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How to use a Blonde Guy Recovery DVD

ArcaOS version

This version of the essay is for Blonde Guy computers with ArcaOS.

Use the following link to How to use an eComStation-based Blonde Guy recovery DVD.

This page describes how to use a Blonde Guy recovery DVD. The purpose of the recovery DVD is to restore the original ArcaOS installation to a computer as supplied by Blonde Guy. These instructions apply also to the Blonde Guy recovery USB stick.

The recovery DVD is bootable. If you have no bootable volumes, for example if you have a new hard disk, then the recovery DVD is the easiest way to restore ArcaOS.

Preparing the volume for installation

Blonde Guy ArcaOS computers come with one of two disk configurations. The first factory configuration has three volumes, ArcaOS, Programs and Home. The second configuration has only one. The backup and restore programs can work with either configuration.

If you already have the volumes that came with the computer, and you want to restore the original content, then nothing needs to be done to prepare the volumes. You may proceed to "Booting the Recovery DVD."

Multi Volume configuration

Volume NameDisk FormatDrive LetterVolume Size
ArcaOS-H JFS Q:10,000 MB
Data JFS D:whatever is left
Programs JFS E:20,000 MB

Single Volume configuration

Volume NameDisk FormatDrive LetterVolume Size
ArcaOS-F JFS F:10,000 MB
Data JFS D:whatever is left

Booting the Recovery DVD

Overview

To install the system using the Recovery DVD, the computer is booted to the DVD, and the user will create the disk volumes and install boot manager. All of the volumes must be formatted JFS. The recovery DVD has a zip archive for each volume. After each archive is unzipped to the corresponding volume, the computer is restored.

First Screen - Boot from DVD (or USB stick)

First Screen - Boot from DVD

On the first screen, select Boot from DVD. This selection must be made in twenty seconds or the computer will attempt to boot from the hard drive.

Second Screen - Boot with Default values

Second Screen - Boot with Default values

On the second screen, take the option to boot with default values. The system will display the ArcaOS logo, then some information about ACPI, and eventually should show the Blonde Guy recovery DVD screen.

If the default values don't work, try editing them as below. If the default values do work, skip ahead to the Blonde Guy recovery screen.

Alternate Second Screen - Boot with menu for own values

Alternate Second Screen - Boot with menu for own values

Some systems need to adjust the system settings to boot properly. For example, a system requires the GenGradd driver rather than Panorama to boot properly. In that case, you'll need to adjust the values manually.

On the second screen, take the option to boot with menu for own values. The system will display the menu for own values.

Alternate Screen - Menu for own values

The menu screen for Help should come up. The help screen can help you navigate the menu. In this case, use Page Down to navigate to the System Type page.

Alternate Screen - Menu for system type

The menu screen for System Type should come up. To change the display driver, use the Tab key to move down to Display driver, then use the arrow keys to select GenGradd.

Alternate Screen - Save changes

Once the appropriate drivers are selected, press F10 to save the changes and boot. The system will display the ArcaOS logo, then some information about ACPI, and eventually should show the Blonde Guy recovery DVD screen.

Blonde Guy Recovery Screen

Blonde Guy Recovery Screen

On the Blonde Guy recovery Screen, select System Management. The other options would allow you to do a new ArcaOS install.

Blonde Guy Recovery Menu

Blonde Guy Recovery Menu

After selecting System Management, Suntan Special will present the Blonde Guy Recovery Menu. Select Restore Volume if you want to restore ArcaOS to an already partitioned disk.

Restore Volume

Blonde Guy Restore Volume

Restore Volume will restore the Factory Build to the selected volumes. Even if the Factory Build is separated into separate volumes for operating system, programs and Home directory, the backed up information will be restored. The operating system drive will be formatted and all existing information on that volume will be replaced with the backup. If they are separate drives, then Home and Programs will not be erased, but information may be overwritten by the backup.

Selecting the backup to restore

Selecting a volume to restore

Select a parent directory for the backup volumes. For the DVD, S:\Factory is the default choice. For the USB stick, U:\ is the default choice. All of the available volumes will be listed.

Selecting the backup to restore

Selecting a volume to restore

Volumes to restore will follow the naming convention as follows. The name of the operating system comes first, in this case ArcaOS, followed by the dash character, which is used as a separator. The boot drive letter comes next, followed by the file type extension .zip.

For the recovery DVD, only one volume will be shown by default. Select that volume to restore and press OK.

Confirming the backup to restore

Confirming a restore

This screen shows the action to be performed. This is the final warning. All of the information on the operating system volume will be erased and replaced by the backup volume. Press OK to restore the volume.

Completion of the backup to restore

Completing a restore

This screen shows the completed restore process. Details of the restore volume are presented. Press OK.

Completion of the backup to restore 2

Completing a restore 2

This second screen shows the completed restore process. The volume is now ready to use. Press OK.

Booting the new system

System shutdown

The new volume is ready to use. Shutdown the recovery volume. When the shutdown screen is presented, press Ctrl-Alt-Del.