system restore?

NowRetired

I want to make a backup image on a separate partition on my hard disk similar to a factory restore partition that is accessed by pressing an F function key such as F4 while booting the computer.


Is this possible and how would I do it?

aerostar

Just remember if your hard disk goes "fut" then your backup partition goes "fut" as well.

Uxb

A bit difficult as it requires you to write a special MBR/bios which intercepts your chosen 'F' key pressed during the boot up procedure to divert the computer into booting instead into your recovery partition area and to whatever recovery program you might be using.

as to the recovery program itself the professional pc manufacturers use a customised version of a commercial disk imagining program specially tweaked and with the GUI totally removed so it works automatically and without user intervention. I recall Dell's was at one stage based around Norton's Ghost disk imaging program.

NowRetired

Just remember if your hard disk goes "fut" then your backup partition goes "fut" as well.

I would of course keep a copy of it elsewhere as well.

This is for when the grandkids finally screw up my spare computer so when they go home I just start it, up press F4 or whatever and it is fixed for their return.

I do have an image made with Microsoft's image program but that is not as easy as pressing F4, is it?

That requires a start up disk.