HP Pavilion Recovery DVDs wont work after hard drive replacement

[AMRN]

I have a Pavilion PC with a dead hard drive. I purchased an equivalent hard drive and installed. The BIOS recognises the drive and it reports ok. When I run the Reovery process from my 3 DVDs, I get to 90% during the third DVD and then get an error saying this system cannot be recovered. 

I'm guessing it's because the HDD is not the exact same model of drive as that which came with the PC and the DVD might not contain the right driver?

I now have a dead worthless PC with a brand new HDD.    How can I get around this please?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi::

The only suggestion I can offer would be to make your own plain W7 ISO file if you can still read all 25 characters of the W7 product key on your notebook's case.

This site claims to have some genuine W7 ISO files.  Download and run the Windows ISO Downloader exe application.

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-and-office-iso-downl...

You would then use this utility to put the file onto a DVD or usb flash drive, so that it is bootable.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

[AMRN]

Thanks - will give this a go.    Only concern though is that when I tried previously to download an ISO directly from MS using my licence key, it told me I could not download with an OEM key - I hope I don't have an issue using the OEM key to activate this install.

I guess I'll also have issues with drivers to get through - might be back for advice for that as well 🙂

It's really frustrating that I went to the trouble of creating the Recovery disks on HPs advice, but then they don't actually work when needed. It's poor that HP don't sell a working solution - ie just include the installation media when they sell the device, rather than leaving it to consumers to create Recovery disks that don't work.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

The product key should work with the COEM version of the W7 file that site offers.

If you live in a EU country, that site's files won't work, as EU residents need the 'N' version of Windows, and they don't offer that file for download at this time.

Other than that exception, the OEM key will work.

I agree. With Dell PC's you used to get an operating system disk and driver and application disks.

The problem with recovery image disks is that you can't install whatever hard drive you want, and many times they don't work no matter what.

I have had a few sets of HP recovery disks not work and I would have been up the creek without a paddle if I didn't have Windows disks for every operating system they make laying around.

I'll help you with any drivers you are missing after you install them from your model's support page, and can't find some elusive ones.

Just post the hardware ID's for any devices that need drivers.  Use this guide for how to find the hardware ID.

https://www.howtogeek.com/193798/how-to-find-drivers-for-unknown-devices-in-the-device-manager/

[AMRN]

Thank you!!

I managed to install Windows from the bootable ISO I created. However I don't have ANY of the drivers I need, which includes the WiFi driver, which means I can't reach the internet to o search for drivers.

Is there somewhere I can download a driver pack for my Pavilion model - H0M70EA?

Cheers

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Here is the link to the W7 driver page for your PC.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-pavilion-p6-2000-desktop-pc-series/5151865/model...

Install all 6 of these drivers, and you should be good to go.

Install these 4 in this order and restart the PC after each of the first 3.

1. This package provides the original driver for the Intel Chipset Family SMBus Controller solutions in supported models that are running a supported operating system.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp56501-57000/sp56697.exe

2. This package provides the original driver for the Intel HD Graphics Family solutions in supported models that are running a supported operating system.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp54001-54500/sp54418.exe

3. This package provides the original driver for the Realtek High Definition Audio solutions in supported models that are running a supported operating system.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp54001-54500/sp54414.exe

4. This package provides the original driver for the Realtek PCIe Family network controller solutions in supported models that are running a supported operating system.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp54001-54500/sp54416.exe

This package provides the original driver for the Intel Management Engine Interface solutions in supported models that are running a supported operating system.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp54001-54500/sp54425.exe

This package provides the driver update for the Ralink Wireless LAN Card solutions in supported models that are running a supported operating system.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp58001-58500/sp58084.exe

[AMRN]

Paul, thank you!!  Couldn't have done this without your help  -  it's very much appreciated. All drivers installed and have no driver errors showing in device manager!

Now the next frustration - I had upgraded previously to Win10 when the upgrade was free..... now MS want to charge me £100. Guess I'll be sticking with crappy old Win7 now.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.

Since your PC had previously been upgraded to W10 and activated, you can reinstall W10 for free by clicking on the upgrade now button at the link below.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

When you get to the part of the installation script where you are asked to enter a product key, you select the 'I don't have a product key' option, and W10 will install and automatically reactivate once you are connected to the internet.

You can also clean install W10 by using the media creation tool and make a bootable USB flash drive installation device or a DVD.

You could have done the W10 clean install method after you replaced the hard drive.

As the old saying goes...Live and learn.

[AMRN]

Win7 install completed, drivers all installed, Win10 upgrade completed, data restore underway.

Time to breathe. Thanks again for your help!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.