Solved Backup Disk is damaged, help!

[snowyowl95]

Long story short, I had to wipe my computer and reinstall Windows from three backup disks that should reset it to its default settings. I have three HP recovery disks - disk one works fine and reinstalls around 33% of it. Disk 2 worked once and got it up to around 70%, and then disk 3 failed. I tried it again and now disk 2 isn't even being recognised the HP recovery thing just spits the disk back out. I've had these disks for years so they're probably damaged in some way.

I have Ubuntu Linux on a USB that I can use in an emergency like this just to get a working Windows iso from the Internet, but I can't get it from the software recovery website because it the product key is for a Windows installation that was pre-installed.

I have no way of reinstalling Windows, unless there's something I don't know about. Please help, I'm sort of freaking out here! If you have a solution please explain it as simply as possible because I don't know much about this stuff.

 

[carwiz]

You don't specify what model HP but you might check your user manual and see if there's a procedure for recovering directly from the Recovery Partition.

 

[snowyowl95]

You don't specify what model HP but you might check your user manual and see if there's a procedure for recovering directly from the Recovery Partition.

Sorry - it's a HP Pavilion. Not too sure if there are any more sub-models that could be more specific but that's all I know.
I looked up HP Pavilion user manuals online and nothing mentions anything about backups and whatnot

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If Carwiz's idea does not help, consult the link below on how to do a clean install.

You would need a valid Product Key and access to a Windows 7 ISO or possibly a borrowed installation disc.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You don't specify what model HP but you might check your user manual and see if there's a procedure for recovering directly from the Recovery Partition.

Sorry - it's a HP Pavilion. Not too sure if there are any more sub-models that could be more specific but that's all I know.
I looked up HP Pavilion user manuals online and nothing mentions anything about backups and whatnot

Look here:

HP PCs - Performing an HP system recovery (Windows 7) | HP® Support

 

[snowyowl95]

If Carwiz's idea does not help, consult the link below on how to do a clean install.

You would need a valid Product Key and access to a Windows 7 ISO or possibly a borrowed installation disc.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

I've tried getting a Windows 7 ISO from that Microsoft Software Recovery website and it says that I can't download it because the key was used on a pre-installed Windows.

I don't know anybody with an installation disc but I support I could always buy a new one from somewhere in a few hours.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If Carwiz's idea does not help, consult the link below on how to do a clean install.

You would need a valid Product Key and access to a Windows 7 ISO or possibly a borrowed installation disc.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

I've tried getting a Windows 7 ISO from that Microsoft Software Recovery website and it says that I can't download it because the key was used on a pre-installed Windows.

I don't know anybody with an installation disc but I support I could always buy a new one from somewhere in a few hours.

You can use that MS site ONLY if you have a so-called retail version of Windows. You don't.

Therefore, you are left to find an ISO from some other source (the dreaded Internet) and then confirm it is unaltered per the instructions in the Clean Install link I provided.

Or beg or borrow another install disc.

Or try to recover directly from your hard drive via the HP link I provided.

Or buy another disc.

 

[AddRAM]

Or just make copies of your backup discs, that should straighten them out.

 

[snowyowl95]

I got an ISO but now it's saying Windows cannot be installed to the disk because it is of GPT partition style! How do I change this?

 

[snowyowl95]

UPDATE: It works! Sort of!

I can't connect to the Internet because it says I don't have a properly-installed network adapter. What does this mean and how do I fix it? Ubuntu could connect a-ok to the Internet. I tried getting some drivers but the drivers need the adapter to work...I think?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Did you burn the ISO to a DVD and can you at least boot from that burned DVD?

Hard to help you since your system specs are not filled out and we know nothing about your hardware except "HP Pavilion".

How large is your hard drive?

If you can boot from that DVD you may have burned, you can easily change from GPT to MBR, but you would have to delete all partitions to do that. Is there anything on the hard drive that you want to keep--personal data of any type?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

UPDATE: It works! Sort of!

I can't connect to the Internet because it says I don't have a properly-installed network adapter. What does this mean and how do I fix it? Ubuntu could connect a-ok to the Internet. I tried getting some drivers but the drivers need the adapter to work...I think?

The network adapter (aka NIC aka Ethernet adapter) is typically supplied by Windows during the installation process, but that may not have happened in your case.

The place to get it would be the HP website under the support area. You'd need to know your HP Pavilion model and search for that and then look for the driver downloads for that model. Download it, put it on something like a USB flash drive, and then install it on the Pavilion.

Do you have any reason to believe that the ISO you got is legit?

 

[snowyowl95]

Did you burn the ISO to a DVD and can you at least boot from that burned DVD?

Hard to help you since your system specs are not filled out and we know nothing about your hardware except "HP Pavilion".

How large is your hard drive?

If you can boot from that DVD you may have burned, you can easily change from GPT to MBR, but you would have to delete all partitions to do that. Is there anything on the hard drive that you want to keep--personal data of any type?

Sorry for not providing much info, I'm not too good at this stuff. I have around 900GB of hard drive and everything works except I can't connect to the Internet because it says I have no network adapters? The device manager doesn't even have a section for network adapters, at least I think it doesnt.

 

[snowyowl95]

UPDATE: It works! Sort of!

I can't connect to the Internet because it says I don't have a properly-installed network adapter. What does this mean and how do I fix it? Ubuntu could connect a-ok to the Internet. I tried getting some drivers but the drivers need the adapter to work...I think?

The network adapter (aka NIC aka Ethernet adapter) is typically supplied by Windows during the installation process, but that may not have happened in your case.

The place to get it would be the HP website under the support area. You'd need to know your HP Pavilion model and search for that and then look for the driver downloads for that model. Download it, put it on something like a USB flash drive, and then install it on the Pavilion.

Do you have any reason to believe that the ISO you got is legit?

Ah, I hope I don't get banned for saying this but I got it from a torrent. The feedback from the Torrent was positive and it had a lot of seeders so I'm 98% sure it's legit. If it would be better to go out and buy a new installation disk then I have no issues with doing that if it'll fix my computer.

I'll have a look at the HP website now. Thanks!

 

[snowyowl95]

I'm posting this from my fixed computer! Yay!
All I need to do now is to download a few graphics drivers and everything should be back to normal. Thank you so much!