recovery media

[Maturecheese]

Is it possible for me to create recovery media on a dvd r using an external DVD drive.  I would prefer this method as it would enable me to change the SSD in the future.  It seems I can only use or create a partition om my SSD as recovery media.

[WAWood]

@Maturecheese

My suggestion is you consider using a third-party solution known as Macrium Reflect (MR).

I prefer to use third-party recovery solutions for the following reasons:
1) More flexibility and reliabilty -- can make recovery media as often as you like, not restricted to one attempt, which if it fails, then you are stuck.
2) More media options -- can create media in DVD, USB stick, or external drive format
3) Mounting option -- can "mount" the save images as virtual "drives" and extract individual files and folders
4) WinPE boot option -- can install a special boot option that allows you to boot to recovery information and do a repair or restore from there -- when Windows will not boot

What I recommend is the following:
1) Download and install Macrium Reflect (MR) from here: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
2) Run MR and choose the option: "Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows" to write a full backup to an external drive, USB stick, or DVDs
3) Use the option to create a boot USB stick or CD

My experience is that MR, when using the High Compression option, typically can compress the saved image file to about 50% of the USED space in the OS partition. This means if you have an 80GB OS partition, and 40GB is used, MR only needs about 20GB to store the image file.

I use this all the time and it typically takes less than 15 minutes to do the image backup and about the same time or less to do a restore. Plus, MR has the option to Add a Recovery Boot Menu entry. This allows you then to boot into WinPE, and you can then use that to do a restore -- when you can't boot into Windows!

NOW, you have the means to restore a full working system from the external drive, USB stick or DVDs in only a few minutes.

Good Luck

[Maturecheese]

Thanks for the reply.  This method is a little complicated and nowhere near as simple as having the option to burn recovery media on to a dvd or two as has always been the way before.   I need to know that if my SSD becomes corrupted and I am unable to access it I can format it or replace it  and install the OS and drivers again.  After spending what I consider a lot of money on a HP product I expect to be able to do this.  Why has the recovery method changed to this and what am I supposed to do if I do get problems?

[WAWood]

@Maturecheese

I don't know that the "recovery method has changed" as there are still several methods generally in use:

1) With OEM PCs, you have a Recovery partition and a utility preloaded by the OEM that allows you to boot into a recovery tool that wil do a factory reset of your PC.

2) With OEM PCs, there is generally a tool provided that allows you to create your own Recovery Media.  But this is always limited to one pass, and if that fails, you are stuck.  This too, will do a factory reset.

3) Recent Windows versions also provide the feature of creating Recovery Media -- but this is of the current setup and restores that, not a factory reset.

I've been doing system recoveries for well over 10 years now -- and I clearly listed the reasons why I prefer to use third-party tools instead of those built-in.

MS tools in particular have a history of being unreliable and that is the LAST thing you want to find out if your machine crashes and you need to restore it.

But ... your PC, your choice

[Maturecheese]

Once again thank you for the reply.  In the past I have always had the ability to make recovery media on DVDs, more than once I believe.  As for all the options you state ,bar I assume your first reply but I'm not sure, this is fine unless my SSD is trashed, then what?  I guess I'm just a bit miffed that if the worst happens I will have to purchase the recovery media from HP whereas until this purchase I have never had that problem.  Anyway thanks for your help.

[WAWood]

@Maturecheese

HP has provided a utility on their PCs to make Recovery Media for free -- problem is, if you have difficulties with it, it only allows one pass and then will not let you try again.

Which is one of the reasons I use third-party utilities.