Creating Recovery Discs
Complete the procedure described in this section to create
a set of recovery discs from the recovery image stored on
your hard disk drive. This image contains the operating
system and software program files that were originally
installed on your computer at the factory.
You can create only one set of recovery discs for your
computer. Furthermore, the recovery discs you create can
be used only with your computer.
After creating the recovery discs, you can delete the
recovery image if you want to make extra space available
on your hard disk drive.
NOTE: Do not delete the recovery image until you have
made recovery discs.
Choosing Recovery Discs
To create recovery discs, your computer must have a DVD
writer.
•
Use DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+R DL, or DVD-R DL blank
media to create your system recovery discs.
•
You cannot use DVD+RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW DL,
DVD-RW DL, or CD discs to create recovery discs.
Use high-quality discs to create your set of recovery discs.
The verification standard for the recovery disc creation
process is very high. You may see error messages such as
Recording failure when writing disc or Error detected
during disc verification.
Your discs may be rejected if they are not defect-free. You
will be prompted to insert a new blank disc to try again. It
is normal that some of your discs may be rejected.
The number of discs in the recovery disc set depends on
your computer model (typically 1–3 DVD discs). The
Recovery Disc Creator program tells you the specific
number of blank discs needed to make the set. The
following table gives an idea of how many discs you
will need.
Disk Drive
Disc Type
DVD
DVD-R, DVD+R
DVD
DVD+R Dual-Layer
No DVD
drive
The process takes some time to verify that the information
written on the disc is correct. You can quit the process at
any time. The next time you run the program, it resumes
where it left off.
Number of
Required
Blank Discs
1–3 discs
1–2 discs
Contact
HP Support
To create recovery discs:
1 Close all open programs.
2 Click the Windows Vista start button, All
Programs, PC Help & Tools, and then click
Recovery Disc Creation.
3 Follow the onscreen instructions. Label each disc as
you make it (for example, Recovery 1, Recovery 2).
4 Store the Recovery discs in a safe place.
System Recovery Options
You should attempt system recovery in the following order:
1 Through the hard disk drive, from the Windows Vista
Start menu.
2 Through the hard disk drive, by pressing the F11 key
on the keyboard during system startup.
3 Through recovery discs that you create.
4 Through recovery discs purchased from HP Support.
To purchase recovery discs, go to
http://www.hp.com/support and visit the
Software & Driver downloads page for your
computer model.
Starting system recovery from
the hard disk drive
Choose one of the following procedures to reinstall the
software from the recovery image on your hard disk drive:
•
Starting system recovery from the Windows Vista
Start menu
•
System recovery from system startup
System recovery from the
Windows Vista Start menu
If the computer is working, and Windows Vista is
responding, use these steps to perform a system recovery.
NOTE: System Recovery deletes any data or programs
that you created or installed after purchase. Therefore,
ensure you have backed up to a removable disc any data
that you want to keep.
1 Turn off the computer.
2 Disconnect all peripheral devices from the computer,
except the monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
3 Turn on the computer.
4 Click the Windows Vista start button, All
Programs, PC Help & Tools, and then click
Recovery Manager.
5 In the Recovery Manager Welcome window, click the
Advanced options button.
6 Click Recover your computer to its original
factory condition, and then click Next.
7 Click Next at the next screen that prompts you
to do so.
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