HP Recovery Partition?

[alex96]

Hello,
I recently upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate and I don't like it very much. Also my graphics card isn't so up to par, so it doesn't look very good.

I still have my (D: ) Recovery Partition and it is said to be active in the computer management check up thing. However, when I try to press F11 on startup, nothing happens. Is there any sort of way I can go back to Vista with the partition?

 

[Bill2]

alex96,

from what i have read on HP's site, if the original OS is changed, recovery manager cannot be launced either from within the os or by pressing F11 at startup. But take a look at this advice by Gregrocker on another thread.

Your Recovery partition was likely disabled when Windows 7 was installed. But it might still be able to be run.

You'll need to make a System Repair Disk by typing Repair in Start Search box. If your optical drive will not boot CD's, then set your external CD drive to boot in BIOS setup, or write Repair CD ISO to flash stick: USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create or another method: How to: install Windows (any version from XP to Win7) from a USB/flash drive | Featured | dotTech

Also, try marking the Recovery partition Active in Disk Mgmt to see if it will run using the prompts given to run Recovery on first bootup screen or your Manual, or if it will autostart (since pressing those keys normally marks it active).

If marking Recov partition active will not run it, then you will need to boot the Repair CD or flash stick , click through to Recovery Tools list, open a Command Line to type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (replace # with Windows 7 HD)
LIST PARTITION
SELECT PARTITION # (for Windows 7 partition)
ACTIVE
EXIT

Now, boot back into Windows 7 Repair console>Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times.

 

[alex96]

So, how does this help?

 

[Bill2]

Dude,

I presume you did not burn recovery disks in Vista. Take the easy way out, order recovery disks from HP.

 

[alex96]

Dang it.

Oh well, thanks, guess I'm sticking with 7.

 

[alex96]

Excuse me, Bill2, but I have tried a generic Windows Vista recovery disk once and it said some file was missing.

If i buy and get that disk and insert it, will it work correctly to fix the computer?

 

[noyb]

Excuse me, Bill2, but I have tried a generic Windows Vista recovery disk once and it said some file was missing.
If i buy and get that disk and insert it, will it work correctly to fix the computer?

NO .. You need the HP recovery DVDs ..
The last set of HP recovery DVDs I had to purchase cost $15

 

[Bill2]

You dont need to buy it. You can download it from the site below.

Windows Vista Recovery Disc Download — The NeoSmart Files

And you dont have to say Excuse me etc., this is not the Queen's court, just shoot.

Edit: Noyb has just informed us they cost the princely sum of $15. You may like to decide whether $15 is worth all the headache.

 

[gregrocker]

Or you can find a Vista installer of your version to reinstall using the Product Key on your COA sticker. It will not have any of the bloatware, but you'll need to reinstall all of your programs which you had to do with Win7 anyway.

Why don't you post your video card issue in the forum for that to work through it, along with any other issues. Most can be resolved. Have you check optional Windows Updates for newer drivers? Have you looked on the Support Downloads webpage for your model computer or card? If not Win7 driver is available, try Vista driver. If you post the issue in drivers forum, others with the same card may respond with fixes.

There really isn't any scenario where Vista is superior to Win7 if you will work through the issues. We are here to help you.

 

[alex96]

It was never any real crazy issues, but I know some are you going to laugh, Vista was far more comfortable to me

Thanks for the help, I MIGHT try doing the Neosmart thing, but I'm sticking with 7 for now until further issues come up

Also, what's bloatware?

 

[alex96]

Hello again,
After I burned the ISO image for the Vista recovery disk on NeoSmart, and then try to reinstall Vista with the key, it says something of "E:/sources/install.wim cannot be found. Please restart your computer for changes" or something like that.

How do I fix this?

 

[gregrocker]

The Neosmart file you downloaded is for Recovery CD, not the installer DVD. Recovery CD is used to boot when OS won't boot, to run Startup Repair, System Restore, Recover Using an Image, or access a Command Line.

If you have an install DVD, where did you get it and how did you burn it? Check the hash against official Vista hash, then burn DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed with Verify - it never fails.

 

[alex96]

Eh, I don't have an install DVD (or somewhere I misplaced it)