Making backup copies of OS disc

[perdomot]

I've decided to buy Vista Home Premium and want to make a backup copy in case something happens to the original disc. Is there a recommended program for this? Thanks.

 

[Smilin]

Vista itself.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: perdomot
I've decided to buy Vista Home Premium and want to make a backup copy in case something happens to the original disc. Is there a recommended program for this? Thanks.

You should be able to just make a copy.

Look at this license agreement on page 6 item 10.
http://download.microsoft.com/...-8153-889cf5105718.pdf

10. BACKUP COPY. You may make one backup copy of the media. You may use it only to reinstall
the software.

 

[QuixoticOne]

There's no special "copy protection" of the disc that makes it particularly difficult to copy. Just any full disc clone copier program will make a decent copy. Just ensure that you're cloning the whole disc and aren't doing anything to make the copy non-bootable and it'll be as good as the original for the purposes of installation.

If you're going to get a new copy you probably already have SP1 integrated (which would be a good thing).

If you feel like doing more work you could add stuff like necessary device drivers, favorite utilities, lists of your software keys, et. al. to the installation disc to make it more customized for your needs and make that disc a bootable install medium. Unfortunately that is somewhat difficult, would be limited by the free space on the disc, and also would be susceptible to short term obsolescence of your added utility versions anyway.

 

[perdomot]

Originally posted by: QuixoticOne
There's no special "copy protection" of the disc that makes it particularly difficult to copy. Just any full disc clone copier program will make a decent copy. Just ensure that you're cloning the whole disc and aren't doing anything to make the copy non-bootable and it'll be as good as the original for the purposes of installation.

If you're going to get a new copy you probably already have SP1 integrated (which would be a good thing).

If you feel like doing more work you could add stuff like necessary device drivers, favorite utilities, lists of your software keys, et. al. to the installation disc to make it more customized for your needs and make that disc a bootable install medium. Unfortunately that is somewhat difficult, would be limited by the free space on the disc, and also would be susceptible to short term obsolescence of your added utility versions anyway.

I have Nero which has a Copy DVD function in the Backup section so would this work? If not, is there a program you can recommend for this?

 

[perdomot]

Originally posted by: Smilin
Vista itself.

How does Vista do this?

 

[QuixoticOne]

That should work just fine. I'm not an expert with NERO, but if it is copying the entire DVD
that should certainly make a perfect copy.

I just meant that you can't just do something like drag / drop the all the "files / folders" on the DVD over to a new DVD creation workspace and hit "burn" since then the disc could be used for installation from an already booted OS, but likely wouldn't be bootable since the boot sector is "invisible" and you'd have to tell it to copy that distinctly. The "copy dvd" function should do it all for you nicely.

Just double-check that you can boot / install from it after you're done; I'd suggest making a couple of copies, one to keep out and use (and probably scratch up quickly) and another as a safely stored true long term / fire/flood/accident safe back-up.

Originally posted by: perdomot

I have Nero which has a Copy DVD function in the Backup section so would this work? If not, is there a program you can recommend for this?

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: perdomot

Originally posted by: Smilin
Vista itself.

How does Vista do this?

Just looked. I don't believe it will make the disc bootable. It will just copy the data. Use that Nero Copy function.