upgrading to windows 7 with a VGN-AR71S - can i still use restore c:\\?

[terrortowers]

hello there, its me again

i'm just wondering if i can do an "in place upgrade" for my vaio (basically without formatting) then if i do this, will i still be able to access the "restore c:\\ drive" option when pressing f10 on bootup? the option that resets the computer back to factory settings, operating system and software

if so will i still be able to access it after doing a formatted install (total reinstall upgrade to windows 7)

i just want the opportunity to go back to square one in case it all goes wrong in windows 7

(p.s. this is the restore c:\\ drive tool i want to keep access to: http://genesis.sony-europe.com/instranet/ccil_sony/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=35564&l=en_GB&m=VGN-...

thanks

terror

[Blencogo]

Hi terror,

If you purchase an UPGRADE version of Windows 7 it will not format the drive so all programmes, software and settings will remain intact - including the Recovery Partition and F10 recovery.

If you use a full version of Windows 7 and do a clean install, Windows 7 will just format drive C:\. You will lose all your preinstalled software - much of which cannot be replaced - but the Recovery Partition should remain intact and F10 should still work. Do not do an additional format of your drive.

A word of warning - I believe the Recovery Partition is deleted by the Sony Windows 7 upgrade disc if you use the free Sony upgrade. If you use the Sony disc you must make at least two sets of Recovery DVDs because (presumably for Microsoft copyright reasons) the Recovery Partition is deleted.

I would always make two sets of Recovery DVDs anyway - better safe than sorry!