with no O/S disk and W7 offering to create a backup disk, I used their facility to do so. the files on it are, USER-OOO-PC -- autorun.inf -- MediaID.bin -- restore.ico. My question Dave/Jim is, what have i got here? Are the contents just a copy of the current files (I use an USB drive to do this), can I get up and running if this thing crashes (or similar), has it got special files that would normally be found on an O/S disk? Can you offer an explanation please? cheers, Maurylen
Hi maurylen - Sounds to me like you may have created an ordinary backup. These can be used primarily to restore missing files or recover system settings but NOT to get an operating system up and running again after a disaster.
You should see two further options under "Backup and Restore" (on the left):
1) Create a system image and...
2) Create a system repair disc.
The first option, Create a system image, is the ultimate solution for when the operating system is badly damaged and won't boot at all. Save the system image to an external drive and if the system is ever unusable you can restore the image and you will be up and running again.
The second option, system repair disc, can be used to help with minor repairs to a non-bootable system. You'll need the system repair disc anyway, as this is what must also be used to restore a system image when the computer will not boot.
So, when all else fails and you need to get the system up and running again, you will need a system image plus system repair disc.
Hope that helps,
Cheers... Jim
Thanks for that Jim, will do, but a nag in the head, if the computer wont start how to get the disk to run? just put it in the disk drive and away it goes? - cheers
Yes, well sort of. The system repair disc created by Windows 7 is bootable, you just pop it in the drive and then restart the system. However, you will also need to make sure that the optical drive is selected as first boot device in BIOS.
On most modern machines, that will be the default setting. Best way to check is to just place the disc in the optical drive and restart the machine. If the operating system loads as per normal then you will need to change that setting in BIOS and place your optical drive atop the list of bootable devices.
Hope that is clear enough. Don't worry if you have any further questions about accessing BIOS, etc, feel free to ask away mate.
Cheers... Jim
No worries Jim, can do all that - till next time (and there'll be one) Maurylen
so!! got this message Jim
"the system restore disc couldn't be created
the parameter is incorrect (0*80070057)"
now what?
No idea!! Like many error codes, this one is very generic.
What type of disc are you trying to burn, DVD or CD? And what format -R or +R, or something else?
Also, have a read here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982736. Although, I am not sure that is entirely relevant to your issue.
You might also try running chkdsk and sfc /scannow. Let me know if you need help with either or both.
Sorry can't be of more help.
Cheers... Jim
Hi Jim, one thing I was confused with was an .iso file, but I somehow stumbled on an explanation, an .iso file is a disc image. (eureka!!!) I have copied these files -- "boot, sources, & bootmgr" -- to an USB drive as a boot device - how does that sound to you? cheers, maurylen
Jim, I forgot to mention, re system image, I remembered doing multiple discs on the old floppy drive so tried that, seemed to work, took 3 DVD-RWs over about 6 hrs, roughly 14Gb but completed the task - I've got a 15Gb usb drive which I might use to do another image, easier to store too, any thoughts on that? otherwise I'll take it as successful and store them safely - think the old floppies went in last first and down to the first??? - so? I'm hoping I have the contents backed up and a boot device to get started, thanks for your help
To be honest, I'm not too sure what you've done maurylen. 
Did you manage to create a System Repair disc, or are you still receiving an error message? It's good to have successfully created a system image but it's not much use to you if it can't be successfully restored. That System Repair disc is critical for restoring images created by the native Win7 imaging tool. Without it, you won't be able to access and restore previously created system images.
The best place to store (save) system images is on an external USB drive, they offer much higher capacities then flash drives. You'll be able to store several images on one external drive, something you generally can't do with flash drives.
Cheers... Jim
this is a screen shot of the window, it says "Boot Disc" so I figured I'm on track - those 3 files Boot, Sources, Bootmgr, are on it - oops! it's too large - essentially it says
Windows disc image burner
Disc Image File: Boot disc. recdisc.iso
Disc Burner DVD R Drive(E)
Status
to start burning the disc image - click burn
Okay, that sounds like the System Repair disc.
Under Start>All Programs>Maintenance>Backup and Restore, there are only two options on the left hand side, you should see:
-
Create a system image ... and
Create a system repair disc.
Each is self explanatory. Click on the top (first) option "Create a system image" to create a full image of the system. Click on the second (bottom) option to create the System Repair disc.
Creating a system image will provide options to save to external (USB) drive or DVDs. Creating a system repair disc will provide only one option, to burn to disc (CD).
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