Make use of recovery disc and new 7 install

[GratefulDean]

Hello,

I have an HP DV3510nr laptop which has a 10gb recovery disc in addition to the 300gb hard drive. The computer came with Vista and a "System Recovery" program that allowed me to reset the computer to its original state, from this recovery disc, which I had to do several times. I have since upgraded to Win7 and did nothing with the secondary drive. The upgrade seems to have wiped any system recovery abilities.

I am now needing to reinstall Win7 and was wondering how I can set up this recovery disc, with Win7, for system restore.

Thanks for any help you can offer.
Dean

 

[richc46]

Welcome

The problem arises from the fact that you did an upgrade and not a clean install. I will get you our tutorial on how to do a clean install with an upgrade DVD. You will be so happy with the improvement.

 

[richc46]

I have found the tutorial which give excellent information regarding the procedure. If you have any questions or problems, be sure to post.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?filter[2]=General Tips

 

[GratefulDean]

Welcome

The problem arises from the fact that you did an upgrade and not a clean install. I will get you our tutorial on how to do a clean install with an upgrade DVD. You will be so happy with the improvement.

Thanks you for the response. I actually did do a clean install. I am a little anal and didn't want any of the bad voodoo that had bogged down Vista laying around.

Does this mean my recovery disc has a copy of that clean install? If so how do I restore to that point. The Windows restore program only allows me to go back to the end of December. I got Win 7 in October, October 22 to be exact. I would like to start over. I can no longer print from this machine, and my wireless mouse no longer works. Plus it is horribly slow.

Thanks again,
Dean

 

[richc46]

Hi Dean

If you did a clean install and the date is 10/22, that means you probably have the pre-order DVD, which can be used to make repairs. I will get that information for you.

 

[richc46]

Here is our exceptional tutorial on how to make the repair. So with the DVD, you can install the OS, again or make a repair. If you do a clean install (not custom and not upgrade), everything will be perfect.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?filter[2]=General Tips

 

[wallyinnc]

Dean, when you get it repaired, you might want to create an image of your system, so the next time you can restore everything. Take a look at these tutorials, they offer many options how to backup: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/?filter[2]=Backup%20Restore

 

[GratefulDean]

Here is our exceptional tutorial on how to make the repair. So with the DVD, you can install the OS, again or make a repair. If you do a clean install (not custom and not upgrade), everything will be perfect.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?filter[2]=General Tips

Thanks again for the quick response. What I am hoping to do is load Win 7 onto my Recovery Disc so I can just hit a "System Recovery" button and go back to new. I was able to do this when it had Vista. The "Sytem Restore", which takes me back to a certain time, utility remained in Win 7 but the "System Recover", which uses that second 10gb drive to take me back to a factory state, is no longer available as far as I can tell.

 

[richc46]

That is not the way to go. With windows 7, you are paying for a great feature, system image. After you are set up and everything is just the way you want it. (after activation), make a system image. You can go back to that point at any time. Keep it on an external hard drive or another external device. Update it once a month. If and when you have a problem, just return to that point. If you perefer you can keep it on your hard drive, and you will be protected except in the case of hard drive failure.
That is what I do and feel very secure.

If you agree, just post and I will get you all the information on system image.

 

[GratefulDean]

Dean, when you get it repaired, you might want to create an image of your system, so the next time you can restore everything. Take a look at these tutorials, they offer many options how to backup: Tutorials - Windows 7 Forums[2]=Backup%20Restore

Thanks,

How do I do this on that second drive? My system is not allowing me access to that drive.

I have two external hard drives that I use for backup but I would like to make use of the second drive in my laptop.

Windows Explorer says the following when I try to acess the drive:

"Recovery Partition
Warning!

This area of your hard drive
(or partition) contains files used
for your PC Recovery.

Do not delete or alter these files.

Any change to this partition could
prevent any recovery later."

The date on the file on this drive/partition says last date modified is 10.22.2009 which leads me to believe it holds my clean install. I just don't know how to access it.

So, how do I get to that.

Thanks again,
Dean

 

[wallyinnc]

Dean, that system recovery partition was, unless I am wrong, created by HP. With all their bloatware included.
What you need to do is to create an image of your installation in that partition, as I suggested. Then you can recover this image and get back in time.
Do you intend to delete the data that was in that recovery partition? If not, I would place the image somewhere else. I think you still have the Vista recovery data in there, unless you deleted something. Have you looked into it?

