I wrong?
>>>>
>>>> How exactly does one create an OS backup disk?
>>>>
>>>> Jeff
>>>
>>> What he offered (if I'm not mistaken) is the System Recovery DVD that
>>> will bring your computer back to day one in case of a catastrophic
>>> laptop problem, HDD crash, etc. Whether or not you have one shot is up
>>> to Lenovo, and in the interest of curbing piracy, he may be right. I
>>> know on my Gateway I had a limited time to do it (I think it was within
>>> 60 or 90 days of purchase), and if I waited until after that period, I'd
>>> have to pay Gateway for a set.
>>>
>>> You can create a system repair disc from within Windows as often as you
>>> like to boot from and initiate boot repairs, etc. Go to Start and type
>>> System Repair Disc in the search box and select "Create a system repair
>>> disc."
>> Thank you both.
>>
>> I own image backup software (Acronis True Image 2011, Macrium Reflect,
>> etc.) Don't they serve a similar purpose? Maybe better? If I create 1 or
>> 2 full image backups to start with, do I really need the Lenovo "System
>> Recovery DVD"?
>>
>
> As long as you make that first back up before doing a lot of changes
> then it should serve the same purpose. And don't erase it later. Just
> make newer backups as you go and cycle them.
That's what I thought. I could label it something obvious like "initial
new laptop backup".
Thanks.

On 23/09/2011 21:05, d wrote:
> I am planning to buy a Lenovo® IdeaPad® Z570 (1024-3VU) Laptop Computer
> with Windows 7 home premium 64 bit for my wife. The sales person at the
> store offered to make a OS system disk for me. I told him I could do
> that myself. He said "fine, but you get only one chance to do it".
>
> I do not think that is true. I think there is a utility in Windows 7
> that lets you create an OS (or restore) disk on to a DVD and lets you do
> it more than once. Am I wrong?
>
> How exactly does one create an OS backup disk?
>
> Jeff

HP desktops used to come with the OS and OEM software on a special
partition on the hard drive. There was also a SmartRestore program that
would restore the thing to ex-factory prime condition.
That program had the option of putting the partition onto disk, after
which it would erase the partition and incorporate the space in the main
C partition.
They also had a tattooing requirement for system hard drives.

Ed

On 9/23/11 5:47 PM, Ed Cryer wrote:
> On 23/09/2011 21:05, d wrote:
>> I am planning to buy a Lenovo® IdeaPad® Z570 (1024-3VU) Laptop Computer
>> with Windows 7 home premium 64 bit for my wife. The sales person at the
>> store offered to make a OS system disk for me. I told him I could do
>> that myself. He said "fine, but you get only one chance to do it".
>>
>> I do not think that is true. I think there is a utility in Windows 7
>> that lets you create an OS (or restore) disk on to a DVD and lets you do
>> it more than once. Am I wrong?
>>
>> How exactly does one create an OS backup disk?
>>
>> Jeff
>
> HP desktops used to come with the OS and OEM software on a special
> partition on the hard drive. There was also a SmartRestore program that
> would restore the thing to ex-factory prime condition.
> That program had the option of putting the partition onto disk, after
> which it would erase the partition and incorporate the space in the main
> C partition.
> They also had a tattooing requirement for system hard drives.
>
> Ed
>
What is a "tattooing" requirement?

Vendors must (I believe) provide a means for the end user to create a set of
media disks for restoring the pc in case of future failure. MS demands this
of them. Most of them choose to provide a small utility that allows the end
user to create these restore/reinstall disks. However they also put in place
some protection to prevent someone from making multiple copies, e.g. just
one copy can usually be made. I'm sure there are ways around this but it's
likely vender specific.

That said, brand new laptop got for daughters refused to create the disk.
Called tech support and they sent me out (2 copies actually) of the
restore/reinstall dvds without charge.

<> wrote in message news:j5ioq5$mb5$...
>I am planning to buy a Lenovo® IdeaPad® Z570 (1024-3VU) Laptop Computer
>with Windows 7 home premium 64 bit for my wife. The sales person at the
>store offered to make a OS system disk for me. I told him I could do that
>myself. He said "fine, but you get only one chance to do it".
>
> I do not think that is true. I think there is a utility in Windows 7 that
> lets you create an OS (or restore) disk on to a DVD and lets you do it
> more than once. Am I wrong?
>
> How exactly does one create an OS backup disk?
>
> Jeff