How do I..................

[Kat]

That's a new one on me...

[dogsmum]

 Told ya, he's very clever

[Mike]

That's using the built in windows partition directly, mostly all the recovery disc does these days is activate it

[Brains]

Yep hidden recovery partition is on alot of laptops now

[Kat]

I must read-up on that one. Sounds kinda useful.

[Taf]

If you don't get a full copy on CD of Windoze from new, it's always the method used. Some machines need F10, some F11.. and some need Delete...

Some manufacturers use a method that requires a Boot CD to open the hidden partition.. and they are expensive if you need a replacement.

I have succesfully used Partition Magic from a diskette boot disk to show the hidden partition and copy it to another logical aprtition for backup.

Another common method is to make a Ghost copy of your C drive to cd/dvd.

[Spite]

  XP Pro, is common as a pirate version, 'cause it's stand alone, and doesn't need activating.  Trouble is, most pirate copies have been altered and include some horrible adware/spyware.

[Kat]

I have two drives, one of which is a clone of the other, courtesy of Acronis True Image.

One dies, I simply use the other. 

I've just figured-out what you're all on about, now!

F11 to alter the boot device! I thought you meant as XP setup started! 

Mine's F8.

I use it quite a lot, as it 'appens, as I have two static SATA drives and two caddies, which I use for various other drives with different operating-systems on.