Creating a recovery partition.

[aimeeandbeatles]

OK, so the dual-boot didn't quite work out the way I wanted and now I have a big empty space where the partition used to be. (I broke Ubuntu, tried to fix it, and accidentally deleted the partition. I'm going to stick to a virtual machine for a while. Wubi isn't my thing.)

I'd like to create a recovery partition for Vista. I tried googling it and it kept telling me to use Norton Ghost. I searched the forum and didn't find anything specifically on creating one.

How do I create a recovery partition for free?

EDIT: I saw something in the Windows Recovery Enviroment (which is the Repair CD I use when my bootloader kept breaking) to restore from a full backup. Could that help?

ANOTHER EDIT: Maybe it can.

Windows Vista provides end users with the ability to create a backup image of their entire operating system. End users can do this by using the Backup tool. The system image can be stored on an external hard disk, on a hard disk partition other than those imaged, or on a DVD. To restore the computer by using this system image, users must launch the restore interface from the list of Windows RE manual tools.

So I was thinking, if I create one on a clean-install, it might work.

 

[Methos]

I wouldn't suggest using a partition as a backup. Too risky.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Not so much for backup, but for avoiding-all-the-annoying-parts-of-reinstalling.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Make a disk image and off you go.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Any recommended (FREE) programs to create one? All the sites I saw said to use Norton Ghost or Acronis.

 

[J-man]

Have you tried googling it

 

[Till]

I use http://selfimage.excelcia.org/

 

[Bratmon]

dd?

vcl

 

[J-man]

I use http://selfimage.excelcia.org/

Last update of that program was 2 years ago.

dd?

vcl

Wouldn't it also copy free space?

Also, a mistake could have grave consequences.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Last update of that program was 2 years ago.

If it works, who cares.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

The SelfImage looks good. Is there a way to create a thingy (a disc or something) that will automatically restore it? The thing says that you can't restore if files from the partition are open so it might be a bit difficult to do it right from Windows. It says something about BartPE but I'm not sure what that is (other than a boot disk).

EDIT: I should have read more carefully. It says it can make bootable media. It also says Windows 2000/XP. Anyone tried on Vista? Yes I googled.

ANOTHER EDIT: ARRRRGGRHRHRHRHDUJU!!!!! I don't know how I missed the FIRST RESULT!!! It DOES work.

 

[Bratmon]

Also, a mistake could have grave consequences.

Pick this one. It has the largest quantity of potential failure. Reverse operands? Erased hard-disk.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I have a backup.