recovery cd for OEM windows 8 desktop

[TerryWS]

HI,

I have recently found my hard drive is failing. Actually will not boot up. I have Acronis software to try to duplicate the hard drive, but it says that there are bad sectors and I cannot make the copy to a new SSD. Most of my personal files are saved on USB flash drives, and I was able to obtain files off of the dead hard drive, but I can't get the OEM operating system off of the old drive. What can I do to obtain a recovery disc or another copy of windows 8 without having to buy another OS?  Or is there another way to try to retrieve anything off of my dead drive?

thanks for any help

[old_geekster]

@TerryWS, welcome to the forum.

Here is the HP Software and Driver Downloads for the computer.  There is a section on how to order the Recovery Media.  I believe that HP should still have them available.

Please click the Thumbs up + button if I have helped you and click Accept as Solution if your problem is solved.

[y2ken]

HP Recovery Disks

or

RestoreDisks.com

If you found my answer helpful please say thanks by clicking on the Thumb's Up icon.
        If my answer solved your problem please mark it as the Accepted Solution. Thanks!

[TerryWS]

This is for both of the replies that I recieved:  i went to the page(s) where the downloads were, and immediately i was instructed to try to make a hard copy of the recovery disc, from my own computer. That would be nice, if I could even start windows. But they also say I can do that without starting windows...

So my question is, where do i go for more instructions on how to make a recovery disc from my failed hard drive, and can I write it on a rewritable dvd, or do i need to use a usb flash drive... and how large are the files? 

this is frustrating, as it should be allowed to have the discs made for what we pay for computers. And yes, I could have done that long ago myself, but I had hoped I could use this computer without it failing so soon. I have had hard drives for years... and tbh, they still worked. 

Sorry for the rant...just need help.

Thanks again.

[old_geekster · Accepted solution]

Thank you for the additional information, @TerryWS.

I hear what you are saying.  However, it is Microsoft's policy not to let OEM manufacturers, such as, HP, provide the Recovery Media using disks.  They only allow one copy to be made from the app that comes with the computer when you buy it.  If you didn't make the Media when you bought the computer, your only option is to purchase it.  I wish I had better news for you.

Here is the "How to" section for System Recovery, Backup & Restore.  There is a guide to help you with making the Recovery Media.

Please click the Thumbs up + button if I have helped you and click Accept as Solution if your problem is solved.

[TerryWS]

Thank you

I will look at the video link and see what I can gleen from that, and then if nothing else, I will probably go to the download page and do what must be done. 

[TerryWS]

In the end I wound up ordering the recovery discs. At least if I have similar problems, I have the discs to fall back on. Thank you for your help, and I hope that getting everything onto the new hard drive will be easy.  I'm still not sure if I will be able to do that with confidence. 

[old_geekster]

You are very welcome, @TerryWS.  I am always glad to help.

If you haven't bought the SSD, you should buy one that has at least 500 GB.  This will assure that there is enough space for the Recovery Media to work properly.  I believe that the minimum SSD is 128 GB, however.

[TerryWS]

I have purchased the SSD, and it is a 960gb. I had read up on the fact that I should get a larger hard drive than what I had, although my HDD is 1tb, I had not even come close to filling it up, nor does the OS take up that much space anyway. So I think I'm good as far as space is concerned. I backup all my important files on flash drives, and only keep works in progress on the main computer, as I am a graphics artist i like to keep the hard drive freed up. 

I was able to pull some files from the old hard drive using Acronis. Is it possible that some of those files would contain personal settings, like cookies, passwords, and other things that I put on the computer? I'm prepared to fear the worse, but i thought if the personalized settings could be salvaged, it would save some time. 

[old_geekster]

Keep up the good work!  You will have this solved in no time at all.