it probably has it all stored on a separate partition on the hard drive, you should have been prompted to create your discs as soon as you got the pc. If you have not done that yet I would suggest doing that asap then you will have the discs should you ever need them. That info should be in your information from the manufacturer. But you can just google your model and look it up online. You an also google how to make recovery discs for windows 7 and also how to make an image of your system. Windows 7 has all those options built in now. Windows 7

Finally, my restore issue is SOLVED. I spent countless hours investigating this to no avail. Took it to a technician who found that Dell has their own backup/restore on the same C drive (called PRB) so when I tried to create a restore point, there wasn't enough space because it was trying to restore from 2 places on the same drives (like a mirror), if that makes sense. He disabled the Dell one, and whalla...it now restores as it should. Case closed.

You're very welcome, Urlee. I know the frustration of trying to get a new system to do exactly what you want it to do. The February updates were OK. It was the January updates that wreaked havoc with our systems. But that being said...most of the troublesome updates were either removed by MS or corrected. That still doesn't remove the possibility of problems but at this point...I doubt it. MS did away with Gadgets some time ago. I think over three/four years ago. After offering them...they decided they only gave another point of entry for beasties...so they discontinued them. I'm surprised you found the weather gadget. Is it one that you transferred from you old system? Better you should go into your local TV weather site and download a link to their site for your weather. Or link to the National Weather Service...as I do. They're much better than the gadget ever was as far as predictability and reliability are concerned. Enter you zip code in the appropriate box and you'll find daily/weekly forecasts for your area as well as all other weather info. http://forecast.weather.gov I don't use Win Live at all...for anything. I'm a MS Office "girl" and purchased Office 2010 after 2003 reached the point that it wasn't being supported. I use Outlook for my mail program and recommend it whenever I'm asked. I believe that MS offers a free version of Outlook that you might want to take a look at. I don't know all the particulars about it but I'm sure you can find it if you check the MS download site. Beyond that...I don't think your problems are with Acer. I think they're with MS Win7...and once you get over a few bumps in the road setting up your system just the way you want it...you'll be fine. It's just the initial shock of having to get used to new "things". That's why I always hang onto whatever version of Win I'm working with until the very last breath of air remains in the program. :-) I went kicking and screaming from XP 2 directly to Win 7 a few years ago...hating every minute of the acclimation period. But now I think it's the best program MS has offered since XP 2 and I'll probably put up an equal fuss when I have to go to Win 10. :-) Anne

Do you plan to restore to an earlier time or date? here's a link to how to do this:http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ht/system-restore-vista.htm Or do you plan to do a format and reinstall Vista having the CD?