What is the "factory image" drive?

[Douglas4517]

Does the Factory image update with Windows upgrades? That is, I purchased this computer (Compaq Presario SR5507F) with Vista but upgraded to Win7. Would a recovery send me back to Vista so that I have to do the reload of Win7?

[BHK6]

Hi Douglas4517,

I saw your post regarding the upgrading of the Factory_Image. Unfortunately, it doesn't upgrade as you go. If you do a restore now, it is going back to Windows Vista. I would suggest trying to create a recovery CD. You can however create a System Image that you can use to restore the computer in case of an issue. I have included a link on how to do that.

Creating and Using a System Image to Restore Your Computer Windows 7:

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c02053303

Thank you,

[Douglas4517]

Thank you. The answer was disappointing but not unexpected. If I could, I would ask another question, this one on backup/recover strategies:

Is it possible to create a system image on , say, a 64G flash drive? And, if so, could that be a simpler way to recover a crashed system after replacing the hard drive? My thinking is this:

1. Boot from flash drive

2. Format new HD

3. Restore system from flash drive

Would this work? Or am I stuck with multiple DVD's or Blu-rays as my only option?

[BHK6]

Hi Douglas4517,

Yes, you can save a system image to a USB. I have included a link that mentions you can save it to a USB and give a good tutorial for setting up the system image including pictures.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/create-system-image-in-windows-7-8/

Thank you,

[Douglas4517]

I would like to click on the Accept as solution" button but it does not appear to exist on your message. Once again, thanks for the information and help.

[ehlma32]

the subject is the question. what is the "factory image drive"?

[Douglas4517]

It strikes me as odd that HP chooses to create a system image on a drive partition on the only hard drive in a machine. Since a disaster needing a system image restoral is most likely to be a hard drive failure, that system image would not likely be available. Sounds like false security to me. But, then, I have had system failures before, only one of which was not caused by a hard drive failure (that one was caused by a power supply failure... more likely by the power regulation system) on an HP laptop.

[samyslik]

My hp was purchased four year ago and has started crashing this week for the first time.

My c drive is almost empty while my factory image is almost full.  Do I put stuff on the D?

Don't know if I should shop for a new computer or if this one will hold out a while longer.

[MJR_Whynot]

Lil_Lisa27 thanks for great directions... however no matter what I do I cannot get past the HP Recovery Partition Warning that I should not delete or alter any files.  I changed to show hidden folders and files, but nothing seems to let me in to see any folders in my 😧 Recovery drive.

I also tried to find out how to change where my Norton (which I'm really no longer using anyway ) is saving files, but could not find how to change that either.  Any additional information would be appreciated.

Thank you.
MJR_Whynot

[Ali365Dash]

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@BHK6 wrote:

Hi Douglas4517,

I saw your post regarding the upgrading of the Factory_Image. Unfortunately, it doesn't upgrade as you go. If you do a restore now, it is going back to Windows Vista. I would suggest trying to create a recovery CD. You can however create a System Image that you can use to restore the computer in case of an issue. I have included a link on how to do that.

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So if my System Restores aren't backed up into the 😧 drive, doesn't that mean I can delete it?