More restore CD questions- Oh noooo!!!

OK I have a few more questions concerning the restore CD's included in my
Dell Inspiron 530S package. There is 2 CD's that someone needs to clarify
for me. One is marked " Device Drivers Already Installed On Your Computer"
and the other is marked " Operating System Reinstallation DVD Already
Installed On Your Computer".
OK so I also understand there is also a way one can press F1 or F12 or
something during start-up to get to a restore area. If ( heaven forbid ) I
have to ever reinstall the system like factory fresh, which way is advisable
and which CD or DVD is the correct one to use? Why would I need a CD for
device drivers? Seems like if I screwed the PC up so bad the drivers were
lost it would need a total restore anyhow. Sorry for the ignorance but I
just want to be " in the know" ! Thanks in advance a lot! TJ

PS I read this forum a lot and there is some very intelligent people in
here! I learn a lot just lurking!

The CD's allow you to "rebrick" the system if the HD has failed and been
replaced.
Some PC's also include the ability to do a backup of the current running
system.


"Whitey" <> wrote in message
news:...
> OK I have a few more questions concerning the restore CD's included in my
> Dell Inspiron 530S package. There is 2 CD's that someone needs to clarify
> for me. One is marked " Device Drivers Already Installed On Your Computer"
> and the other is marked " Operating System Reinstallation DVD Already
> Installed On Your Computer".
> OK so I also understand there is also a way one can press F1 or F12 or
> something during start-up to get to a restore area. If ( heaven forbid ) I
> have to ever reinstall the system like factory fresh, which way is
> advisable and which CD or DVD is the correct one to use? Why would I need
> a CD for device drivers? Seems like if I screwed the PC up so bad the
> drivers were lost it would need a total restore anyhow. Sorry for the
> ignorance but I just want to be " in the know" ! Thanks in advance a lot!
> TJ
>
> PS I read this forum a lot and there is some very intelligent people in
> here! I learn a lot just lurking!
>
>

The F1 or F2 method activates a "recovery partition" that resides on your
Hard drive.
When activated it will reset the system back to a "just purchased" state.
It is advisable to back up your work to external media like CD or DVD or
even better an external HD in a case designed for
that purpose and usually connects via USB port. It is also a good idea to
image your internal HD to an external one.
In this way if something goes wrong you can restore the image and be up and
running in a very short time without
the loss of your particular settings or work. Acronis True Image is the
preferred choice for a lot of people here..but there are other
programs that do the same thing. A quick google on "imaging a HD" will turn
up a vast amount of info

The CD/DVD that came with the system are to be used if your hard drive
breaks and you need
to install a new one. Then you would run the Operating System one 1st to
reinstall the Operating system...then the
Dell driver one to install the proper Dell supplied Drivers for your
particular model.
All of this information is usually supplied in the manual.. whether it be
paper or a .pdf file on the HD.

peter

--
If you find a posting or message from me offensive,inappropriate
or disruptive,please ignore it.
If you dont know how to ignore a posting complain
to me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate :-)

"Whitey" <> wrote in message
news:...
> OK I have a few more questions concerning the restore CD's included in my
> Dell Inspiron 530S package. There is 2 CD's that someone needs to clarify
> for me. One is marked " Device Drivers Already Installed On Your Computer"
> and the other is marked " Operating System Reinstallation DVD Already
> Installed On Your Computer".
> OK so I also understand there is also a way one can press F1 or F12 or
> something during start-up to get to a restore area. If ( heaven forbid ) I
> have to ever reinstall the system like factory fresh, which way is
> advisable and which CD or DVD is the correct one to use? Why would I need
> a CD for device drivers? Seems like if I screwed the PC up so bad the
> drivers were lost it would need a total restore anyhow. Sorry for the
> ignorance but I just want to be " in the know" ! Thanks in advance a lot!
> TJ
>
> PS I read this forum a lot and there is some very intelligent people in
> here! I learn a lot just lurking!
>
>

" Operating System Reinstallation DVD Already
> Installed On Your Computer":
That is the DVD to reinstall Vista Operating System.

