How to recover my computer to factory settings? How do I buy recovery disks and which ones? [ Edited ]

[siqbal]

I recently bought a used computer on craigslist.  It is a HP Pavillion a6700f.  It originally came with Vista, but the previous owner installed Windows 7 32 on it.  I want to set it back to factory settings, but I cannot seem to do so without the recovery disks, which I don't have.  I tried F11 at startup, but system recovery will not open that way for some reason.  I tried to buy recovery disks from HP, but they only have them for Windows  Vista 64 bit.  I am unsure if my computer originally came with  Vista 64 bit or 34 bit, though it has Windows 7 34 bit right now.  How can I recover the computer to factory settings?  Can I purchase the Vista 64 bit recovery disks and use those?  Will they work?  Thank you.

[banhien · Accepted solution]

Hi,

The ordering system will work out for you given you supply the right product id of your machine. Please use the following link, it should tell you the original Operating system:

    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&cc=us&docname=bph07143

Good luck.

ps. Based on the following link, its original OS was:

  Windows Vista Home Premium with Windows Media Center (64-bit) with Vista Service Pack 1

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&taskId=120&prodSeriesId=...

Therefore it should work with 64bit.

[TheOldMan]

Why the desire to put Vista back on is beyond me when Windows 7 is already there.  Windows 7 64bit can be installed for free by saving the key and reinstalling Windows 7 64bit.  The same key works for both Windows 7 versions. Bear in mind, if everything is working as planned before switching to Windows 7 64bit, the only down side is there will be Recovery DVD set (like the one HP provides in the link from banhien)

[lasvegaswireman]

If the previous owner left HP Recovery partition intact, you can try to use the HP Recovery Manager Application Update to attempt to reactivate the "F11" at boot. If all works well, you will then be able to get to the recovery functions.

[siqbal]

To lasvegaswireman: I tried to do the update, but it will not complete.  All it tells me is "The update did not complete successfully (259)".    Do you know what this means?  thanks.

[siqbal]

To TheOldMan: Hi. My goal is not to put Vista back on, but to have a computer that works properly. I want to set it back to factory settings because it is used and is not working as well as I hoped. I don't quite understand what you said about the Recover DVD set. Please do explain. thank you.

[siqbal]

To banhien: Thank you, but now the HP set won't allow me to purchase the recovery disc for Vista 64bit either. The page just says error.

[TheOldMan]

I see the confusion.   I said " the only down side is there will be Recovery DVD set (like the one HP provides in the link from banhien)"  what I meant that if you install Windows 7 there will be NO Recvery partition or Recovery DVD set.  Sorry

[lasvegaswireman]

Many, many times the link to order recovery discs is down. Please contact HP Customer Support via telephone, chat, or email and request the "English, French Vista Home Premium 64b 91NAv6PrA1 SP1 Recovery Kit"

HP's suggestion for error "The update did not complete successfully (259)" is;

Restart the computer, clear the temporary files, and then try to install the update again as outlined below.
1. Restart the computer.
2. Click Start , All Programs , Accessories , System Tools , and then click Disk Cleanup .
3. Select the hard drive with the operating system (usually C: ), and then click OK. Wait for disk cleanup to calculate how much disk space it can save.
4. Select Temporary Files , and then click OK . It might take a while for the Disk Cleanup utility to remove the files.
5. Try to install the update again

Windows 7 is really better than Vista... by a long shot!!! If the previous owner included the Windows 7 disc/s and COA with the product key, I would consider installing it as it would be better than Vista with all the HPware.