Need help restoring laptop to factory settings

[dulcereina]

I just received a windows 7 recovery disk that I ordered because windows won't boot at all. I put cd in I made sure to have it set up in BIOS to boot from cd. System recovery loads up asks me the country then I click next then select operating system u want to repair, but it seems it gets stuck there because there's just a blue circle spinning but hard drive light stop flashing n it's not on at all..so what can I do now. All I want to do is get my computer back to it's original setting. Please anyone help! Thanks

 

[richc46]

Welcome
I will give you exactly what you are asking for, a computer like it was when you took it home.
No stuff, settings, SPs, pics etc. If this is what you want boot and continually hit f11 during boot
If you want to save your stuff first let me know.
If the original settings are not what you want there are other solutions we can try.

 

[dulcereina]

I hit f11 but it just goes to a blue screen. My laptop crashed a few days ago. Thats why I ordered the recovery disk.

 

[richc46]

Turn on speakers, boot
Do you hear:
Seven sounds, chimes
Beeps
Nothing?

 

[dulcereina]

No..when I turn it on it just runs regular no clicks..hard drive flashes it asks me to boot from cd press any key then it goes onto system recovery but then it kinda freezes when it gets to the "select the operating system you want to repair" part looks as if it's loading somethin because of the blue spinning circle n then I notice that the hard drive light goes out n it doesn't come back on. It's so frustrating! All I want is a working computer

 

[richc46]

Have you changed anything before the problem. Anything unusual, virus, maybe?

 

[dulcereina]

No didn't change anything..I'm thinking a virus. What do you think I should do. I want it to just restore completely, but seems it won't do it not even with the recovery disc. Reformatting it maybe? Then I'm thinking I got the wrong recovery disk..

 

[richc46]

Can you give me a screen shot of the CD. I dont know if its a repair or installation.

 

[dulcereina]

I would but I'm using my iPod to post here :0(..but turns out that my OS is windows 7 home premium 64-bit. I ordered a windows 7 recovery disk Live Boot cd 32 bit DVD.. In the packaging slip says "Do not install windows with this disc, this is for repairing only". So now what? Do you think I messed up my hard drive even more. I got this disk from amazon. I just got it today so I wonder if I I could return this one n have them send me the right one.

 

[SIW2]

You don't need to buy a recovery/repair disc - you can d/l them free .

 

[richc46]

SIW is correct you can get those for free. I think that what may help us at this juncture is to get an actual installation DVD
You should be able to get one at cost from the Computer company whose computer came with the OS preinstalled. YOU should be able to get one at cost. Tell them that you want an installation DVD that is capable of making a repair install, if necessary and can reinstall the entire OS.
You have to understand that if there are additional problems with the computer, even with the DVD, you may not be able to reinstall. If interested, you can try to see if you can install this. If you can you should not have any problem with the Windows installation. In addition, you can use this program to get your stuff, that will be lost with the reinstallation.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/wind...backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/
My concern stems from the fact that you could not get the other CD to boot.

 

[dulcereina]

Ok here is the situation, I got in contact with amazon, they will send me a new disk, this time a windows 7 64-bit recovery disk free of charge. I'm hoping that this time around I can get my to restore factory settings. I would download one but my crashed laptop it's the only computer I have that can burn disks. Anyway, I would post back here and let you guys know any progress.

 

[dulcereina]

Repair disc won't work. My computer freezes while cd is running. I'm stumped n don't have a clue what to do next. Warranty expired n hp won't supply me with another install disc unless I pay. I even thought of reformatting this crashed drive n cloning it with my other laptop that's running XP. I just want to get my crashed computer going again even if it means downgrading OS n d/l win7 later. Help anyone plz!

 

[richc46]

Are you booting form the CD or the OS?

 

[dulcereina]

The repair disc booted fine it's just when it got to the part where it asks to select OS you want to repair, it wouldn't let me pick anything it just became unresponsive with that blue spinning circle. It showed windows 7 there but partition was 0mb.

 

[dulcereina]

Booting from cd

 

[richc46]

Then it seems to be a computer problem. Your first post indicated that you cannot boot from windows and now you cant boot from the CD.
try safe mode.

 

[mjm6783]

Possible solution

I know this may not be very helpful, but I came across some interesting tools for a similar problem I was facing about 6 months ago. There is a way to boot from a thumb drive which you have formatted to run Linux based software. From there you can run .iso programs that allow you to restore to factory settings, scan for viruses, repartition drives, all kinds of cool stuff.

All of the software was open source, and I was able to download it for free. It can be a little tricky to set up on the thumb drive the first time, but once it's done, you have an awesome all-in-one tool for PC repair.

Some of the other suggestions are probably easier, especially if you are able to get the install disk from the company that manufactured the PC. But if you're interested in trying out an alternative approach, let me know, and I'll post the information.

 

[dulcereina]

@richc46, I can't get on safe mode, or any of the other options on f8..i can get on BIOS.
@mjm6783, really rough times now, i wish i could get the install disk from hp, it would make my life a whole lot easier, but yes i'm interested in trying out something else. I got nothing but time anyway, like i said before if i could just get my computer up and running, regardless of losing files or whatever.

 

[mjm6783]

so....

I went to look up the site where I downloaded my software, and it was not functional. But what I did find was essentially the next generation of the the same program. Instead of MultiBootIso, they are calling it YUMI (Your Universal Multiboot Installer).

Here's the website with basic info on how to get started:
YUMI - Multiboot USB Creator (Windows) | USB Pen Drive Linux

Make sure you expand the list near the bottom entitled, "List of installable Live Linux Distributions" so you can check out the different software that's available.

Let me know how it goes, and good luck!!