Using Recovery Disks

[Arty76]

My HP Pavilion 15z can't login.  I have a set of recovery disks (5).  But I'm not sure how to go about using them.  I've put disk 1 into the disk drive but the laptop is not responding to it.  I've posted my to login dilemma on the forum but nothing useful forth coming yet.  Looking for help that doesn't involve Office Depot computer repair.

[Huffer]

Where are you being stopped from logging in? It would help us to know the model number of the laptop...lots of 15z models. Also the Windows version and the 5 disks, are they printed HP disks or made from the recovery manager program when the laptop was new? Generally you turn off the laptop, put the disk 1 in the drive, power up and tap F9 for boot order then select to boot from the DVD drive. You also might be able to recover from a partition on the hard drive by tapping F11 as you power up.

Before you try to recover, though, you need to rule out a hardware issue by tapping F2 as you power up and run the hard drive and memory diagnostic.

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it.  

[Arty76]

Thanks for your input.  I will try your suggestions.  The disks (5) were created from the recovery manager program when the laptop was new. The model number is 15z-n200.  The OS is Win10 (64byte)  The computer starts up normally and displays a black screen with the hp logo on it and the spinner then switches to the screen with the time and date on it.  Normally a simple click with the mouse or tap on the space bar will cause the log-on screen to appear.  However now, it takes much prodding and waiting for the logon screen to appear.  Right now that screen is present and the spinner is spinning as it attempts to log in.  It's not even giving me a chance to enter my pass word (maybe it still has it recorded from previous attempts).  All the while I've been typing this reply, the spinner spins.  Most of the time, after 10 minutes or so, it seems to get bored and goes back to to start the process all over again - seems to be caught in some sort of loop.  It was probably caused it by my impatience.  I was trying to install a new version of a program while the older version was still present.  Normally my expereince is that the newer program will uninstall the older program as it installs itself.  I got no indications and after about 15 minutes my patience wore thin and I turned the computer off.  Trying to restart the laptop is when the problem began.  Per your suggestion, powering on using F2 key, the system has passed all tests with separate tests run for memory and hard drive so there doesn't seem to be a hardware issue . I powered up using F11 but it could not refresh my computer.  Lastly, I powered up using F2.  I did not get a screen that would let me select the boot drive but eventually got to a screen that said 'Diagnosing PC'.  This was followed by a screen indicating, 'Repairing disk errors.  This might take over an hour to complete.'  That's where I am now.  Since this has gotten lengthy, I'll close and reply again after things progress.  Again, thanks for your suggestions.

[Arty76 · Accepted solution]

Oops. Not sure where the F2 thing came from - old age and diminishing mind function I suppose.  Am now in the process of using the powerup F9 function with my recovery disk 1 in the hard drive and selection to use that drive to boot up with.  Will be back in touch with results later.  Just wanted you to know that your instructions were correctr, my implementation of them was in error.

[Arty76]

All is well for the most part.  The recovery process went well and I now have a live computer again.  I'm now in the process of re-installing the software I want.  One of the reinstalls is Windows 10.  So far, I have been hours at this total process.  Question?  Once Windows 10 is installed can I make recovery discs at that point so that if I every have to do this again, I don't have to go through down loading and installing Win 10?

[Huffer]

You have already given yourself the Solution here which means you can't give it to anyone else that helps you. But, once you upgrade to Windows 10 you will not be able to make factory restore disks for any other version. The HP Backup and Recovery program will not work. Windows 10 has some built in backup options that will allow you to make a system image backup which means a copy of your specific install and not a generic factory backup but you need an external hard drive for that. Still, strongly advise getting one and running regular backups. That is what computer savvy people do. 

Post back with any more questions