What is the proper way to backup...

[ComputerWizKid]

What is the proper way to backup and restore the restore partition on a pre-built computers hard drive?
I have a Dell Inspiron 1501 and I am going to fix it but I don't have the original Restore discs (Well I do but I want to use the restore partition) What I want to do is create the restore DVD and/or have an bootable ISO file
Is there a good way to do this? (I pulled out the Hard Drive and it is connected to my spare computer)
and once I have the restore backed up what is the right way to put it back on the hard drive? So that I can use it by pressing the right key combination?

Thanks
-CWK

 

[RaiderJ]

I don't know of a way you can take the restore partition and put it onto a bootable DVD - but you could back that partition up with Clonezilla, then just restore it back to the hard drive when needed.

What I did with an 8GB flash drive is partition 1GB off to boot Clonezilla with, then leave the remaining space (~7GB) formatted as FAT32. Boot off the 1GB partition into Clonezilla, clone the restore partition onto the 7GB flash drive partition. Then, it's there whenever you need it.

EDIT: I also have a bunch of other tools on the 1GB partition: GParted, FreeDOS, Darik's Boot & Nuke, etc. Really helpful when I have to do stuff in DOS like flash hard drive firmware. Put the firmware EXE on the 1GB partition, boot into FreeDOS, then run the EXE.