Re: How to make a boot option for "Reinstallation"

In news:8FE50BCB-34EB-49C3-A868-23EBF054CF18@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,
Kent, Norway <KentNorway@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

> Yes, that is pretty much what I am looking for:
>
> An option to press some "F" button to start a complete reinstallation
> when my system is getting bad. You should not be prompted for any Cd.
> Just like some preinstalled pc's of different brands have.
>
> This is for making a complete reistallation very easy for users with
> little understanding of the subject. (Or for lazy people like me)
>
>
> As I see it, there must be a hidden partition with the installation
> files, including service packs. These must run automaticly during the
> process.
>
> About the device drivers, it probably gets more complicated, since
> these often are .exe files . Probably, these should be installed
> manually last.
>
> Of course I am familiar with Norton Ghost, but using images is not
> what I wish since they are more "static" than an ordinary
> installation due to changes in hardware that might be done.
>
> I believe that this subject is in interest of many users.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Galen" wrote:
>
>> In news:3104D087-31EE-40CF-9646-20901B591601@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,
>> Kent, Norway <KentNorway@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> had this to say:
>>
>> My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:
>>
>>> I wish to hide the installation files, and make an option that is
>>> visible during boot, that gives me the oportunity to reinstall the
>>> operating system. The installation files should be hidden of course,
>>> and it should be possible to place device drivers that will be
>>> prompted too.
>>>
>>> Is there a third party softwtware that is good for this purpose, or
>>> is it some functionality in Xp for doing some of this?
>>
>> Are you thinking something along the lines of a hidden partition
>> that can be run from a certain series of key strokes (say F10)
>> during boot like what's seen with some OEMs? This is NOT an answer -
>> in fact if you said "yes" then I'd respond with "I'm not sure but
>> will look." It's actually to try to figure out what it is you're
>> after so that someone smarter than me can come along and tell you
>> the answer and so I can see how it's done. <g> (Basically I'm just
>> trying to clarify your question for the next person because they'll
>> likely know a LOT more than I on that subject as it's something I've
>> never approached but have thought about doing - the OEM bit that
>> is.)
>>
>> --
>> Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
>> http://dts-l.org/
>>
>> "My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces
>> of existence." - Sherlock Holmes

The other poster pointed to Acronis - for this I'd use (believe it or not)
their True Image product. You make a boot CD with it, boot with it in place,
and it enables you to press an F10 (IIRC) during boot if you install their
protected partition. Basically, from there, you'd make your image on that
hidden partition and, if you want, forget it. Then when you need to
"re-install" you really just press the F10 key during boot and inside of a
few minutes (really) you have your whole OS re-installed at the same level
as when you made the clone. Beyond that you can make other system images to
be kept in a visible partition and use those first if things go wrong. If
they don't work you always have the original clean install on the system
that you can fall back on. That's the closest I can come to what I think
you're wanting. Some of the lurking OEMs might have some additional
information IF you can get 'em to tell you...

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/

"My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of
existence." - Sherlock Holmes


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