Sony System Restore XP

Full system recovery

Here is what I do right now: first I copy all my personal files to an external drive. Just a hint: backup is something you should do on a regular basis! Personally I am using an external USB hard disk drive which has enough capacity to hold all my documents, pictures, music and so on.

After saving all my files on the external media I can proceed with the recovery: I click on START > All Programs > VAIO Recovery Utility. The software opens up a window which allows me to select “Recover your VAIO”. In the following dialogue I can select which kind of recovery I want to perform. There is the possibility to either wipe out the C-partition only or reset my HDD to the original factory state.

Today I really want to start all over, so I go for the full recovery. My VAIO asks me whether I backed up all my files, because everything will be gone after this process. Just to be on the safe side I check my external drive more, then I proceed with the recovery.

My VAIO starts to reboot and automatically launches the recovery process. This process formats my local partitions and copies the original software image to the same state as it came from the factory. As it is a hard disk recovery process it’s all done in a very short time.

The recovery takes place in two phases. In the first phase Windows is re-installed with all the drivers needed and a few basic applications. After the reboot and the Windows initialization my VAIO asks me to prompt for the “Application recovery” which will install all the other application like Photoshop, SonicStage and so on.

“No application recovery”

Just a hint: if you want to not install all those applications, then just select “Cancel”, click on START > Run and type in “msconfig”. There is a tab “Startup” where you can un-check the box that reads “VARU.exe” – that way you will not be prompted for the application recovery anymore.

Recovery partition removal

Okay, my VAIO is up and running again with a clean image. In the task-bar there is a little reminder which says “Create your recovery media kit”. This is something very advisable. First of all it allows you to recover your VAIO in case of a fatal incidence, e.g. if a virus formats the entire hard disk (including the hidden recovery partition), second of all it offer the possibility to remove that hidden recovery partition. As this partition is around 7GB, it’s worth thinking about it. As I have really a ton of data those 7GB come in handy.

Therefore I follow the advice and create my recovery DVDs. With the first disc in the drive I reboot my VAIO and perform a full recovery with the option to remove the recovery partition and evenly distribute the 7GB to the C- and D-partition.

After a little while my VAIO is now exactly the way I want it: Full disk space available and absolutely free from any of my previous software installation.

Personally I do a full system recovery every year. It does take a little time of course, but the increased speed of a clean system really makes up for this!

Advanced recovery

In case you do not want to make a full system recovery but find some of the pre-installed applications not working properly anymore you can go to the advanced options:

If you proceed with the first option you will get a list of available packages that you can choose to install or not.

The other option will create support folders holding e.g. the original driver package and several other helpful utilities.