As some of y’all might recall, right now I’m using my sister’s Compaq Presario with Windows Vista, which has intermittent Boot Up problems. It always eventually does Boot Up everyday, but I do have to wrestle with it a little bit.
I do plan on performing a Windows Reinstall sometime.
While it does have that Windows Factory Image partition in the Hard Drive, my sister and brother-in-law never made a DVD copy of that.
So, typically how safe & stable is a Factory Image partition? Can it be infected by Malware? Can it get corrupt?
This weekend my brother is bringing me some blank DVDs he no longer needs. So, I’m going to make a DVD copy of that Factory Image. When I do finally attempt that Windows Reinstall, I’ll do so from the Factory Image partition. But, I WAS wonder whether a Factory Image partition IS somehow safer and more stable than the regular active partition?
A Scan by that Tweaking.com Windows Repair (All in One) did indicate that some System Files were corrupt and couldn’t be repaired. So that’s why I wonder … if Files can get corrupt in the regular active partition, can Files get corrupt in the Factory Image partition?
Since this computer is ohhh, I guess about 4 or 5 years old, that’s why this comes into the equation of my thinking.
I would say that those image partitions are very stable; however, anything can happen when the image was burn. They are also very secure but I think essexboy can answer that question better if they can be breached by malware.
I think that it is the command to implement the image that can be corrupted some way, and all depends what kind of program HP is using to do so. I have an old DeLL that has an image partition done by a DeLL variation of Ghost 2003. Once the command could not be executed and I have to implement the image manually.
If you want to know more about HP image restore and what and how it works, the HP forums are your friend.
While I’ve never performed a Windows Reinstall from a Factory Image partition before, I do have a link to a step by step procedure on how to supposedly do it on this computer.
I’ve just been leery to jump into doing it because:
(a) It’s Windows Vista and I have never performed a Windows Vista Reinstall. And given that Vista has a horrible reputation as a whole for ANYTHING it does, well, I have trepidation over what surprises might await me.
(b) And given that it’s not my computer and my sister CLAIMED it used to work fine the last that they used it before packing it up … and yet it had Boot Up problems from the 1st time I used it … I’m leery of a Windows Vista Reinstall going wrong and winding up with a bricked computer.
But, Ehhh, once I at least get those Backup DVDs of the Factory Image done this Friday, I’ll feel more at ease … maybe.
First make sure all important files are backed up someplace safe because the restore will wipe them out. Also you will have to reinstall all of the software that you loaded. Check on Compaq’s site for instructions. I think to restore my nephew’s Compaq with XP you simply canged the restore patition to active and rebooted.
Joe
Oh, as far as Files, Docs, Pics and stuff, all of that is backed up.
And I have all the Setup Files for all the Apps that are in it.
I’ve done a million Windows 98 Reinstalls and a few Windows XP Reinstalls.
I just haven’t done any Windows Vista Reinstalls yet.
And I have never done any System Recoveries from the Factory Image partition ever.
But, I do have that link with the procedure from the HP website on how to do it.
So, theoretically, I’m all set.