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- Can someone explain why you need recovery disks?

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03-31-2016 10:19 AM
Look, i wanna buy a new hdd because the old one broke, and when i install it on my pc ( I will need recovery disk)? or i can install windows instantly?
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04-02-2016 11:05 AM
Hello there
Broke is a very loose term for a HDD, and if the HDD has some life left in it, then a clone may be possible.
You dont need recovery disks, you may want them to return your system back to factory fresh, but changing to another OS that you own means you do not need recovery disks.
As has been explained the situation with drivers and apps means that you can struggle to achieve a stable system, and the factory fresh approach negates all that grief.
If there is life in the old HDD a set of recovery media may be able to be produced from it, possibly a clone would also give that option, but it only a remote possibility.
03-31-2016 10:33 AM
You can install Windows if you have the recovery disk with Windows on it, but then you will only have the operating system. All of your files and software programs will be gone, and your drivers will need updating or installation. In other words, you're looking at a bare system startup, which is doable, but time consuming.
If you can still make a system image of what is on your computer right now, I would do that. It saves everything on your system - Windows, all the updates you've installed, your files, software programs ... everything just as it is right now. Make a bootable recovery disk along with that and you will be good to go when your new HDD is installed.
03-31-2016 10:42 AM - edited 03-31-2016 10:43 AM
To answer your original question -- you need HP Recovery Media because it will restore not only the original OS that came on the PC, but also the HP drivers and HP utilities.
If you use a different media, that's not going to reinstall either the HP drivers or the HP Utilities.
Also, the original OS on your PC is an HP OEM version, and any version you install that does NOT come from HP media will not activate, as the product key on your PC only works with the original OS version.
Regarding the other PC, if you mean that you made HP Recovery Media onto a USB stick with the PC, will it work in this PC? Only if it is the same make and model. Recovery Media is specific to the model. So, if it's a different model PC than this one, it will not work.
Good Luck
I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor do I represent, HP.
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03-31-2016 03:55 PM
Hi,
It's your choice on your machine, you can boot to anything, it works or not, again up to you. BUT if you wish to get back to its orinal status, you need Recovery media/discs.
Regards.
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03-31-2016 05:13 PM
You said you wanted to create a bootable Win7 USB stick -- like in the video.
Two responses to this ...
First, you need a Win7 ISO file to do that, and there is no such file for the HP OEM version of Windows that came preinstalled on your PC. So, you can not create a bootable USB stick like in the video for HP OEM Windows.
Second, what you want has nothing to do with HP. You want to make a custom bootable USB stick with your own apps on it.
Sorry, but that's not what this forum is here to support -- as it's not an HP-related issue.
I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor represent, HP
03-31-2016 05:34 PM
@IDVK wrote:
If i install windows on usb from another pc it would work? Yes/No?
No. You use the Matching HP REcovery disk or USB that was for your computer since it has the Product Key with it for Win8 and newer they Product Key is in the UEFI Bios.
Windows 10 drivers may be available through Windows Update
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Learn more
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BTW, Millions of folks have gone back from Win10 to their prior O/S -- something you don't hear about from MS. by WAWood but ALL to TRUE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Those that want HD Gaming should plan to invest in a Gaming Laptop to handle those requirements. Eamples GTA V or Crysis 3.
04-01-2016 01:45 PM
@IDVK wrote:Look, i wanna buy a new hdd because the old one broke, and when i install it on my pc ( I will need recovery disk)? or i can install windows instantly?
You need to order the HP Recovery media to restore it to working order.
HP PCs - Obtaining HP Recovery Discs or an HP USB Recovery Drive
Read this before ordering your Recovery Discs! (US and Canada Only)
End of life desktop computer and laptop recovery sets
ReStore Disk
Windows 10 drivers may be available through Windows Update
Click 'Learn More' below for steps on using Windows Update to determine what drivers might be available for your product. Please be aware that HP does not guarantee Windows 10 drivers will be available from Windows Update.
Learn more
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a HP USER community forum.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
BTW, Millions of folks have gone back from Win10 to their prior O/S -- something you don't hear about from MS. by WAWood but ALL to TRUE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Those that want HD Gaming should plan to invest in a Gaming Laptop to handle those requirements. Eamples GTA V or Crysis 3.