Minimized Image Recovery

[BNSFMike]

I did some searching and someone with a new Compaq notebook had these 3 options when accessing the HP recovery manager: "Microsoft system restore", "System recovery" and "minimized image recovery" which was described as "restore your computer to a clean Windows environment, with minimal software and drivers installed".

And someone else chose “System Recovery”. It rebooted and then gave them the option of a 'minimized image recovery'. This reinstalled everything except the bloatware.

I get these 3 options on my p6710f desktop: “Microsoft System Restore”, Microsoft Startup Repair Tool” and “System Recovery”. I chose “System Recovery”, but the next screen states ‘Restore your computer to its original factory state’. And ‘This process reinstalls the original shipped software’.

Then there were 2 choices: ‘Backup your files first (recommended)’ or ‘Recover without backing up your files’. Nowhere did I see 'minimized image recovery'.

Has anyone gone down the path of ‘Recover without backing up your files’?
If so, is there another option to do a 'minimized image recovery'?

Or is this option just not available on my PC?

[DavidPK]

Hi,

The option to be able to do a Minimized Image Recovery is a relatively new feature which is why you will not see it in your version of Recovery Manager.  As long as you have your own backup of your files, photots, programs etc, choosing to 'Recover without backing up your Files' is the option to choose - although as you mention, this will reinstall all the additional software originally bundled with your PC.  Although it won't help you at the moment, an option you may want to consider when you have Windows as you want it ( ie with all its updates applied, all the programs you don't want uninstalled, and all your personal files loaded ) is to use Disk Imaging software to create an image of your Hard Drive in this state.  You could then use this to reinstall Windows without having to go through all the previous hassle again.

Regards,

DP-K

[BNSFMike]

I will make a disc image, but I was hoping to get rid of some bloatware before I did so.

I do have a legit copy of Windows 7 that I could use, but thought it would be nice to do something like the Minimized Image Recovery just to make sure all the proper drivers get loaded.

Right now it’s kind of a toss up. Install a fresh copy of Windows 7 & spend time getting drivers & making sure everything else is there that is needed, or spend time getting rid of the bloatware. There’s not much garbage on the computer but with my luck I will delete something that I wish I had not, & not realize it was needed till months from now.

[DavidPK]

Hi,

Have you created your HP Recovery Discs?  The Recovery Disc Creator application can usually be found in All Programs in a folder tittled Recovery Manager.  Using these discs to reinstall the OS would return everything on the PC to the condition it was in when you bought it - along with all the bloatware etc.  They are just a bootable copy of your Recovery Partition but it is always a good idea to create them.  Remember that deleting programs etc before creating these discs will not change what is on the HP Recovery Discs - they will always contain everything that originally came with your PC.

The other option in Windows 7 to create a Disk Image is ideal for what you want.  Uninstall everything you don't want, put on everything you do want and then use this option to create the Image.  This Image can then be used to restore the OS exactly as you want it.  You also have the security of knowing that if for some reason the Image is missing something vital, you can recover the whole system using the HP Recovery Discs.

Regards,

DP-K

[jhaus]

After investigating the same issue with a Pavilion dv7 that I received on 4/28/2011, I found this solution (which I did not find anywhere else - even when googling "hp minimized image recovery"). Hopefully this works for others too.

Issue:

Remove bloatware and maintain drivers and important HP software using a Minimized Image Recovery.

Solution:

While restarting your computer, hit F11. This should open a version of your Recovery Manager software that is slightly different from the version that is opened when Recovery Manager is opened during an active Windows session.

When opening Recovery Manager during a reboot, there will be an additional option to use a Minimized Image Recovery in the left-hand column (missing above -  this instance of Recovery Manager was open during a normal Windows 7 session).

The above image (taken from this forum post), shows the Minimized Image Recovery option in Recovery Manager. The actual menu style may vary.

NOTE: This may not work for all HP computers. The available help articles mention that different versions of Recovery Manager exist and I have only tested this with the version installed on my HP Pavilion dv7t-6000 CTO Entertainment Notebook PC.

HP Help Articles Mentioning "Minimized Image Recovery":

1) Recover Windows 7 Operating System Using HP Recovery

2) Using System Recovery, Factory Reset and Minimized Image Recovery Options

[richerdey]

In order to get back your lost image you must have to use an advanced data recovery solution whiich allow you to extract your images from the formatted or deleted storage media. If yo0u really want to get back you rlost images you should advoid to copy new files in such places where you lost your images. An image recovery software uses advanced algorithm which find and repair corrupted or inaccesible images from the storage meida. 

[leween]

Hi,

If I used 'Minimized Image Recovery' will I lose my files?