New SSD did NOT copy HP_TOOLS partition..?

[Russ_Hager]

I have a complete clone of the C drive on the SSD. I don't have the HP_TOOLS partition and the hidden recoverty partition on the SSD.

Do I need them? How do I get them on the SSD?

Thank you for any help that you can provide.

[Huffer]

Does everything still work? You can live without those partitions but I believe the HP Tools partition is needed for UEFI diagnostics. 

[Russ_Hager]

Yeah everything still works just fine. I still have the old HDD which has those partitions.  I was just wondering if those partitions were mandatory to have on my main drive.

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Nope. If they were it would not work without them. Check and see if you can get into UEFI diagnostics by tapping F2 as you power up. I would check that. Not needed to run the computer but you never miss it until you need it if you have a possible hardware problem. There is a downloadable UEFI program you can install if necessary. There are no Windows 10 downloads but the Windows 8.1 UEFI should work:

http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?sp4ts.oid=5071172&swItemId=ob_129420_1&swEnvOid=415...

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

[Russ_Hager]

After doing a quick restart, F11 doesnt do anything for me.

After pressing F2 though, I get transferred to HP Advanced System Diagnostics Vers 3.7.0.0, where theres system info, start-up test, run-in test, system tune-up, Hard disk test, memory test, battery test, BIOS management, Error log, and language.

Exiting from THAT transfers me to another screen of black and white where

F1 System Info

F2 System Diagnostics

F7 HP SpareKey

F9 Boot Device Options

F10 BIOS Setup

F12 Network Boot

ENTER - Continue startup

Also, keep in mind, that at the time of typing this, I have my old HDD in an upgrade caddy where my optical drive used to be.

[Russ_Hager]

So I ran the program that you linked for me. It changed the Advanced System Diagnostics screen to a more modern UEFI Diagnostics screen. That's all that it did.

So I guess I should just hold on to the old HDD for now, until the inevitable day that I get a new laptop?

[Huffer]

Yes not a bad idea. You did not say whether F2 works or not so I am unsure on that. Windows 10 has some very good backup tools including the ability to make a bootable backup disk or thumb drive with a system image, which is actually better than the HP restore media made from the recovery partition. You can also put the UEFI diagnostics on a bootable thumb drive. 

[Russ_Hager]

So I tried to make recovery drives on the SSD and it won't work because I'm missing some critical files. I can make recovery media if I boot off the HDD, though. I figure I'm better off doing a fresh reinstall of Windows 10 at this point just to be safe.
And F2 takes me to the UEFI screen. Sorry. Should have said that.

[Huffer]

Then I think you are good. Did you use the Windows 10 backup and recovery or try to use the HP Recovery Manager to make the recovery disk?

[Russ_Hager]

Windows 10 backup and recovery through the HDD.