System backup - yet again!

[Calvados]

Sorry to be real pain with this, but I have backed up a lot of my stuff to a flash drive, e.g. documents, photos, files etc. What I really need is to create the equivalent of an installation disc, which I don't have for this computer. So if I need to install all the defaults that were originally supplied, after a dreaded system crash, I could just wipe the hard drive, then start again. Actually, I don't even know how to wipe the hard drive, should it be necessary. I hope people understand this. Without the system disc, how would I proceed? Please don't get mad at me! I really don't have a clue. TIA.

[ChuckFickens]

What is the make and model of the computer...

Though whatever it is look in the start menu for an entry that would normally be the manufacturers name, if one is there have a look to see if there is anything to create restore disks.

[VHG]

If you bought the PC in the last couple of years the company who supplied it will usually supply a way of doing a system recovery. You need to read the documentation that came with PC to find out how to do this.

There are a number of possibles:

They may have provided a "hidden" area on the hard disk containing all the recovery files. You set this going by pressing a certain key while the computer is starting up (check the documentation to see if you have this).

Or they may have provided a way for you make a set of recovery DVDs. Normally you run a program on your computer and it creates 2 or 3 DVDs. You can then use these DVDs to rebuild your computer (again check the documentation).

Note if neither of the above are available on your PC you can get programs that will create an "image" of your hard disk and you can then store that on an external hard drive (or on DVDs) and recover from that.

You dont need to wipe the hard drive when you do a recorvery, the recovery program will do it for you.

[Calvados]

Thanks Chuck. It's IQon. Made in Northern Ireland. Just going to look in start menu.

[VHG]

btw backing up on flash drive is not a very secure backup. They can easily be lost or stolen, or they can "fail" like all devices.

Far better to use an external hard drive AND maybe copy the files to CD or DVD. That way you have more than one backup in case one fails.

[ChuckFickens]

Two rules for backups...

1) if it's not in at least two other places it's not backed up
2) if you haven't proven you can recover from the backups it's not backed up.

[Calvados]

Thanks folks. I can't find any reference to the makers name in the start menu. The computer was built for me by a friend, so I'll have to ask if he has a disc. Failing that, I'll see what he can do to help. Thanks again.

[ChuckFickens]

Hmmmm!!

If it was built by a friend they should have given you all the original software disks!... if they didn't I'd question how much of a friend they are.

If you've paid for windows from them you should have been given the CD and license sticker..... if you've got neither of these you've been ripped off.