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Howto Create Portable Windows Vista System Recovery-Rescue Disk with Service Pack 1

You fail to mention a make? If this is an HP there should be an icon the the desktop, just double click on it to start the creation of your recovery DVD. This will be a DVD not a CD with Vista. Perhaps other makes also place an icon on the desktop too.

Yes, a little information goes a long way

I also was wondering about this. I just got a new Compaq and I get a periodic reminder hat I should make a recovery disk. Is this something really crucial or are they just wanting me to buy their disks? It gives me the option to buy from them..

Caroline, yes this is very important. Suppose your hard drive fails? As it is now you would have no operating system and worse perhaps you would have no drivers for the motherboard and onboard features.

I guess not all companies send a recovery disc when you buy a computer? Acer did not, but friends did get one when they bought theirs. Doesn't it make sense that you should get one ???

I guess so. I had 2 other computers and never knew I needed one. I have no clue how to do it,or what kind of disks to get,so will have to find out.Thanks!!

I have a Toshiba Satellite L355-S7902, for now i am just lost in the vista windows.I have always have hp computers.I know it will get better the more i use it,until then i am praying alot.......THANKS......

Your Toshiba should have come with recovery Cd's or DVDs and will allow you to reinstall the system very easy back to just like factory new should something go drastically wrong. Plus you should be able to load individual componente too - when you start it you will have some options on what do you want to do.

My Toshiba with Vista has the Recovery Environment and all needed windows files/drivers on a hidden drive partition and amazingly when you really screw up something to a non start-able state the Toshiba will automatically fix the boot/startup process without you needing to do a thing, for many if not 'almost' all startup problems. Plus on F8 window you should see 'Repair my PC' which runs the automatic startup fixit which checks things and fixes.

Of course if you lose hard drive access and then it would be nice to have that bootable CD ravencraven linked to burn the recovery environment to CD/DVD so you can hopefully fix things, should you delete your boot-loader or something that makes the hdd lost.

I ordered a set for my new HP and got them in a few days. $15.

Check in your user manuals for making "recovery disks" or something of that nature. It will explain the process and of course what sort of media to use. If your machine is equipped with a DVD-RW/CD-RW you can write either CDs or DVDs. DVDs would be preferable as it would probably only take 2 or 3. If your machine has a CD-RW/DVD then, it is only capable of burning CDs

Unless they quit, Toshiba's come with the set of recovery disks. And you cant make them from that. But windows does offer in early vista sp1 the option to make a repair disk. But did away with that windows option somewhere before sp2 came about.

I didnt get any cds with my computer.I am still trying to figure it out.Thanks for all your help.........

then look to see if you show a D: drive in your pc if so they have set up a partition with the recovery files stored there, that would be what you need to back up and save to disc.

using this free belarc tool is very handy it tells you everything about your pc, I always print one out when I get a new pc so I know exactly how it was brand new then do them on occasion later so it shows what I have added, comes in extremely handy.
Belarc

With Toshibas if you ever want to do a full recovery from the recovery partition, I believe an Alt-F10 will take you to the full recovery as long as the recovery partition isnt deleted etc

FWiW Toshiba Support upgrades for your model shows a few very current date upgrades...
Downloads has one item ;

Toshiba Recovery Disc Creator Launcher (Dual OS 32/64bit & StandAlone 32/64bit) (v5.0.0.5; 04-27-2009; 3M)

They didn't have the user manual online for your model or I would have quickly looked to see if it shows procedures to make a set.

Here is a link that might be useful: Toshiba Support ; (click downloads)

I have a new Toshiba too. Look for Recovery Disc Creator on your Programs menu off the Start button. You will need 3 blank DVD's.