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#46
Broni

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You can't.
I suggest, you start using backup program:

Acronis True Image: http://www.acronis.com/ - not free, but the best

Free alternatives:
- Macrium Reflect: http://www.macrium.com/ReflectFree.asp (highly recommended)
- DriveImage XML: http://www.runtime.o...veimage-xml.htm
- SelfImage: http://www.excelcia....N...icle&sid=21
- Paragon Drive Backup: http://www.paragon-s...ome/db-express/
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#47
hospitaldoctor

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why cant i?

what if i do this:
http://www.sevenforu...create-new.html

followed by:
http://www.sevenforu...age-backup.html
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#48
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You could do that, but it kills the idea of properly creating an image.
You need an image, mostly in case, when something horrible happens to your computer, being unbootable, dead hard drive, etc.
How are you going to use that partition, if your hard drive dies?
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#49
hospitaldoctor

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i dont understand, could you please elaborate?
what is a proper way of creating an image?
so why was there a D drive on my harddrive before? what was the point of it?
i just want to do what i had before... when i had a C drive and D drive... would doing that be the same thing? whats the difference?
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#50
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You want to keep an image separately from your computer. The best way is an external hard drive.
Then, no matter what happens to your computer, the image is always safe.

D partition was installed by your computer manufacturer and it's used to restore the computer to its original state
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#51
hospitaldoctor

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By following the steps i listed above, can i create a D partition similar to the one 'installed by my computer manufacturer and it's used to restore the computer to its original state'?
i am confused, so why was there a D drive on my harddrive before.... what was the point of it?
i just want to do what i had before (when i had a C drive and D drive)... would carrying out the steps that i presented above be the same thing?
whats the difference?
thanks
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#52
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No, you can't create recovery partition similar to what you had before. It can be created only by computer manufacturer.
Please, re-read my previous replies, because I'm not able to explain better, than i did already.
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#53
hospitaldoctor

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thanks
so what would be the difference between what the manufacturer did and what i would be doing by following the steps i mentioned above?
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#54
hospitaldoctor

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so what would be the difference between what the manufacturer did and what i would be doing by following the steps i mentioned above?
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#55
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The difference is, that the recovery process, using manufacturer created recovery partition, will start automatically, once the partition is accessed.
Using your method, you still need to employ program, which created backup.
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#56
hospitaldoctor

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The difference is, that the recovery process, using manufacturer created recovery partition, will start automatically, once the partition is accessed.
Using your method, you still need to employ program, which created backup.


emply program? what do you mean?
i dont understand the difference, sorry
so lets say I need to reformat my harddrive or I have a virus and i need to reinstall my operating system. what do i need to do?
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#57
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OK. O don't know how to explain it better, so I'll say one more time; last time...
To reinstall Vista, you need:
1. Vista DVD, or
2. Recovery DVDs, or
3. Recovery partition, or
4. Use created hard drive image.
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#58
hospitaldoctor

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Thanks
can i create either 3 or 4?
can i create a recovery partition OR create a hard drive image?
how? what do i do?
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#59
hospitaldoctor

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can i create either 3 or 4?
can i create a recovery partition OR create a hard drive image?
how? what do i do?
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#60
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If you formatted your entire hard drive, thus removing the recovery partition (post #35, option 2) then you have lost the ability to restore your system to vista. If you did not create the recovery cd's before starting the upgrade /install of windows 7, then you have no options except to call Dell and request the media.

If you look through all of the documentation that came with your computer, it should include the steps for recovering your computer, or at least creating the recovery media.

Since you seem to want more detailed, step by step info on how to do a clean install, please take a look here:
http://howtocleaninstall.com/
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