Solved Creating Recovery disc....on upgraded used laptop

[pappi]

In two days, (Jan. 2nd) I am receiving a three year old used HP Pavilion dv7-2173cl Notebook which was upgraded to W7 Pro just prior to shipment. I have never acquired a used laptop. Thus I am cludeless on what to expect about creating recovery discs. Is it possible?

If not, what is my alternative in having some sort of resource in recovering OS in case of system collapse/malfunction? I have the implied understanding that upgrading was not through OEM discs(meaning, done online).

 

[whs]

Easiest is when you make an image.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

 

[pappi]

OK, I just received this reply from seller:

"you can make a backup disc using win7 tools. the os came from an oem hp disc and windows is activated.the procedure is the same for a used computer as with a new computer foe backing up just follow instructions."

I am not sure I understand this statement.

 

[whs]

http://www.ehow.com/how_6321262_create-hp-recovery-disk.html

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&docname=c01867124#N126

 

[pappi]

Thanks.... which is better, discs or USB flash? If USB flash, how many GB storage should I get?

 

[whs]

Thanks.... which is better, discs or USB flash? If USB flash, how many GB storage should I get?

Disk is a lot better. Images can be very large depending on the size of your C partitions. Figure 65% of the amount of data in C. Mine are typically 40GB and I keep about 10 historic copies. I do one once per week.

But you also need a recovery CD or stick. The .iso download link is in the tutorial - saves you 2 hours of WAIK download.

 

[gregrocker]

Ask the seller for the documentation to prove WIn7 is Genuine, a COA sticker that shows the version and Product Key. It's not legal to sell the OS without it.

With this key you can always Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. Look over those steps now to see what works best for Win7 to maintain it, too.

Once you get Win7 set up to your liking you can save a backup image as suggested so if it ever becomes irreparable you can simply reimage the HD from the stored image. Easiest is the built-in Win7 imaging: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup although many here like another freeware Macrium - Image your system .

Post back how the PC and Win7 is working for you, a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image - Windows 7 Help Forums so we can see what else is on there since it may still have old partitions that you can reclaim the space from.

 

[pappi]

I have no Recovery Partition. And no Recovery Manager. I miss Vista.

 

[Golden]

Easiest is when you make an image.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

This is indeed the easiest method

 

[pappi]

The white flag at the notification area of taskbar kept nagging me to back up file. So I did. But it took only one DVD. Does this lone DVD contain everything there is in this PC? Seems unlikely, eh?

Like, I need to do more?

I wanted to create multi-discs Recovery Image, like what we do first, before anything, with brand new laptop. But I have no clue how to proceed, how much media I need...and which media is preferable. Someone advised me to get an external HD.

 

[whs]

Does this lone DVD contain everything there is in this PC? Seems unlikely, eh?

No idea what you did but 1 DVD can never contain a system image. For that you need an external disk because it can be 20 to 40GBs and that would take a lot of DVDs which is very messy and unreliable.

Depending on the amount of data on your C partition, an image may fit on a large USB stick. If you have seperated your user data into a seperate data partition, then a 16GB stick would probably be OK. Those sell for $15.

Again, if you want to backup your system use this - but with an external disk or stick.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

 

[gregrocker]

The white flag at the notification area of taskbar kept nagging me to back up file. So I did. But it took only one DVD. Does this lone DVD contain everything there is in this PC? Seems unlikely, eh?

Like, I need to do more?

I wanted to create multi-discs Recovery Image, like what we do first, before anything, with brand new laptop. But I have no clue how to proceed, how much media I need...and which media is preferable. Someone advised me to get an external HD.

That sounds like a file backup only. Backup User and System Files What files are on the DVD? It's easier and safer to sort all of your files into their User folders and then just drag those to an external HD or DVD.

The steps to save a Win7 or Macrium backup image of your Win7 installation are in the blue link tutorial I posted for you two days ago. Did you even look at them?

 

[pappi]

Yes I did read it. And that's how I stumbled on "Create a System Image" program. It cautioned that I would need about 20GB media. But turned out I needed less... only three 4.7GB DVD's and one 900+GB CD for additional recommended System Repair disc..

Whoever upgraded this used PC system did it minimally...almost just the barest of software/drivers and zero bloatwares. And that's why hardly anything worked at first. But in two days of program/software installation, I am almost normal now. The only thing I have not figured out yet is how to make this W7 system recognize my Bluetooth headset.

 

[gregrocker]

You'll have one of the best installs possible if you Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. No tech enthusiast would ever run the HP factory preinstall because it is larded with the worst load of corrupting crapware in the industry. You'll never even experience native Win7 perfect performance until you do.

I would not count on images stored on DVD or any media but HD or external HD.

Before saving the image I would do the reinstall or Clean Up Factory Bloatware both of which tutorials show you how to optimize your install and what works best with Win7.

