Pavilion dv6500 hard reset

[RequiredAlias]

Have the dv6500.  I want to give it away, but want to erase personal data first.  Does a hard reset remove Vista and data or just data?  If it removes Vista, how do I rebuild the OS?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

A hard reset doesn't do anything with the operating system or removing your PC's files.

HP PCs - How to Power Reset Your Computer | HP® Customer Support

I'm thinking you mean a factory reset.

Your notebook has to have a working recovery manager and if it doesn't you won't be able to factory reset the PC.

Watch this video for how to factory reset your notebook.

Hp Pavilion DV6646US Factory Reset Windows Vista (dv6000) - YouTube

[RequiredAlias]

Very good.  I don't need DVDs/CDs.  My reason for factory reset is to remove personal data so I can donate my laptop.  Will a factory reset accomplish that?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Yes, it should. 

[RequiredAlias]

Thanks.  Watched the video (sound was poor).  Uncertain what a "a working recovery manager" is.  Is that a file, DVD?  Didn't hear it in the video.  The video looked pretty easy.  Just uncertain about the "a working recovery manager"

[Paul_Tikkanen]

The F11 method shown in the video requires that the HP recovery manager software be working.

The only way you can know that would be to do what was done in the video.

The dv6500 model series is very old and hardly any documentation is available for it.

There used to be a HP document that showed you how to factory reset the notebook with the recovery manager when you are in Windows.

Since that document no longer exists, I can't provide the info for how to factory reset the notebook directly from the Recovery manager software.