What is the install size? If it's less than 16gb you can replace the factory image with your own. I did this in the beginning on all of my machines until I realized that it needed to be backed up externally anyway in case of HD failure, so why bother also storing it on same HD? Some users have a reason, though.
The Win7 imaging app will detect a Primary storage partition: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup. I'd delete and recreate it first.
Have HP Pavilion Desktop and have just done a factory install from DVD's. Before installing was asked to burn backups, which I did on three DVD's. How to I restore, if that's the correct term these files. All HP asks for is either a USB or or external drive, totally confused. If I can solve this then I can do a clean install as you suggested.
Thanks
See the section here on restoring files backed up by HP Recovery: HP Factory Recovery
Once you get the files restored I'd drag the user folders to external, another HD, another computer on network, or DVD. This makes it easier to drag the contents of each user folder into the new User folder after a Clean Reinstall.
We see cases where these OEM backups or Windows Easy Transfer fail to restore files. If so, you may need to contact HP Tech Support or access their forums to learn how to extract them. This is why most of us here recommend manual drag-and-drop for file backup.
Last edited by gregrocker; 24 Aug 2012 at 17:30.
I did back up all my files, but to another partition on same hard drive not realizing that a fresh instal would format the whole hard drive, silly me. Contacted support at HP and luckily they had 319 experts on tap. The answer is simple really, on the first backup disk there is an *.exe called RecoveryMgr. Selected that, home and dry. Thanks for your help.
Hi friends as iam new to all this.....pls can u explain how to do this step.
Back up your files externally by dragging your named User account or active User folders to another HD, external drive, flash stick or disk. Don't forget to export your browser bookmarks first.
Open your named User folder, then drag each of the sub-folders (Documents, Pictures, Music, etc) that have content to your backup drive on the Explorer bar at the left margin, release left click only when the hypertext confirms where it is being dropped.
OK THANKS I WILL DO, BUT ALL SOFTWARE AND PROGRAMES WHICH ARE INSTALLED HOW TO DO THAT. OR I HAVE TO DOWNLOAD ALL AGAIN , SORRY MY FRIEND ...... AND THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.
As it says in Step #7 you 'll need to locate your program installers - which should by habit be kept in Downloads folder for this purpose.
If you have any Programs which you cannot find installers you may post back here for help locating them.
THANKS AGAIN..... MY DOWNLOAD FOLDER IS EMPTY, SO I THINK IN C DRIVE I COPY ALL PROGRAMS FROM THERE INTO USB THEN INSTALL IT AGAIN.
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