How specific is a recovery disk?

[radiocam]

Hello,

(This feels like the mixed socks in a drawer riddle...)
I have a client with three HP Probook 430s running Win 7. 
They haven't been treated well software-wise, with an assortment of malware on them, and they are ripe for a back-to-factory recovery.
Now, the client tossed me a whole set of disks from which I have found what look like four sets of recovery disks. (There's one - or more! - laptops that went walkabout somewhere along the way)
My problem/question: I assume that a recovery disk is for one very specific  notebook, ie. somehow tied to the serial number or whatever. I don't really want to do a trial and error of each recovery in turn, worried that if it is the wrong disk I may not be in a position to back out. 
So.. is there a way to match the disk to its specific notebook? Like with a serial or something? There are some part numbers on the labels, and most of the disks are still unopened in their sleeve, sealed with a barcoded label. Any way to match these up before I do this?
Thanks

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Unfortunately, it is hard to say.  Some models are recovery media specific, and some aren't.

I'm thinking that if you have a separate W7 operating system disk and a separate application and driver DVD, you can use the same W7 installation DVD on all of them, and you won't need the product key.

I have several HP business notebook's of different models and I can use the same W7 installation disk on all of them--even though it was for a different model.

One notebook has its own set of recovery disks, and I can't use those on any other notebook model but that one.

However, I can use the W7 installation disk on that notebook from another PC and it works just fine.

[radiocam]

Thanks for your reply, Paul.
I don't have the disks with me right now,  but yes, from memory there's a disk labeled Application and Driver Recovery Disk and an Operating System disk.

The App & Drvr Recovery Disk certainly says on the label : "Contains software and drivers already installed...For reinstallation and repair only" - I think the Operating System disk says the same .... but I only need to reinstall Win 7 so I shall try it and see. 
I'll do a image backup before, just in case. 
Thanks again!
Cheers

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Somehow the notebook OS disks that are independent of the application and driver DVD are intuitive.

In other words, they seem to know what operating system could have come with the PC based on the BIOS.

For example:  I have Vista Business OS recovery disks for older HP notebooks and they work just fine on the newer ones.

However, if I try to install a HP W7 OS on an old notebook that was made before W7 ever came out, the OS will ask to be activated. 

The XP disks will work on any HP business PC that could have come with XP natively or as a downgrade rights option.