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- HP Community
- Notebooks
- Notebook Operating System and Recovery
- How to Factory Reset. Seed may be missing?

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08-20-2024 11:34 AM
A ?helpful? repair service was requested to configure a dual boot Linux/Vista setup. I received a poorly installed Linux OS and lost Vista and the network card is apparently dead. I really enjoyed my Vista, for running retro games. Is there an original system recovery solution?
08-23-2024 04:31 AM
Hi @BeJota,
Welcome to HP Support Community.
Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.
To factory reset your HP Pavilion dv6934ca Entertainment Notebook PC and restore it to its original Windows Vista setup, you can follow these steps. Note that since you mentioned the network card is dead, you might need to do some troubleshooting if you have difficulty with the recovery media.
Check for Recovery Partition
- Turn off the laptop.
- Turn it back on and immediately start pressing the F11 key repeatedly. This should bring up the HP Recovery Manager.
- If the Recovery Manager opens, follow the on-screen instructions to restore your system to factory settings.
Create a Windows Vista Installation USB
If you have access to another computer, you can create a Windows Vista installation USB using the original installation files if you have them. You’ll also need a valid product key:
- Download Windows Vista ISO: You can sometimes find it through HP’s official support or other reliable sources.
- Create a Bootable USB: Use tools like Rufus or Windows USB/DVD Download Tool to create a bootable USB.
- Boot from USB: Insert the USB into your laptop, reboot, and press F9 to select the boot device. Choose the USB drive.
Drivers and Updates
After reinstalling Windows Vista, you will need to reinstall drivers. You can download drivers for your specific model from the HP Support website.
Network Card Troubleshooting
If the network card is not working after the reset:
- Check BIOS Settings: Ensure that the network card is enabled in the BIOS.
- Install Network Drivers: Download drivers for the network card from HP or the card manufacturer’s website.
I hope this helps.
Take care and have a good day.
Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!
Alden4
HP Support
HP Support Community Moderator
08-27-2024 09:36 AM
Hola Aiden.
Hope you are well, as well. I appreciate the guidance you have provided me.
I have some files which appear to be for Vista installation, but I am unsure of the origin, I am unsure of the
I will attempt to perform your solution, and hit the helpful button, if it works.
Eventually, what I hope to achieve is a dual boot Linux/Vista system. This has been my plan, following unsupported Vista. Linux as the general purpose O/S and Vista for offline Windows specific activities.
Muchas gracias...
08-27-2024 09:54 AM
Hi @BeJota,
Thank you for your response,
Please feel free to reach out to us. We are here to assist you and provide any necessary support.
I will be archiving this case for now however, you can respond to the same thread to continue the conversation.
Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!
Take care and have a great day ahead!
Alden4
HP Support
HP Support Community Moderator