| It used to be that when you bought a new | | | | application files. In this article I would like to show |
| computer, the computer manufacturer (Dell, | | | | you the exact seven steps that I used for this |
| Toshiba, Gateway, HP, etc.) would include a couple | | | | important one-time process (I did this on a |
| of discs which contained a backup of the original | | | | Windows 7 Gateway desktop but most |
| factory default operating system. These | | | | manufacturers provide basically the same setup |
| recovery CD's allowed you to reinstall the OS to | | | | procedure): |
| exactly as it was when you first bought the | | | | 1) From the Windows default Start menu, click All |
| computer. | | | | Programs, Gateway and then click Gateway |
| In recent years these recovery CD's are no | | | | Recovery Management. |
| longer being included with the new computer | | | | 2) In the Gateway Recovery Management |
| (cheaper for the manufacturer - they don't have | | | | window, click Create factory default disc. |
| to create the discs). The default recovery data is | | | | 3) In the Make Backup Image dialog box, insert a |
| now on the actual hard drive itself, and you the | | | | blank disc in the optical drive, and then click Next. |
| owner must copy (burn) this backup information | | | | 4) Disc 1 is burnt and verified. |
| to two or three DVD's. | | | | 5) In the Finished dialog box, insert the next blank |
| The other day a client had just bought a new | | | | disc in the optical drive, and then click Next. |
| Gateway computer and asked me to make a | | | | 6) Disc 2 is burnt and verified. |
| backup of the original factory installation in case | | | | 7) In the Success dialog box, click OK. |
| he ever needed to reinstall the OS, drivers and | | | | |