Can't open system recovery?

I'm confused - the tutorial (help?) shows a USB option, but you say it isn't available on the 1010.

See: Creating Recovery Discs or Saving a Recovery Image to a USB Flash Drive (Windows 7) HP Mini 210-1010CA PC | HP® Support

Ok, now here's where you get to make the call.

The drive has exhibited faulty behavior - do you take a chance or do you replace it?
I've been suggesting that it be replaced.

Either way, you'll need the recovery media.

I bleieve that you will be able to use the 1010 media on the 1071.... but after it is installed, you'll have to change the product key to match what's on the COA sticker (bottom of machine or in the battery compartment)
11111-22222-33333-44444-55555

If that doesn't work we can use the Win7 media and the COA... but you'll need to access the Win7 Starter install.

Make your decision on the HD and then try the HP Recovery media (I think I read you'll need a 16 GB flash drive - you should verify that information, the page linked above says it can't be larger than 32 GB)

Bill

See if this (yes posted before) works on the 1010: Using the Downloadable USB Recovery Flash Disk Creation Utility | HP® Support

I'm not sure, but you might have run it on your main PC, not the 1010.

edit: Found Flash drive space requirements
Your USB storage device should have at least 8 GB of available free space. Verify the exact amount of free space on the flash drive before creating the recovery solution.
Use a 16 GB flash disc for best results.

All right...

Attach the Win7 USB to a working machine, just attach-don't boot.
Navigate to the sources folder on the flash drive
rename ei.cfg to ei_cfg.bak

You might have to change the Folder Options -> View to see hidden and system files

If you can't find it in sources, try searching the flash drive for ei type:cfg

Acid test redux..

Boot the 1071 with the Win7 USB and select install

Hopefully you'll be able to select Win7 Starter and complete a fresh clean Win7 install (no HP bloatware)

When you get to Step 7 in this tutorial: Clean Install Windows 7
you should delete the 100 MB partition you created to test the 1071 drive.
In other words, the entire 1071 drive should be unallocated space.
Hightlight the 100 MB partition and click delete

When you get to step 13 - use the product key on your COA sticker.
Pay attention to step 14

Use the 1010 to dowload the Network driver from the 1071 Drivers page- you will have to determine what is on your machine - there are too many for me to figure that out.

Belarc advisor might help: Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit, for software, hardware and security configuration information on your computer. Software license management, IT asset management, cyber security audits, and more.

When / if the install goes well, I recommend changing the way the disk is partitioned on the 1071.
100 MB System reserved (perhaps 200 Mb - whatever the install sets up is fine)
75 GB C: drive (primary)
remaining space becomes an extended partiton with logical drives

I can walk you though that AFTER the Win7 install.

TyGuy96 said:

Slartybart said:

Thanks Steve for reminding me that there is no valued data on the 1071 drive.........
........, but let's keep the focus on the 1071 issue.

I'll take one more stab at the 1071 drive.

Boot with PartWiz USB
How to Wipe Disk with partition manager? Partition Wizard Wipe Disk Help

Sorry, that's an image from the tutorial I was looking at lol. That wasn't an option.

Ok, so I created the new partition in diskpart and ran a Hard Disk Test... And it passed!

Your welcome Bill,

Good 'ol Partition Wizard, finally a breakthrough!

TyGuy96 said:

TyGuy96 said:

Anak said:

TyGuy96 said:

Also, I accidentally formatted and put Roxio on my HP_Recovery drive instead of my usb any idea on how I can get those files back?

Is this your 1010 mini or your main workstation recovery drive?

I woke up from a nap and this popped into my mind, not sure if it will work or not: Recuva - Undelete, Unerase, File and Disk Recovery - Free Download It will depend on how much activity you have had since it happened.

My main workstation recovery drive.
Recuva didn't seem to be able to recover the files.

I ran the program on my mini, but it said that the recovery media has been created before.
I don't think I have it stored anywhere

Ty your last two quotes are a little confusing, but after what we've been through it's understandable. Has it been two weeks already? We should have a scorecard.....

