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 win7 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
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26829-convert-dynamic-disk-basic-disk.html

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 ???

niteshranjan said:

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.

Click to expand...

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

niteshranjan said:

if i "expand" my C drive and make everything basic, will i be able to use my recovery partition.

Click to expand...

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 ??

niteshranjan said:

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 ??

Click to expand...

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.

i have backed up all the imp data, however i just dont want to loose my OS as i do not have windows 7 disc with me

lets see how it goes...will keep you posted !!!

Make sure you first delete one of the 5 partitions. PW422 will not work as long as you have 5 partitions.

You should get all data off D: then delete that partition before converting from dynamic to basic. Then use Partition Wizard to expand C: to the right into the unallocated space.
Provided you haven't changed the size of the other partitions I wouldn't expect your recovery and tools to be affected.

Unfortunately, IMO, I think HP have chosen a very poor partition structure to begin with.

i deleted my D drive ..expanded the C drive, but the software has no option of converting from dynamic to basic.....m pretty confused now
Probably...i will go for a clean install. Is there any way of creating my own recovery partition..which can be used using F11.
Also , isnt any other way to use the recovery partition of HP which is there on my C drive ???

Dude...with the help of an excellent software ( Dynamic disk converter) i have now converted my drives into basic and therefore m a step closer. I can now also see my recovery partition as a drive ! now the problem is i am not able to use the F11 function...any fix for that...or anyway i can use the recovery partition ???

niteshranjan said:

i deleted my D drive ..expanded the C drive, but the software has no option of converting from dynamic to basic.....m pretty confused now
Probably...i will go for a clean install. Is there any way of creating my own recovery partition..which can be used using F11.
Also , isnt any other way to use the recovery partition of HP which is there on my C drive ???

Click to expand...

Use this software advised
https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=b0a22789320e3247&id=B0A22789320E3247!215
You need to create a bootable CD/DVD. using a program like
The Official ImgBurn Website (highly recommended)

We are dealing with moderately complex issues here. If a clean install is the way you want to go then I suggest you go with it. But before you do maybe being a bit adventurous could be interesting for you.

THe latest development is...i was able to enter the F11 option ...however in some time i got an error:

"The data is invalid. : Recovery partition index == bootPartition" and "The installed program can not start. Click OK to turn off the computer."

Now dont know how to fix this one....after all the effort i dont wanna jus give up !!!

Please give me some fix for this...

Thanks MJF, as mentioned in my last post i am getting error in the F11 recovery. I have the recovery partion, but dont know why that error. You have mentioned some softwares...but m not tech savvy like you..can you be a little descriptive after reading my current situation

I have now done everything possible but it doesnt seem to work !
- I made the disks to basic
- Got into F11 but with an error , partition is invalid
- Recovered the whole partition with a partition software, but the error remains same

Now i have got the whole recovered partition, is there any way i can make a recovery disc out of that recovery partition ???

NB: I just noticed your recovery partition is logical. Now that you just have 4 primary partitions you could try using Partition Wizard to make it a primary. Then try HP recovery.
(Windows Disk Management won't let you perform this operation but it is quite ok)

If this doesn't work then I suspect your recovery partition has been corrupted at some stage. Two options are:
1) Obtain a set of factory recovery DVDs from HP. This will probably cost you something.
2) Use the COA sticker Product key to do a clean install of Windows. This is a label stuck somewhere on your PC. You will need to download a Windows installation ISO. If you go this way here is a tutorial
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164
Note: The member who wrote this tutorial has made some specific comments concerning HP PCs.