Does the PC have bluetooth? Check in Device Manager if it has its driver, or you have any other missing drivers which are covered in the reinstall tutorial: Enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) then run all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates, with reboots, until there are no more when you go back every time to Check for Updates. This will provide drivers and enabling Performance Updates. I would only avoid the Bing crapware.

If the Bluetooth driver is still missing, import it from the PC's Support Downloads webpage for your model. If it's 3rd party bluetooth, use the maker's Support Downloads webpage for your model. Sometimes you can get to it quicker by typing the make+model+drivers into Google, but make absolutely sure you're at only the manufacturer's website as many driver finder sites mimic these. You dont' need a driver finder unless you can't find a driver after search, and we can always find it for you here.

 

[pappi]

Bluetooth, webcam, Media Player, Windows Media Center and even display's quality ....among many more...were not working properly. It took me two days straight(which was perfect since we were, and still are snowed-in in the Big Apple) to install and upgrade drivers, updates, program software (thanks to HP support website) and display calibration.

I am mighty proud to announce I am all set up to normal. This cheap used HP Pavilion DV 7 entertainment notebook is actually everything I was looking for, W7 and all. Thanks goodness I did not have to get a brand new PC with W8.

Now, if only I can make it recognize my wireless headset which I recall was on and off recognized by my old Vista. I know Bluetooth works because I have already transferred files/pics from my cellphone to PC wirelessly.

 

[gregrocker]

So did you do the Clean Reinstall?

Or did you even read my post, which went into depth about why no tech enthusiast would ever run the HP factory preinstall, and how to get your headset to work?

 

[pappi]

Hi Greg.....I bought this used unit from ebay already upgraded by seller from Vista to W7 Pro 32 bit. apparently with OEM disc set. And he somehow shipped it to me already purged of bloatware (what a treat). Unfortunately, most everything at first was performing sub-par because of outdated program versions and drivers.

But thanks to heavy storm, I was snowed in for two days...just perfect to do all the necessary tweakings.

Two days after acquisition, I am now near normal, PC's most everything is performing awesomely....except for its inability to recognize the wireless headset. I cannot add headset to Bluetooth until W7 recognizes it first as a new hardware and have its driver installed....like how it was with Vista. As I recall, I also had problems wit Vista and wireless headset....on and off. But I was able to solve problems much easier with Vista as I was very familiar with it. I'm still adjusting to W7 which so far, I think is not as good as Vista.

 

[gregrocker]

If an in-place Upgrade was done from Vista to Win7 as evidenced by HP crapware larded in, then be aware that you will get a vastly superior install if you will do a Clean Reinstall. There is no way to clean up all of that mess enough to regain full Win7 perfect performance, but on the other hand with the Clean Reinstall in my signature picture below, you'll have an install better than 98% of them out there.

At the minimum use the Clean Up Factory Bloatware tutorial also below to check the damage that the bloatware has done even when uninstalled.

The benchmarks to judge by are that a perfect Win7 install never hesitates, hangs or bogs on adequate tested hardware.

Did the seller provide you with the Product Key for the OEM version of Win7? If not you can audit it off the HD with Magic Jellybean or Belarc Advisor. I'd do both to be sure you have the correct Product Key. We should also see an mgadiag.exe report posted back to know you were sold Genuine Win7 as that could be a block to reinstall and may be flagged non-Genuine.

 

[Kaktussoft]

I have no Recovery Partition. And no Recovery Manager. I miss Vista.

A Recovery Partition has nothing to do with VISTA... it can recover anything. Recovery Manager is just a program.

What if your harddisk becomes faulty???..... you can't use the recovery stuff from disk.

Solution: Make a system image backup every month for example. And make a recovery DVD to boot from, so you can restore that backup. If you use the win7 built-in backup utility you can restore it using a "win7 system repair disc" or a "win7 install disc"

 

[pappi]

"Solution: Make a system image backup every month for example. And make a recovery DVD to boot from, so you can restore that backup. If you use the Windows 7 built-in backup utility you can restore it using a "Windows 7 system repair disc" or a "Windows 7 install disc"

Hi Kak....I believe this is exactly what I accomplished with four 2.7 GB DVD's(for System Image recovery) and one 998MG CD(for System Repair disc) which the system recommended to do at the end of System Image recovery installation.

"What if your harddisk becomes faulty???..... you can't use the recovery stuff from disk."

So...in this unimaginably painful scenario, which of the these discs I had created should I use to get back on track? The four DVD's?, or the lone CD?

During the 7 year existence of my now retired PC(because of damaged NVIDIA display card), I had to install Factory Image(using the two DVD's that came with the brand new PC) about 6 times, each time because it crashed and would not boot due to what I suspected were major Trojan infection.