Windows system image on dm1-4125

[39frank]

Win7 provides a native facility to create a disc image at any time, in addition to the HP provided minimum system image. According to Win 7, you can restore this image by pressing f8 at boot up and following the menu. I can not get f8 to function, does anybody know if the route to system image restore via windows backup and restore will function on the dm1-4125, or has it been disabled.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

It should be F11, to launch the recovery process.

When you do the W7 image backup, you need to save it to a portable hard drive and make a W7 startup CD.

If you created the windows 7 startup CD all you need to do is boot from it and follow the instructions provided and have your portable HDD with the W7 image plugged in.

Paul

[39frank]

Thanks for your response. None of the start up options seem to allow the restoration of a system image, apart from the HP minimum system. Creating a windows system repair disc fails with the error 0x80070057, when the same drive has just been used to create the HP recovery disc set. I tried to follow the backup and restore menu to install my windows created system image, when the PC restarts the system image restore menu is blocked. It looks as though the only restore option allowed is the HP minimum. I'll just have to install Acronis.

[MartinPRowe]

Hi,

I am also seeing problems with the HP recovery/generation process!

The notebook will boot from USB Disk - Tested - Okay

The generation program says that it has completed sucessfully.

HOWEVER, when trying to boot from the generated media, it fails and falls back to booting from the disc.

So imagine the situation: I'm a newbe and believe the on-screen messages that everyting has worked and I put my recovery media away as advised. Next week my disc goes up in smoke.

How do I reformat in install the software on the replacement disc?

Can I have a set of recovery CDs FOR FREE?

Regards, Martin

[39frank]

I assume that you have selected to boot from the external CD drive (esc at boot, then select the relevant boot options).  If you still can't boot then I guess your DVD must have been damaged after you created it.  You can buy a set of recovery discs from somewhere on the HP site for about £30- it's an external supplier.  I do suggest that you create a Windows 7 system repair disc and disc image as soon as possible.

I complained about apparent errors in the software on the created recovery discs to HP, they referred me back to the retailer who said it was my responsibility to make the recovery discs and offered to replace the notebook if I thoiught it was defective.  Not a wholly satisfactory solution.

I solved my recovery issues by removing the recovery partition, getting all partitions to be basic (not active) and fighting my way through the recovery disc to reinstall the HP factory image.  I removed the junk software and updated Windows.  After that I was able ( I don't understand why, when I couldn't previously) to run the native Windows 7 disc image option to create an image on an external HDD and to create a Windows 7 system repair CD.  I can now use Windows 7 to restore quickly an image of the windows and system partition without the hassle of removing the crapware and adding all the windows updates that follows from installing an HP factory image.  That's why I declined the option to replace the PC.

[MartinPRowe]

Hi Frank,

Yep BIOS boot options all set okay and tested via alternative boot media. And yes I am aware that you can BUY recovery discs.

My point is that the generation process is faulty. Using the limited tools at my disposal, I don't think the the MBR has been written correctly. Will a moderator confirm? Please?

I guess I will have to make my point by returning the notebook to the retailer (Dixon Group/KnowHow) and try again. I'm just a little tired of beta testing products for this lot....

Regards, Martin

PS - If anyone can tell me how to DISABLE the "boot from internal disc" in the BIOS (ie It gets an exclamation mark in front of it when viewed in the boot order menu), it would help me prove my point.

[39frank]

Hi Martin,

What are you going to replace it with? Another one will still have the same recovery disc issues.  If you want a decently quick 12 inch notebook that will run Lightroom and go in a camera bag, it's this, the near obsolete Sony or the almost unobtainable Samsung (or pay a fortune for an ultrabook with a small SSD).  It's why I stuck it out and reconfigured the thing.  Mind you, my recovery disc will boot.

Frank