e918f889   
   XPost: alt.windows-xp, microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment,   
   microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support   
   XPost: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general   
   From: greegor47@gmail.com   
      
   On Nov 21, 3:25 am, OldGuy  wrote:   
   > As far as I know, I do not have anything on my laptop that will do what   
   > I want.   
      
   What several people have been suggesting is that   
   you make an image copy, which various programs   
   will do.  Instead of an invisible or hidden partition   
   you can use a readily visible partition.   
      
   My standard lately is to partition every drive   
   with 15 GB at each end, marked First and Last,   
   with the rest of the drive partitioned and marked   
   DATA.   
      
   I install Windows onto the First partition, install   
   SP3 and all of the updates from the Microsoft update site,   
   and support items like Adobe reader, Flash, Shockwave Players,   
   Java, etc.  I like a little tiny red fast shutdown button   
   in my quicklaunch...   
      
   Once you get a MODEL system just the way you like it,   
   you clone it to the Last partition for safe keeping.   
   I use the free version of XXCLONE which even lets   
   me multiboot to boot from the last partition.   
   (It switches which one is C: but the First/Last label   
   helps keep a user from getting confused.)   
      
   Ideally you would also make a CLONE of your   
   system partition to another drive or several drives   
   as well.  Perhaps even a USB external hard disk   
   or a 32 GB USB Flash drive...   
      
   To put it simply, IMAGE copiers or Partition CLONING   
   would give you the sort of quick fix you described, IF   
   you prepare things right.   
      
   On my 3.4 GHz desktops XXCLONE takes   
   about 20 minutes to clone an 8 GB Windows   
   system partition.   
   You can't clone TO the system you booted on   
   so that's why booting on the Last partition is   
   the first step for cloning the Last partition to   
   the First partition.   
      
   On a 200 GB HD I'd be tempted to rig it with   
   two backup bootable partitions in addition   
   to the first one, but that could add more confusion   
   than it's worth.  A clone to another drive would   
   of course be preferable.   
      
   Somewhere I saw that some business people   
   who fly a lot regularly CLONE their drive right   
   before each trip, in case an X-Ray machine   
   wipes it or it gets damaged by dropping.   
      
   They leave a clone drive image in a locked   
   desk drawer or in an IT holding area before   
   each trip.   
      
   I hope that helps.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)