Creating bootable recovery DVD

[DiscoStu]

So, I've spent the last day rebuilding my laptop, re-installing drivers, applications etc etc.

Is there a free app I can use to create an image of the hard drive that will create a bootable DVD I can use to do a quick re-install?

Thanks

[TheRefactornator]

Norton Ghost can do it but it's not free: http://www.symantec.com/norton/ghost

[voodooflux]

So, I've spent the last day rebuilding my laptop, re-installing drivers, applications etc etc.

Is there a free app I can use to create an image of the hard drive that will create a bootable DVD I can use to do a quick re-install?

Thanks

Few mentioned here.

I used Ghost to do this in the past, but I think the more recent versions (under Norton/Symantec) have become quite bloated.

[cojak]

I use Acronis, it's not free but it didn't cost much.

[BrowneIssue]

On my XP machines I use DriveImage XML from Runtime Software to create an image of the drive on another partition (while the machine is running).

But I do partition the drive 60% / 40% to make that possible.

It is free. And I have done full and partial restores from it more than once. It will restore to a different size partition.

[dinker]

Clonezilla - when I built this PC I installed XP and configured it then cloned the HD. If ever I need to enter my credit card details in a website I plug the clone in as it`s guaranteed to be clean.

[vetran]

driveimage is good.

[s2budd]

So, I've spent the last day rebuilding my laptop, re-installing drivers, applications etc etc.

Is there a free app I can use to create an image of the hard drive that will create a bootable DVD I can use to do a quick re-install?

Thanks

I've just spent four days doing a rebuild and I have to say Windows is utter pants. Anyway, now that's off my chest. I use Acronis True image also. It's a very good product. Don't forget though (as I did) that once you have installed all of the apps that you use day to day and are not going to change and configured Windows as you wish then take a full backup and keep it. This is the one you use when Windows slows down and needs a rebuild - not the one that you take every month or so because otherwise once you re-install from the monthly backup it will still need a re-build. Obvious really but I forgot it.