- The Windows restore or recovery disc is a CD or DVD that users can insert into their computers to completely reformat them to the release state. This disc deletes any data from the drive and reinstalls the Windows operating system and other base software that came with the computer.
- Consumers may not receive a restore disc with their Windows computer at the time of purchase. Some manufacturers, such as HP, include this data in a separate partition known as the recovery or restore drive. The user can access this drive instead of inserting the disc to begin the operation. It is important for this data to be on a separate drive or disc in the event that the computer's hard drive crashes.
- Users should first back up any data, files or programs that they wish to keep before restoring the computer to its original state with the Windows Restore CD, especially if there are no copies of these files elsewhere. This data will become permanently erased when reformatting the drive.
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