Windows 7: How do I repair my recovery HDD on my Toshiba Satellite

Hello everyone,

I bought a used Lap top off of a former classmate of mine and after using it for about 6 months, I decided to do a complete factory restore on it to clean it up. I do not have any recovery disks so I need to do the factory restore using the HDD.

for some reason I can not run the factory restore. I follow the correct steps (FAQ :: How do I run a System Recovery? :: Support :: Toshiba :: Computers, Laptops/Notebooks, Tablets, Televisions, DVD and Blu-Ray Players, Camcorders, Storage, Accessories, and more) but it will not go into the restore mode. It just beeps and starts windows 7. Is my recovery driver corrupt? How can I repair it?

I have a Toshiba Satillite and it is running Windows 7. I think it might have originally been running Windows XP and the previous owner upgraded to Windows 7. I've lost contact with the guy I bought the lap-top from.

See attached for a screen shot of my drivers.

I hope someone can help me out!!




Thanks,

Ro82

If he upgraded to Windows 7 - the recovery partition would contain XP.

The upgrade proces would likely cause problems with accesing it.

If you need a Windows 7 install disc, you can get the .iso files from links at my digital life.

Just google:

win 7 sp1 iso my digital life

You would need the windows 7 product key. get it from your existing installation , before you reinstall.

You can find that with any number of programs - http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

The problem your having is do to the hidden partition is not there/available. It's missing all together. If it was there it would look like this (my laptop).



You can order the recovery disc from you laptops manufacturer for a nominal fee. I've order several from HP and Dell for less than $20 each. For the money you can't beat it. You will need to download the drivers or they may send a driver disc with it...Dell does or used to, it's been awhile since I've ordered any for some of my clients.

Ahh...I didn't read the whole post...yep SIW2 is correct. Get the ISO and do a clean install that way...just remember the ISO is bit specific and OS specific...you can't change or upgrade.

Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life

I ran the ProduKey program and it gives me a Product ID number but for the Product Key it says " Product key was not found"

Doesn't sound like a regular upgrade to me.

Maybe it came pre installed?

If that is the case, then you should have the product key on the laptop case ( sometimes under the battery .

It is on a funny looking sticker in very tiny writing.

is it one of the numbers that I took a picture of?

see attached for pic

Yep, it is the 25 digit product key.

The one that goes TXXXX-CXXXX -and so on.

Looks like Windows 7 key to me.

I expect Windows 7 came preinstalled - there is a different product key and activation system for the one on your HD.

The key on your sticker is a regular one - that is in case you need to clean reinstall.

You should be ok with that.

Awesome!! So now all I have to do is going to the website you provided earlier and download the Windows 7 Professional ISO? Do I have to burn it onto a disk or can I run it from my C: drive? Does this do a full clean up on my computer and delete all of the files, programs, user accounts, ect.?

It is a very big download.

You would be best burning it to dvd , or flash drive.

Then you have it for the future.

If you boot the dvd you will get the usual installation options.

See here:

Clean Install Windows 7

If you use that product key off the sticker, you may need to phone activate - depends on the oem .