Question:
I would like to buy a PC from you, but I am not sure what to make of the X-Image option in your PC configurator. (25/06/2007)

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Answer: This is a service we have created with our business users in mind, though it is VERY useful for any PC user.
An 80 GB USB pocket hard drive will be shipped with your PC containing a Restore X-Image of your configuration. This is a perfect copy of the PCs working state as it is was when we had freshly installed the operating systems with nothing but the drivers and other essential software.


What this means is that should anything go wrong with your current installation like a faulty hard drive, corrupt windows file or Virus problems, all that is needed to be done is to enter the Windows Vista Ultimate or Business disc, plug in the USB hard drive and start the PC. Once you have done so, follow the instructions below to fully restore your PC to its exact state as it was before. The process takes about five minutes.

More importantly however, you can create more X-Image restore points later. This will save any and all, software or data that you currently have on your PC making an exact replica of the PCs current state. Keeping your X-Image back-up up to date would effectively mean you didn’t have to worry about any problems caused by software errors. Similarly, should your system hard disk fail entirely, all that would need to be done would be to get a replacement, install it and then follow the process of a system restore and you would have your operating system and software back as it was before. Please note this is a completely different process to what you probably know as restore points under windows XP.

To perform an X-image restoration:

1) Make sure your BOOT device priority is set to CD (just like installing a fresh copy of Windows. To do this you will need to enter you PC’s BIOS.
To enter your BIOS, start the system and wait to be prompted to hit a key to enter setup. This key is often ‘delete’ (or ‘del’) but it varies depending on the manufacturer. It may be ‘F2’ or another ‘F’ key but the principle will always be the same. The message will be along the lines of ‘hit del to enter setup’.

Once in the BIOS find the option that allows you set the ‘priority boot device’. Refer to your motherboards manual if you are having trouble locating this option. Once you have found the option, set the first boot device to ‘CDROM’. Plug in your USB hard drive followed by your Windows Ultimate or Business DVD and press ‘F10’ followed by ‘enter’ to save and exit

2) Hit a key to ‘boot from disc’ when prompted. The windows installation process will now begin. Select a language when prompted and click ‘next’. On the following screen you will see ‘Repair your computer’ on the bottom left. Click on it and click ‘Select’.
**On The following screen click ‘next’ and you will get to a screen with an option o perform a ‘Complete PC restore’

The default restore point will always be the latest one. If you would like to choose an earlier one, simply select ‘Restore different backup’ and click ‘next’**

3) To finish the process you will be asked if you would like to ‘format and repartition disks’. Tick the box to select yes (all data that has not been saved either on an X-Image or elsewhere will be lost) followed by ‘Finish’
This process takes about 5 minutes. One quirk (that we expect to be fixed with the first service pack) is that sometimes after the completion of a restore point your PC will not finish restarting. If this happens, just hit the power switch and do it manually. This will not damage your restore operation.


To make an X-Image Restoration Point.

Each X-Image will take up at least 7.5 Gb of space so make sure the hard drive that you will be using to make the point with has enough space.

1) Go to the ‘start’ bar (which has now been replaced with a Windows icon in the case of Vista) followed by ‘Accessories’ and then ‘System tools’
Select ‘backup status configuration’, ‘complete PC backup’ and then ‘create backup now’.

Select disk you would like to back up, (system disk will be labeled as C: drive) click ‘OK’ where prompted and then make some coffee. The process will take about 5 minutes or so. Once it is finished click ‘OK’

2) You need to rename your X-Image restore points manually so you can identify which one is which when it comes to using them. Remember also that you if you do not rename them, they will save over one another, the new one replacing the original just like any other type of file. To do this, go again to the ‘start’ Windows icon.
Go to ‘My computer’ then double click on your hard drive where you saved the backup image and select the folder named ‘Windows image backup’. The default name for the file will be the PC’s name. Here, simply right click the folder with the new backup you have made (the new one will be identifiable by the date) and select ‘rename’.

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