[System recovery partition]

......The above can be done with a simple bootmanager, like the standard NTLDR, or Grub4DOS that has more features.

...

how to do with ntLdr?

worldy

....

3. I can run recovery process not only ckicking the shortcut in Start menu but choosing in booting menu. If Windows doesn't boot it will probably at least show booting menu and you can run recovering operations from it choosing "Recover my System" item (remember my instructions about editing BOOT.INI and saving MBR in a file on system disk?. )

......

First Bold: No, it wont, thats for sure, if windows cant boot (because ntldr is missing or boot.ini is corrupted, you NEED to have Windows XP recovery cd to give command for repairing MBR, the command is "fixmbr ", which repair MBR.

Second Bold: yes, ican edit boot.ini with ease, what all files i need to do this (complete file listing please, i will download them myself), if possible can give links for downloading.

Second thing, how can i save MBR in a file? and a small question (out of context), can i make another partition bootable (whether primary or extended)?

[System recovery partition]

Thanx a lot

Well i am going towards ghost and manual customisation (getting my hand dirty) towards System recovery, i will be using ghost (I am not sure), will be adding a Function key towards that for recovery console. This is going to be done on a fresh / running Windows XP system.

Next phase will be to create, ISO image of Windows XP installation, which automatically runs off the CD/DVD and install Both Windows Xp and the recovery system( this way i dont have to create recovery system every time after windows installation on a new system).

p.s.: If some one has already done so, or is in knowledge of links and how-to's, please guide to wards that for a quickie. Thanx

Thanx a lot Oleg_II and other folks.

Not argueing, just my opinion.

I have a few partitions: one primary with my system and three logical on extended partition. My system and my data are on different partions. And I don't care about losing system as soon as I can restore it with nearly all programs and settings from a prepared image in 5 minutes or install it again with Unattended in only 30 minutes

In fact I often restore the system partition from "ideal" image on purpose just to be sure there is no viruses and broken things on my system. As I said it takes only 5 minutes with DeployCenter from clicking on the shortcut in Start menu to reloading in restored Windows. It doesn't hurt because all personal data and even most program settings are on the other partition. Nothing changes, only the system is renewed/revived again.

(I don't even install antivirus software because of this but it's my personal opinion too.)

And of course I make regular backups of my sensitive data to CD or CD-RW using DeployCenter too: I make the image of the entire second partition with all my documents and photoes directly to CD. It takes a bit longer with high compression and image verification options enabled but not more then 15 minutes for 2Gb of data (documents, photoes, archieves).

I don't use Windows versions of DeployCenter and PartitionMagic (and I rarelly use PM at all). Both create boot floppy disks that can be used in VFE or from multiboot CD. So there is no MBR changes I'm not aware of. I admit that VFE change my MBR but only when I run it and this is a temporary change because it backups MBR before running and restores from backup after running (you can watch it yourself). And VFE is not installed in the system - no settings in Registry, no files in system folders, only a few files are placed anywhere on hard drive and a shortcut in the menu.

PS I aslo have a few different images with different Windows: Windows 98SE, Windows 2000 Professional "standard" (with IE and stuff) and W2k HFSLIPed and reduced. Not more then 5 minutes, no phisical boot disks involved and I'm in the OS of my choice

Well, a boot disk image with imaging software is involved in fact

And I forgot to mention that I use NTFS on all partitions as this file system is stable and reliable in my opinion.

Cool info about system revival, hey tell me, what all make u do so? how come u did this?

But i am discussing about System re-installation, when even Windows dont even boo up, then how come will i get to those programs in "Start Menu"? That is why i am opting for automatic system recovery, (In the start, through some function key and all).

[System recovery partition]

By the way I remember that some manufacturers create two primary partitions. One is used for installing the system. And the other is used like system recovery partition - that is what you are talking about

This recovery partition is need to be a primary partition, it is usually in FAT or maybe FAT32 and is hidden. There are also DOS version of Ghost or similar software on this partition (mostly Ghost). When booting and before OS loads you see something like "If you want to restore press....". I don't know how they add this line of words. I added this once in BOOT.INI with a small utility BootPart for NT. It gave me a choice to boot the system and to boot into recovery process. It worked the same way for me.

But then I found VFE

Thanx a lot friends, for the advice.

cool oleg, u got me right. I think symantec/VFE solution will work perfect, but think it will create mess (shortcuts and junk files on user system). I need the solution which u talked about (2 partitions). Now how do i go about it? AFAIK, A system cannot have 2 primary partitions! It just has 1 primary, and other logical(s) in extended partitions.

But yes, i want the solution which u talked about:

User will be given option to restore the OS (and he need t press any key to proceed..), else normal OS will start upon. Its similiar to one key reocovery solution as made available on Laptops.

I m still stuck upon, but no with a "defined" problem.

to oleg_II

[System recovery partition]

Please what do u mean by F11 key, (Its either BIOS key to change partition (which i think is not possible) or to display Bootloader menu?)

But i dont want to mess up the nice Windows XP boot loader, which is present in MBR. (If there is something better than that, i definitly want to try it, tell me the bootloader name for the mentioned purpose).

What i want is, i want to avoid Loading my CD/DVD everytime i have to re-install Windows XP. For example, either

1. Windows Boot loader gets corrupt, or

2. Both Boot loader and Windows XP is corrupted.

I can boot from anything(windows / Linux) and then jump onto "Recovery Partition", to repair Windows Bootloader. And henceforth re-install windows XP, withought installer files.

It will be better, if on the hidden partition, i dont create any image, and put raw files/directory (i386) onto it.

[System recovery partition]

I need to create a partition (separate obviously), which will enable automatic recovery of Windows XP professional alongwith symantec antivirus.

How should i start in this, and enable the partition to provide this service. (or can i say, if I want to load a bootloader or something like that on that partition ).

Also, It will be nice, If i can host the installation files in the recovery partition, so the user can re-format the old windows XP, and install the new one with ease!

How should i go about it?

Any links will get me going...Thanx