"Device Drivers Already Installed On Your Computer":
That is the Drivers for your Motherboard; Ethernet Adaptor(to get to the
Net), Graphics, USB controllors, Sound, etc.
--
Mad Mike


"Whitey" wrote:

> OK I have a few more questions concerning the restore CD's included in my
> Dell Inspiron 530S package. There is 2 CD's that someone needs to clarify
> for me. One is marked " Device Drivers Already Installed On Your Computer"
> and the other is marked " Operating System Reinstallation DVD Already
> Installed On Your Computer".
> OK so I also understand there is also a way one can press F1 or F12 or
> something during start-up to get to a restore area. If ( heaven forbid ) I
> have to ever reinstall the system like factory fresh, which way is advisable
> and which CD or DVD is the correct one to use? Why would I need a CD for
> device drivers? Seems like if I screwed the PC up so bad the drivers were
> lost it would need a total restore anyhow. Sorry for the ignorance but I
> just want to be " in the know" ! Thanks in advance a lot! TJ
>
> PS I read this forum a lot and there is some very intelligent people in
> here! I learn a lot just lurking!
>
>
>

OK... Soooooo, If I put in the System Installation DVD would it NOT also
have the drivers too or would I have to use BOTH to get it back to factory
fresh condition? Why wouldn’t the reinstall DVD simply put EVERYTHING in its
program instead of using 2 different CD's..
I promise this is the last time I'll beat this dead horse! TJ


"Mick Murphy" <> wrote in message
news:A20BD6CB-FF19-410A-BB55-...
> " Operating System Reinstallation DVD Already
>> Installed On Your Computer":
> That is the DVD to reinstall Vista Operating System.
>
> "Device Drivers Already Installed On Your Computer":
> That is the Drivers for your Motherboard; Ethernet Adaptor(to get to the
> Net), Graphics, USB controllors, Sound, etc.
> --
> Mad Mike
>
>
> "Whitey" wrote:
>
>> OK I have a few more questions concerning the restore CD's included in my
>> Dell Inspiron 530S package. There is 2 CD's that someone needs to clarify
>> for me. One is marked " Device Drivers Already Installed On Your
>> Computer"
>> and the other is marked " Operating System Reinstallation DVD Already
>> Installed On Your Computer".
>> OK so I also understand there is also a way one can press F1 or F12 or
>> something during start-up to get to a restore area. If ( heaven forbid )
>> I
>> have to ever reinstall the system like factory fresh, which way is
>> advisable
>> and which CD or DVD is the correct one to use? Why would I need a CD for
>> device drivers? Seems like if I screwed the PC up so bad the drivers were
>> lost it would need a total restore anyhow. Sorry for the ignorance but I
>> just want to be " in the know" ! Thanks in advance a lot! TJ
>>
>> PS I read this forum a lot and there is some very intelligent people in
>> here! I learn a lot just lurking!
>>
>>
>>

Oh man I will do that! I would cry a river if I lost all my stuff and could
have prevented a disaster. Thanks Chuck, Peter, and Mick Murphy for your
patience! TJ

"peter" <> wrote in message
news:...
> The F1 or F2 method activates a "recovery partition" that resides on your
> Hard drive.
> When activated it will reset the system back to a "just purchased" state.
> It is advisable to back up your work to external media like CD or DVD or
> even better an external HD in a case designed for
> that purpose and usually connects via USB port. It is also a good idea to
> image your internal HD to an external one.
> In this way if something goes wrong you can restore the image and be up
> and running in a very short time without
> the loss of your particular settings or work. Acronis True Image is the
> preferred choice for a lot of people here..but there are other
> programs that do the same thing. A quick google on "imaging a HD" will
> turn up a vast amount of info
>
> The CD/DVD that came with the system are to be used if your hard drive
> breaks and you need
> to install a new one. Then you would run the Operating System one 1st to
> reinstall the Operating system...then the
> Dell driver one to install the proper Dell supplied Drivers for your
> particular model.
> All of this information is usually supplied in the manual.. whether it be
> paper or a .pdf file on the HD.
>
> peter
>
> --
> If you find a posting or message from me offensive,inappropriate
> or disruptive,please ignore it.
> If you dont know how to ignore a posting complain
> to me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate :-)
>
> "Whitey" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> OK I have a few more questions concerning the restore CD's included in my
>> Dell Inspiron 530S package. There is 2 CD's that someone needs to clarify
>> for me. One is marked " Device Drivers Already Installed On Your
>> Computer" and the other is marked " Operating System Reinstallation DVD
>> Already Installed On Your Computer".
>> OK so I also understand there is also a way one can press F1 or F12 or
>> something during start-up to get to a restore area. If ( heaven forbid )
>> I have to ever reinstall the system like factory fresh, which way is
>> advisable and which CD or DVD is the correct one to use? Why would I need
>> a CD for device drivers? Seems like if I screwed the PC up so bad the
>> drivers were lost it would need a total restore anyhow. Sorry for the
>> ignorance but I just want to be " in the know" ! Thanks in advance a lot!
>> TJ
>>
>> PS I read this forum a lot and there is some very intelligent people in
>> here! I learn a lot just lurking!
>>
>>