Vista back up for downgrade to XP

I recently bought a laptop that did not come with any restore disc.
plan to create a back up of my current vista so in case XP someho
fails, I can return to vista. My question is, how do I create a back u
that will work when I am on XP? I know the Vista "system restore" doe
not work on XP. I read somewhere else that I can copy paste my window
folder from C: drive directly onto an external harddrive, but if X
fails how do I put that onto my computer

--
abowlofrice

abowlofrice <> wrote:

>
>I recently bought a laptop that did not come with any restore disc. I
>plan to create a back up of my current vista so in case XP somehow
>fails, I can return to vista. My question is, how do I create a back up
>that will work when I am on XP? I know the Vista "system restore" does
>not work on XP. I read somewhere else that I can copy paste my windows
>folder from C: drive directly onto an external harddrive, but if XP
>fails how do I put that onto my computer?

Your laptop SHOULD have a utility to create a set of recovery DVDs
using the hidden recovery partition. You boot to the first of those
to start a recovery that will take your computer back to the same
condition it was in when you first fired it up.

When I install windows XP I am going to format my current harddrive an
do a clean install, doesnt that wipe all the programs. If not, how do
access this hidden partition

--
abowlofrice

Look for Acronis True Image..it installs and works under Vista or XP.
It also lets you create a bootable recovery CD from which you can restore
the image file you create on an external HD back to the Laptop HD.

peter

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"abowlofrice" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> I recently bought a laptop that did not come with any restore disc. I
> plan to create a back up of my current vista so in case XP somehow
> fails, I can return to vista. My question is, how do I create a back up
> that will work when I am on XP? I know the Vista "system restore" does
> not work on XP. I read somewhere else that I can copy paste my windows
> folder from C: drive directly onto an external harddrive, but if XP
> fails how do I put that onto my computer?
>
>
> --
> abowlofrice

"abowlofrice" <> wrote in message news:...
>
> When I install windows XP I am going to format my current harddrive and
> do a clean install, doesnt that wipe all the programs. If not, how do i
> access this hidden partition.
>
>
> --
> abowlofrice


If you make a set of Restore Disk, per the PC manufactures instructions, these are self booting disks that do not need the hidden partition.
They are designed to be used if your HD fails and you mount a new one. Hence formatting your drive for XP is not an issue.

What is an issue is does your PC manufacturer make XP drivers for your model?