Marcus Curtis

CakeAlexS
 
Then configure it the way you like it in task scheduler!
 
 
 
Then do what I do and have a multiboot environment...

In the past I used a multi-boot environment in Vista and XP and it worked well for recording. I have a quick question for you though.
 
The computer I purchased 2 years go (dell) did not come with a set of restore disks. The very first thing I did was remove the bloat garbage that come with these computers. I used a backup utility to image the hard drive and created a backup. The utility app was provided by dell. I had an issue where the whole hard drive crashed. don't know what caused it. I think my kids got on my computer.
 
I ran the backup utility and it restored everything. As I recall there was not an option to create another partition. everything was done automatically. The restore disks that I made from the backup utility did restore the hard drive. So here are the questions.
 
If I do a multi environment system wouldn't that require the purchase of another windows 7 license?
 
This backup program does not allow you to create a multi windows environment. Do you know of a better third party utility that does?
 
I don't know why backup disks are not shipped with these things anymore. I can get the drivers on line and that is not a problem, but I would sure like a copy of the operating system.
 
It use to be that these computer companies would create two partitions on the hard drive and put the operating system on one drive and load and restore form the partition that contains the operating system. with this purchase all I got was this stupid dell backup utility.
 
This is why I have not made a multi-boot environment. I don't have a set recording schedule which was why I avoided setting up or messing around with the task scheduler. I do run defrag and make regular backups. I do restore points and other stuff. I just don't set it up to do it automatically because my schedule always changes and my computer is not on all the time. Sometimes I will go two or three days without it booted up. 
 
 

MS changed licensing a while back, technically you are supposed to buy a license for each copy of windows. Whether it actually works or not depends on your version of windows... My advice, just try it (but backup first in case you need to restore), but don't blame me if it doesn't work! So I can understand why you wouldn't want to try try it - but me, I'm just a natural fiddler.
 
I use Acronis true image 2014 at the moment. However I would recommend a fresh install of windows with the CD for your new OS partition, do not install a cloned copy.
 
The Dell drivers and stuff (mostly but not all vaporware) you can just get from the net.
 
If you don't have the original windows OEM CD contact Dell for a copy, then again you could try this assuming your key will work ;)
http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/
 

Thanks Alex for the link this will help a great deal now I can get an original copy of the OS. I don't know why my computer did not ship with one. When I get some time I will redo this computer and put on multi-boot environment. one will be for recording the other will be for everyday use. This will be set up like my last machine.
 
Thanks for your response

Just make sure you backup in case your serial doesn't work for some reason.... If that happens give Dell a buzz. Cheers.
Good luck:)

Marcus Curtis
I don't know why backup disks are not shipped with these things anymore. I can get the drivers on line and that is not a problem, but I would sure like a copy of the operating system.

The Dell's I've bought over the years have always had OS disks included making setup easy once you format the crap off the drive when you first get it.  Dell still offers this for their business class machines, which is all I'd buy from them.  And still Win 7 at that.  Their drivers disk is probably out of date before you receive it so you have to download recent stuff anyway.
 
However, it's not really necessary anymore, is it.  You can just download an image of your OS, make your own OS disk, and activate with the code on the computer.
 
 

For what it's worth - you can also stop services with a batch file (or a .cmd file) such as:
net stop "windows update"
net stop "Windows Firewall"
net stop "acronis scheduler2 service"
net stop "computer browser"
net stop "ike and authip ipsec keying modules"
net stop "ip helper"
net stop "ipsec policy agent"
net stop "tcp/ip netbios helper"
net stop "WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service"
net stop "Network List Service"
net stop "Network Location Awareness"
net stop "dhcp client"
net stop "dns client"
(spell the names exactly right)
 
 
Then when you're not recording - another batch file does the opposite "net start..." in the opposite order.
 
You can do a lot in a batch file - and google is very helpful (so are we here on the forum) - and it's easier than disabling services etc one by one. Just sayin...
 
 

"If you don't have the original windows OEM CD contact Dell for a copy, then again you could try this assuming your key will work ;)
http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/"
 
Is there an ISO file for Windows XP with all it's updates?

A quick google (all sorts of ISO's from Microsofts download site here):
http://deny120025.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/file-iso-windows-xp-vista-7-and-8/
 
Please note it won't have all the updates, you will still need to run Windows update, and I believe by April next year XP will have no updates any more (end of life).
 
Cheers...

net stop "Windows Firewall"
 
Never do this :)

I use this in W7 64bit to stop/modify services :

http://codestuff.obninsk.ru/products_starter.html

Dispite the Russian address, its served me well over the yeas, XP through W7.

Cheers,
Jerry