Restoring Hp 6735en to vista after windows 7 upgrade

[Rusmorr]

Hi all
My first post so please be gentle.
I have an HP 6735en pre-installed with vista (hp recovery partition) which I upgraded to windows 7. I have some compatibility issues so i would like to return to factory vista setup but have been reading that once you upgrade you cannot go back. My HP recovery manager only allows me to restore to a previous point and f11 does nothing. I have not created recovery disks before upgrading (yes slap me with the stupid stick) so is there any way to factory restore it since that's the only way I will be sure all my hardware and software will work perfectly again.?
Any assistance is greatly appreciated

 

[seavixen32]

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

Your easiest solution would be to buy a set of recovery discs from HP.

Looking for Recovery Discs? - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

The link is for HP's US support site. but as you haven't said where you live you may need to choose another region.

 

[Rusmorr]

Apologies once more

Thanks sea vixen I didn't know how to delete the other post so just marked as solved. Hope I don't get into trouble. Thanks for the welcome. You mentioned the easiest route so is there another? I bought the unit in Dubai btw and I can gladly supply any details you might need.

 

[Rusmorr]

i have 2 HDs, one with the clean win 7 install and one with the vista to win 7 upgrade.
The 2nd (upgrade) HD still has the HP recovery partition. I can fit either HD to the pc and have access to the other via USB. Is there someway i can use this setup to retrieve/recover my vista partition so as to start over?

 

[seavixen32]

Having upgraded from Windows Vista to Windows 7 you cannot revert back to Windows Vista.

If you want Vista back you would need to clean install it.

This Microsoft article refers. Look at Scenario 3.

How to uninstall Windows 7

 

[Rusmorr]

Thank you I have read and understand it. What is on the HP recovery partition now. Does it serve any purpose.
It still occupies the same 11.2 gb on the partition. Can I create a windows 7 recovery disk set since my vista is gone and this point is the best setup I can get. Hope I am not asking too many questions and thank you in advance


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[seavixen32]

You won't be able to create a Windows 7 recovery disc, but if you hook the drive up and boot into Windows you can then create a system image backup.

As for the HP recovery partition, if it is redundant you can utilise the drive space by booting into Partition Wizard, deleting the partition, and then extending the adjacent partition to take up the resulting empty drive space, as this tutorial explains.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93322-partition-wizard-use-bootable-cd.html

If you really want Vista back, your best bet is to contact HP for a recovery disc (s).

 

[Rusmorr]

Is there a tutorial on creating a system image I could use.
What would be the purpose of creating a system image?
I think a MSG you posted this afternoon about posting a snip of dir for partition is missing.


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[F5ing]

The purpose would be making sure you never have to clean/reinstall OS & apps/change settings/reinstall updates again. Well worth it.

Two methods in two tutorials, written by forum members:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

You ought to check out the tutorials section if you really want to know w7:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/

 

[seavixen32]

Is there a tutorial on creating a system image I could use.
What would be the purpose of creating a system image?
I think a MSG you posted this afternoon about posting a snip of dir for partition is missing.


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A system image is a complete backup of your complete hard drive or partitions that you select that is then saved to an external drive for safe keeping.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

If you carry out a clean install of Windows, and then install your applications, that is the ideal time to create your backup.

It means you can restore your computer without reinstalling Windows and not be bothered with activation issues.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/675-system-image-recovery.html

 

[Rusmorr]

Thanks all for advice. I am not very tech savvy so booting into windows is not kicking all the windows broken right?
I am not sure how to do that. The hp recovery partition isn't bootable. I can explore it.

 

[Rusmorr]

If I understand this then a system image would be sort of a snapshot of your system that you could use as a recovery point when thing go pear shaped?
I have been experiencing some issues described in another post so it's not the best time to create an image now I assume.
Also if I cannot access my hp recovery partition now, how does creating and image of it help
How do i create a fully expanded disk management layout of the partition?
If i obtain a recovery disk set from hp I would then need the that partition to re install the factory software to get a clean reference point where everything works and then work towards Win 7



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[seavixen32]

A system image is exactly that.

Have you read through the links we posted?

If you cannot access your recovery partition then there's no point or way in which you can create a system image.

As I explained, the time to image your hard drive is when you have a pristine copy of Windows and installed applications.

If you do obtain a set of HP recovery discs they will wipe your drive and restore it to its factory state.

As for fully-expanding your disk management layout, just double-click the heading separators at the top of the DM window.

But please, do read through the links we post you, they make understanding the problem so much easier.

 

[Rusmorr]

just an update. I have read all the links you posted, very informative but as i said i cannot create a system image at the moment. the plot thickens. i am in the process of getting vista recovery disks but after installing drivers for the graphics card things went pear shaped then lots of other stuff didnt work. my quick play software, bluetooth and other programs stopped working,on the bluetooth issue i uninstalled the devices and re installed, also tried the sp46063 driver as advised from hp website with no luck. does anyone know which driver i should use? i reinstalled the wireless assistant drivers and that works. wish me luck i still have a way to go tho.