Windows 7: Cannot return computer to factory condition after partition editing

Hi,

Recently I purchased a new HP Pavilion g6. The HD has four partitions as you can see in the attachment.

Because I am used to work with a separate system partition and a separate data partition, I decided to split te C partition into two partitions. I used the Windows Disk Management tool to accomplish this. First I shrinked the C and after that I created a new partition in the unallocated space. Windows was working fine after that and it still is.

Soon after that I decided to return the computer to factory condition. Control Panel > Backup and Restore > Recover system settings of your computer > Advanced recovery methods > Return computer to factory condition. So far so good. But de pc didn't start restoring because when the computer booted up I got the following message.

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart you computer.
2. Choose your language settings, and then click "next"
3. Click "repair your computer"
If you don't have this disc, contact.........

File: \Boot\BCD
status: 0xc0000225
info: The boot selection failed because a required is inaccessible.

After that, I tried to undo the partition editing, by merging the separately created partitions together, so that i had one big C partition again. Unfortunatly without a postive result. When I tried to return the computer to factory condition I still got the same error message.



With the Windows 7 recovery cd I can "Use a system image that you created earlier to recover your computer" that just works fine, but I am not able to "Return the computer to factory condition".

Does anybody know what to do, so that I can return the pc back to factory condition?

Thanks in advance!

Mango2Mango

btw I am not a native English speaker so forgive me my errors.

Your Problem:
In the attempt to make a 5th partition you have changed your disk from a "Basic" to a "Dynamic" disk. Windows 7 (MBR) supports a maximum of 4 primary partitions then the disk needs to go dynamic or use one of the primary partitions as an "extended" partition full of as many logical drive partitions as you like.

Solution:
Convert your disk back from dynamic to Basic. The simplest approach is to download this earlier version of Partition Wizard which has a dynamic to basic conversion capability.
PW422
This will unzip to an ISO file that you burn to a CD or DVD then boot from it. Highlight your HDD and do the conversion. Make sure your personal data has been backed up first.

You might want to read this tutorial as well
Convert a Dynamic Disk to a Basic Disk

On another HP Laptop I have noticed the once the partitions are meddled with, the factory setting doesn't get restored. In your case the suggestion given by mjf may work because the partitioning would become identical to the original. However if a fifth partition is created any time, it may still not be possible to restore the factory conditions even if the disk is basic.

My suggestion is that if you want to create a fifth partition then after it is created, please image the system volume. This shall enable you to restore at any later time, the new partitioning configuration.

@mjf

Thanks very much! This solved the problem.

Mango2Mango

Hi MJF,

I have a i have a HP Probook 4520s (now out of warranty) and i want to bring the same to factory condition bcoz of virus issues.

Initially I had created new partition on my laptop and probably because of which i am not able to use the F11 recovery manager option.

1) In Disk management I can see my recovery partition (15 gb) but with no option of making it active.

2) My recovery partion is more like a folder in C: HP_RECOVERY_mountHPSF

As you had mentioned above regarding dynamic partition, when i checked mine,,,i found all my drives are dynamic including C drive. Now how do i merge my D drive and C drive and how do i change them to basic.

The whole purpose of this is to use the recovery partition (which is also dynamic). Kindly help !

And @ mango2mango - were you able to recover you laptop to factory condition using recovery partition ???

Follow the steps given by MJF in his post----use Partition Wizard 4.22 to convert the partitions from dynamic to basic.

Dynamic disks should always be avoided. When you made that fifth partition, you were likely asked "do you want to convert to dynamic" and you must have said yes. You should have said no.

Your data is at risk. I hope you have it backed up to some safe location.

You can't "merge" partitions. You would have to move data off the partition to a safe location and then delete the partition. Then expand a remaining partition into the recovered space. You can do all of that with Partition Wizard.

But first you need to convert back to basic disks and vow to never use dynamic disks again.

@ignatzatsonic thnx for the reply. I will use the steps mentioned by MJF, however, I have a question, if i "expand" my C drive and make everything basic, will i be able to use my recovery partition.

I have attached my disk management image in my previous post. You can see 5 partitions in it. Now I can delete D drive easily (thats my personal drive). However, I can not delete the recovery partiton then how will i convert that in basic drive.

Just a little confused, want to be sure before doing it, otherwise it can brick my laptop !!

THanks for the help in advance

I have heard that fiddling with partition structures can in some cases make it difficult to use recovery partitions.

But, I'm no authority---I build my own and don't use recovery partitions.

However, when you went to dynamic, you went into Neverland----you have to get back to basic partitions and hope for the best.

If you had never gone to dynamic, then a simple expansion of C would not affect the recovery partition.

Best advice: get back to basic, hope the recovery partition works.

If it doesn't, hope you can nonetheless make recovery disks.

If not, maybe you can order them from HP?

Otherwise, you can always hose it all and do a clean install.

hahahah...too many hopes in it mate !!! nyways as of now...m figuring out how to use the Partition Wizard 4.22 software lets see how it goes. The only thing i wanna make sure is during the whole dynamic to basic thing is there chances of me crashing the OS itself ??

You will be booting off the Partition Wizard disk, not Windows.

It is HIGHLY reliable but not perfect.

In your situation, you don't have much choice but to try it and hope your data is intact if you have not backed it up.