| Windows 7: How do I restore my laptop to factory settings after a HD crash? |
04 Jul 2012
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#1 | | |
How do I restore my laptop to factory settings after a HD crash? My hard drive crashed recently. I'm using an HP notebook, I'm not entirely sure what the model is and all that, I'm not too computer savvy. Anyway, my hard drive crashed today, I'm not sure why. My computer fails every start-up test and will not load any diagnostics or restore menus. Is there a way I can make my computer get to the Windows restore menu to completely reset my laptop? I'm on Windows 7, if that makes any difference. Sorry for the lack of information.
Roger | My System Specs |
| OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 |
04 Jul 2012
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#2 | | Windows 7 SP1, Home Premium, 64-bit |
If you have had an outright hard drive failure, there is no point in even attempting to restore----you would need a new hard drive.
But maybe the drive has not failed.
What do you mean by "crash"---specifically?
What start-up tests, diagnostics, and restore menus have you tried?
Can you currently boot to your hard drive? | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one OS Windows 7 SP1, Home Premium, 64-bit CPU Intel Sandy Bridge i5-2500, not overclocked Motherboard Gigabyte H67A-UD3H-B3, full ATX Memory 4 GB Crucial DDR3-1333 Graphics Card none; graphics are integrated on CPU Sound Card onboard: Realtek ALC892; external: USB Behringer UF0-202 Monitor(s) Displays NEC 90GX2-BK 19" LCD Screen Resolution 800 x 640 Keyboard Leopold Tenkeyless with Cherry Blue switches, USB Mouse Logitech or Microsoft optical wired; either USB or PS 2 PSU Seasonic SS-560KM, modular Case Antec Solo II Cooling CPU: Scythe Big Shuriken; Case: Scythe Slipstream 800 & 500 Hard Drives System: Intel 320 Series SSD, 80 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD15EADS-00P8B0, 1.5TB Other Info Power consumption of this system, including monitor: 68 watts at idle; 144 watts at full load |
04 Jul 2012
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#3 | | |
I'm not entirely sure what I mean by "crash", to be honest. My computer will start up and immediately give me the option to press enter to continue with normal start-up or press F2 to run tests. I've pressed F2 and tried running the start-up test, the hard disk test, and all of the other tests. They fail and then really give me no other option than to exit, only leading to a failing start-up. When I don't do that, I press enter to regularly continue with start-up and press F11 to see if the menu to factory reset my system will load. It seems to get halfway there, loading the screen for it but the menus don't show up. Apologies again for the lack of info and terminology, I'm not all that computer savvy. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 |
04 Jul 2012
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#4 | | Windows 7 SP1, Home Premium, 64-bit |
see comments in bold 
Quote: Originally Posted by rogerfinkle My computer will start up and immediately give me the option to press enter to continue with normal start-up or press F2 to run tests. When everything was OK, were you presented with these same 2 menu choices when booting? Or is the F2 choice new?
I've pressed F2 and tried running the start-up test, the hard disk test, and all of the other tests. They fail Fail meaning the tests fail to run?
Or fail meaning they run and give you an onscreen message that the test failed? | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one OS Windows 7 SP1, Home Premium, 64-bit CPU Intel Sandy Bridge i5-2500, not overclocked Motherboard Gigabyte H67A-UD3H-B3, full ATX Memory 4 GB Crucial DDR3-1333 Graphics Card none; graphics are integrated on CPU Sound Card onboard: Realtek ALC892; external: USB Behringer UF0-202 Monitor(s) Displays NEC 90GX2-BK 19" LCD Screen Resolution 800 x 640 Keyboard Leopold Tenkeyless with Cherry Blue switches, USB Mouse Logitech or Microsoft optical wired; either USB or PS 2 PSU Seasonic SS-560KM, modular Case Antec Solo II Cooling CPU: Scythe Big Shuriken; Case: Scythe Slipstream 800 & 500 Hard Drives System: Intel 320 Series SSD, 80 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD15EADS-00P8B0, 1.5TB Other Info Power consumption of this system, including monitor: 68 watts at idle; 144 watts at full load |
04 Jul 2012
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#5 | | |
That option was never given to me before, and all the tests resulted in an onscreen message that they failed. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 |
05 Jul 2012
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#6 | | Win7 x 6 PC's California, Florida, Boston |
Enter BIOS setup at boot by tapping the F2 key or whatever is given on first boot screen. Is the HD showing up under storage devices? It will have a long model number which if you google it will tell you its make and model.
Download and burn to CD the HD maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan to boot and run. It will confirm its condition.
If it's not listed in BIOS it needs to be replaced. You can return it to HP or replace it yourself. Google for a video on how to remove the HD from your model and then shop for a new one to replace it.
After replacing HD use the Recovery Disks you made or order from HP to recover to factory condition, or get the superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. | My System Specs | | How do I restore my laptop to factory settings after a HD crash? problems? All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:04 PM. | |