How do I reset Windows 7 to factory?

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  1. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #11

    caperjack said:
    Ztruker said:
    If you wipe the hard drive you will lose your Recovery Partition so I would avoid doing this unless you have a Recovery or Windows 7 Installation DVD.

    Here is info for using the Recovery Partition for your computer: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -Support- Troubleshooting G53SW
    this is not true ,i had a Compaq laptop for testing,wiped its hdd and reinstall different versions of windows ,many ,many times ,and the recover partition stayed intact ,until i selected it one time to format it and make one big partition .

    When the term wipe is used here a secure erase in meant, not a format which is not all the same thing, all a format does is remove the format configuration data and a secure erase over-writes the entire HDD with zeroes.
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  2. Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #12

    caperjack, if you truly wipe the hard drive, all partitioning information is gone and that includes your Recovery partition. If you have a wipe program that wipes individual partitions then I would agree with you but what has been recommended here is not that, it is a full drive wipe.

    BFK, the op said "How do I reset Windows 7 to factory" then said "want to make sure everything is absolutely wiped clean before I ship this back". Can't have it both ways unless he has a Recovery DVD or has created the Recovery discs as Gregg mentioned.

    If he wipes the drive he no longer has the capability of restoring to Factort state.
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  3. Posts : 119
    win8pro 32 bit win 7Ulitmate 32 bit
       #13

    i stand corrected ,thanks, and sorry for the missinfo
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  4. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #14

    Hello again caperjack.


    If ever you don't want to wipe the entire HDD, you can do a partition-specific wipe of any single partition using the Partition Wizard Bootable Disk (PWBD) have a look at Option Three in the tutorial at this link below.

    Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #15

    Ah ha! That's the one betelgeuse4721 needs. Does a good wipe of his boot partition and leaves his recovery partition intact.
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  6. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #16

    Ztruker said:
    Ah ha! That's the one betelgeuse4721 needs. Does a good wipe of his boot partition and leaves his recovery partition intact.


    Yep, it'll do that too, have a look at Option Two for that.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2
    I believe its Win7 Home Premium
       #17

    Not exactly sure if I should restore to factory settings


    Purchased a HP DV6 (going by memory i am at work right now) its a floor model (demo). There are a bunch of programs I do not use and I am getting a reoccurring message from hp manager. (its actually not working). Never done a factory restore before and believe by reading some of your posts that maybe I should do this. Get a fresh start. But my concern is since I bought it with no windows 7 start-up disc (it was pre-installed ), how would I make sure that I don't screw this up.
    I would like to be able to just be able to reinstall the programs/software I do own with a clean slate. What first steps do I need to do with what I want to keep before I hit factory restore. Hope I make sense.Thanks for any help received.
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  8. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #18

       Information
    We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
    & made the Startup Repair CD.
    startup repair disc-create


    Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?


    Pressing the f11 key during startup on a computer with an HP factory image will start the system recovery process even if the prompt is not displayed.

    How to use HP Recovery:
    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...s&dlc=en&lc=en
    Performing an HP System Recovery (Windows 7) | HP® Support
    How to make HP Recovery DVD disks:
    Recover Windows Vista Operating System Using HP Recovery | HP® Support

    How to make HP Recovery USB disk:
    Using the Downloadable USB Recovery Flash Disk Creation Utility HP Pavilion dv6700z CTO Entertainment Notebook PC | HP® Support

    or
    You can Order HP Recovery Disks from here:
    Country-Language Selector | HP® Support
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #19

    Hi frenchieinusa73
    Welcome to SevenForums.

    theog said:
       Information
    We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.

    & made the Startup Repair CD.
    startup repair disc-create


    Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?


    Pressing the f11 key during startup on a computer with an HP factory image will start the system recovery process even if the prompt is not displayed.

    How to use HP Recovery:
    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...s&dlc=en&lc=en
    Performing an HP System Recovery (Windows 7) | HP® Support
    How to make HP Recovery DVD disks:
    Recover Windows Vista Operating System Using HP Recovery | HP® Support

    How to make HP Recovery USB disk:
    Using the Downloadable USB Recovery Flash Disk Creation Utility HP Pavilion dv6700z CTO Entertainment Notebook PC | HP® Support

    or
    You can Order HP Recovery Disks from here:
    Country-Language Selector | HP® Support
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 2
    I believe its Win7 Home Premium
       #20

    Theog,

    No recovery disc nor startup repair cd was made. Purchased about a yr ago. And it was a demo. so people had been"using" it in store.
    When you speak of recovery usb disk. Is this for the usb ports? Or just to have on a flash drive? Sorry for my ignorance...
      My Computer


 
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