Computer - restore to factory condition without disk or backup?

[Debby]

Hi! Is it possible to restore my laptop computer back to factory condition, without restore disks and without backups? I'd like to know if this is possible in case I need to ever repair computers that don't have a set of repair disks that go with them.

Aside from that, my main concern now - is getting this HP laptap computer I'm using at the moment - restored back to factory condition. I have a set of Restore disks that work fine for restoring my other laptop computer to factory condition. But when I recently tried them on this HP one, the first one I put in failed to even start the process. I had put the first disk in the computer and clicked on Restart. Should I have turned it completely off first? This computer uses Windows 7, just like my other computer. So I'd think the repair disk set should work for both of the computers. Or am I wrong?

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Debby,

Hi! Is it possible to restore my laptop computer back to factory condition, without restore disks and without backups? I'd like to know if this is possible in case I need to ever repair computers that don't have a set of repair disks that go with them.

Aside from that, my main concern now - is getting this HP laptap computer I'm using at the moment - restored back to factory condition. I have a set of Restore disks that work fine for restoring my other laptop computer to factory condition. But when I recently tried them on this HP one, the first one I put in failed to even start the process. I had put the first disk in the computer and clicked on Restart. Should I have turned it completely off first? This computer uses Windows 7, just like my other computer. So I'd think the repair disk set should work for both of the computers. Or am I wrong?

A couple of things . . .

[1] Have you got a recovery partition [reset to factory]?

[2] Update System Specifications

Please update your system specifications in your UserCP => Edit System Spec setup. It will help us to help you!

This SevenForums tutorial [Published by Brink and written by CyberZeus] uses an automated tool which makes this task very easy and quick to do. Click here => System Info - See Your System Specs.


Thanks.

 

[samuria]

Many OEM recovery will only work with the one PC as it may be locked to the BIOS of the PC and have drivers for that PC which again won't work with another PC. The other problems are if any repair disk is old and not at current service pack legal it won't work. Restoration to factory defaults may mean you then need over 1,000 updates.
We generally suggest using free image software to make up-to-date recovery disks

 

[Debby]

Hi, and thanks! Do I need blank DVDs to do this? If so, what size and about how many? Thanks!

 

[Debby]

Hi! I have absolutely no backup made on this computer, and this computer is over 10 years old. So how can a system image help me, since I have no backups made and the present condition of my computer isn't satisfactory? One site I went to to ask about how to make a system image - said it only restores to the last known good condition of the computer. Is that true?

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Debby,

The reason I asked if you have a recovery partition [reset to factory] is because HP laptops usually come with a recovery partition [reset to factory]!

Disk Management

Post a screenshot of the Disk Management => Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image.
Pay special attention to Step 5.

 

[Debby]

How do I look for and find the Recovery partition?

How do I look for and find the Recovery partition? And see proof that it exists? Thanks!

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Debby,

Disk Management

Post a screenshot of the Disk Management => Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image.
Pay special attention to Step 5.

 

[Debby]

Ok here is a picture of what you see when I click on Computer Management.

 

[samuria]

Yip you have a recovery partition so you can restore the pc back to how it was bought brand new. We need exact model to tell you how to recover normally if you search YouTube there are videos to guide you

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Debby,

Ok here is a picture of what you see when I click on Computer Management. View attachment 409480

OK. That means that you do have a Recovery Partition! Therefore, you can restore your computer back to the same state that it was when it was brand new [OOBE]. This is called a Factory Reset!

IMPORTANT: Make sure that you backup ALL your essential files to an external HDD or USB BEFORE you start the Factory Reset. This is because during the clean install process, ALL your User Accounts, Folders, Files, Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos, Data Files, Icons, and any installed programs will be erased and become irretrievable. It is also still strongly advised that you create a system image as a secondary precaution. This way, if things go wrong, you will be able to restore your OS back to the exact same state that it is in NOW [when the system image was made] in a very short time. There are two imaging programs which are very popular among members here, the first is AOMEI Backupper Standard [FREE], and the second is Macrium Reflect [FREE].

IMPORTANT: REMOVE any connected drives BEFORE you start the Factory Reset.

I hope this helps!

 

[SIW2]

If Debby tells us the exact model of her HP laptop, we might be able to explain how to make recovery discs for it.

 

[Debby]

Hi! Ok - My System information under Tools, says that the type of model I have, is a HP Pavilion g7 Notebook PC. Thanks!

 

[SIW2]

HP Notebook PCs - Using the Downloadable USB Recovery Flash Disk Creation Utility | HP(R) Customer Support

If a set has already made you can make a second
Create More Than One Set Of Recovery CD On HP Laptop Computer - TroubleFixers

 

[SIW2]

For creating recovery discs:
YouTube

 

[Debby]

Thanks! Ok I'll go to Youtube to look for instructions on how to create recovery disks too.

 

[SIW2]

HERE

says it is for desktops, but the process is pretty much the same for laptops, iirc.