Well, wherever you may have it stored, and it is still relevant you may want to try: TestDisk - Partition Recovery and File Undelete Test Disk is an Open Source CMD line only data recovery utility, there is no graphical user interface (GUI - "gooey"), so, you should read the documentation first to accustom yourself to how it works, scroll down to the Documentation area of the above wiki link to see more.

Digging further I found where you can create an image of the recovery partition: Image Creation - CGSecurity It is listed at the bottom of this page: Running TestDisk - CGSecurity under Test Disk Menu Options.

Under the second link at Test Disk Menu Options: You may be able to repair the recovery partition.

Repair an NTFS MFT

The MFT (Master File Table) is sometimes corrupted. If Microsoft's Checkdisk (chkdsk) failed to repair the MFT, run TestDisk. In the Advanced menu, select your NTFS partition, choose Boot, then Repair MFT. TestDisk will compare the MFT and MFT mirror (its backup). If the MFT is damaged, it will try to repair the MFT using the backup. If the MFT backup is damaged, it will use the main MFT.

If both MFT and MFTMirr are damaged and thus cannot be repaired using TestDisk, you might want to try commercial software like Zero Assumption Recovery, GetDataBack for NTFS or Restorer 2000.

Source: Advanced NTFS Boot and MFT Repair - CGSecurity

My thinking is as follows;

1. Create an image of the recovery partition and save it.
2. Go back into your main workstation recovery drive and repair it.
3. Then extract the HP Recovery Media from the image for possible later use.
4. It the recovery partition is unrepairable you might try copying the remaining image after the extraction to replace the damaged recovery partition.

TestDisk FAQ - CGSecurity
TestDisk Download - CGSecurity

Steve, are you talking about the HP Recovery on the flash drive or on one of the working machines?

If you mean the Flash drive, I think that data is overwritten to the point beyond hope.

If you mean the disk drive on one of the other machines, there's no need. The data is still on the partition, but recovery media has already been created (one shot only).

HP uses desktop.ini voodoo to prevent users from seeing the contents in Windows explorer.

I think Ty's best shot for HP Recovery media is the mercy of the HP court. Call HP and ask for recovery media honestly stating that the HD crashed before creating it on the 1071.

Although, Ty does have the clean Win7 install media, which I prefer over mfgr media. At least I think Ty has it, it's been quiet on the western front.

Anak said:

My thinking is as follows;

1. Create an image of the recovery partition and save it.
2. Go back into your main workstation recovery drive and repair it.
3. Then extract the HP Recovery Media from the image for possible later use.
4. It the recovery partition is unrepairable you might try copying the remaining image after the extraction to replace the damaged recovery partition.

It sounded like it was on one of the working machines, follow the bold underlined:

TyGuy96 said:

TyGuy96 said:

Anak said:

TyGuy96 said:

Also, I accidentally formatted and put Roxio on my HP_Recovery drive instead of my usb any idea on how I can get those files back?

Is this your 1010 mini or your main workstation recovery drive?

I woke up from a nap and this popped into my mind, not sure if it will work or not: Recuva - Undelete, Unerase, File and Disk Recovery - Free Download It will depend on how much activity you have had since it happened.

My main workstation recovery drive.
Recuva didn't seem to be able to recover the files.

I ran the program on my mini, but it said that the recovery media has been created before.
I don't think I have it stored anywhere

So, "if it was relevant", I added the steps for "Test Disk" to try and recover the main workstation recovery drive, and repair the recovery drive/partition.

Wouldn't a mixture of the HP recovery media in the recovery partition of either of the working machines, whichever it may be, corrupt the partition?? I would think so, but I don't know for sure.

I notice there is some confusion with using certain terminology when trying to describe if we are talking about the:

• 1010.
• The 1071.
• The flash drive.
• The workstation.
• The Roxio program or the recovery partition on either of the three machines.
• Partitions or do I mean drives.

I notice it more with Ty and myself, you and Ty seem to be okay. I'm only trying to help clarify certain areas, I have asked Ty to be more detailed.

Maybe I should just stay out of it and lurk until you two get this situation figured out. Yeah, that's what I'll do.

Look for a PM....