 

[GratefulDean]

That is not the way to go. With windows 7, you are paying for a great feature, system image. After you are set up and everything is just the way you want it. (after activation), make a system image. You can go back to that point at any time. Keep it on an external hard drive or another external device. Update it once a month. If and when you have a problem, just return to that point. If you perefer you can keep it on your hard drive, and you will be protected except in the case of hard drive failure.
That is what I do and feel very secure.

If you agree, just post and I will get you all the information on system image.

I will take the info on making an image, that would be great. I think the computer automatically uses that partition for backup, I was just hoping I could use it to go back to when it was uncluttered.

I agree with the hard drive failure precaution.

Thanks a ton,
Dean

 

[GratefulDean]

Dean, that system recovery partition was, unless I am wrong, created by HP. With all their bloatware included.
What you need to do is to create an image of your installation in that partition, as I suggested. Then you can recover this image and get back in time.
Do you intend to delete the data that was in that recovery partition? If not, I would place the image somewhere else. I think you still have the Vista recovery data in there, unless you deleted something. Have you looked into it?

I am assuming the bloatware was swiped with the Win7 upgrade, but that is just an assumtion. I have no probblem clearing the partition and installing an image there of my clean Win7 install. I will do the same on an external drive.

BTW I have never created a partition.

Thanks,
Dean

 

[richc46]

The procedure that I described and explained in this tutorial is the method that is used by almost all the members of this forum, including myself. There are of course those with special needs that take another road, but for almost all this is the best. I will give you this information, now and return with another tutorial that may, also be of interest.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

 

[richc46]

Here is the additional information that I promised. It may help you or you may not be interested. I, for one, just make my sytem restore points and system image and in case of a problem, I know that I can copy the image and be back in business.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/24771-system-image-extract-files-using-disk-management.html

 

[noyb]

Let me guess that your Laptop does NOT have Two Hard Drives ...
But the Hard Drive is partition into Two Partitions ... One for the System, The other for HP's Vista recovery.

You could have performed a Clean install of W7 ...
And this would have wiped out the HP recovery partition... and HPs Bloatware.
No Dig deal ... You can't use it now anyway, and it's wasted space.

Since your install of W7 has been validated with M$ - with it's new Product code ..
You should be able to perform a clean install of it .. without having to validate it again.
If it isn't .. You'll just have to call M$ and play the numbers game with them.

Once you get W7 setup the way you like it ... Maybe a clean install ???
You can "Image" the system to your external HD ... Just to be safe, I Image my systems to Two different Externals.
(Any data you only have one copy of ... Is data you don't care about)
I'd suggest using the freeware Macrium or the payware Acronis to Image your system to Both your externals ... I use Acronis.

As far as using the Recovery Partition to backup your computer ..
Don't do that .. It's on the same HDD that your backing up .. If the HDD dies, your backup is gone also.

 

[richc46]

If you do a clean install, the only thing you have to know about the back up partition is how large you want it. Should be 15% of your HD, but at least 30GB.

 

[noyb]

If you do a clean install, the only thing you have to know about the back up partition is how large you want it. Should be 15% of your HD, but at least 30GB.

I think you're thinking about the Restore back to a previous point ..
That's a different subject .. (Place/File within Windows) .. And Not the HP recovery partition.
A clean install will not have a separate recovery partition.

 

[richc46]

If you do a clean install, the only thing you have to know about the back up partition is how large you want it. Should be 15% of your HD, but at least 30GB.

I think you're thinking about the Restore back to a previous point ..
That's a different subject .. (Place/File within Windows) .. And Not the HP recovery partition.

There are two conversations going on. The OP and I are talking about system image and restore points, not the HP recovery.

 

[gregrocker]

Win7 Backup Imaging works just like a Recovery Partition except that you trigger it from the booted Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD. Choose "Recover Using an Image" and it will reimage your HD in 15 minutes flawlessly from the image you have stored externally.

If you go this route, you can wipe and format your entire HD when clean installing Win7 using Custom>Drive Tools, then never have to reinstall again - just reimage using the image.

I always keep a baseline (first made) as well as the latest image so I have the ability to start fresh without reinstall.