Backing up OEM Vista onto Disc

Hello,

I have a new(er) Gateway PC [GT5656] with Vista Home Premium (OEM) with SP1
just installed. I would like to know how to copy the OS to DVD for backup.
When I purchased it the retailer said it could be done by them for $$. Is
there a way I can do it myself?

Thanks,

dblplanker

 

There are any number of "image backup" programs that can back up your entire
system to CD/DVD/external drive/network drive/whatever. Google for "image
backup" and you should start getting some ideas.

 

Vista has a built in "recovery disk creator" process. I am running
Ultimate and the first thing I did was to create my recovery DVD.
I would expect you can find it in the "backup and recovery" section
of the control panel.

If you are looking for something opensource, try Cobian. I
just today got Acronis and it works like a charm, but it's almost 50$
here in Canada.

 

Thank you for the response. For whatever reason, every time I try to back up
my system with Vista's recovery program, I get a critical error and the
backup fails. I have not been able to figure this out yet.

dblplanker

 

Vista Basic and home Premium does not have Full backup!
On your Hard drive, you should have 2 partitions; one being the OS, etc, the
other being the recovery partition.

In the computer's Manual, or the Program Menu, you should have instructions
on how to make recovery disks to take it back to factory standards.
That is a legal requirement: disk or recovery partition.

Contact Gateway on how to make the recovery disks.
--
Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia