Windows 7: How do I reset Windows 7 to factory?

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.

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.

i stand corrected ,thanks, and sorry for the missinfo

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

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.

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.

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

Hi frenchieinusa73
Welcome to SevenForums.

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...