Recovery partition is there but recovery won't start

[EdwardOlive]

I just want to thank user Peter_Rob for taking the time to post his "partial solution" in page 2 of this topic. After 3 entire days trying every solution tip I read on internet, I've found that it's really the absolute solution to this issue of the HP PC not having the ability to properly execute the F11 System Restore. I tried it on a friend's HP G42 440 Notebook which was having trouble to boot both Windows and Recovery partition, the Boot Manager giving error 0xc000000f. The only difficulty I had was finding the factory image, which was hidden within the recovery partition in "e:\preload\base.wim". I used the 4th index, which was the largest of four indexes, and it worked like a charm.

Thank you very much, sir.

[topper24]

Omg, HELP!!!!!!
I tried this & system recovery is still greyed out.
Now however, Windows can NOT start at all because it has the recovery partition set as main, so no matter what... every time I start the pc, it goes into recovery manager with greyed out options. How do I get back into Windows to set the normal partition as main again.

[CherylG]

@topper24 

Scroll down on the page and get>> Bootable CD  and>> ImgBurn to burn the iso image to cd-a guide on using ImgBurn to write an ISO to a disc is> Here. Once created, boot from it. Change Active partition from Recovery to C:

[grambo99]

Hello

My HP laptop (G62-451SA) will not enable recovery mode after getting some nasty virus. I want to do a factory reset but cannot access the HP Recovery mode from either WIndows or Boot up despite pressing F11 over and over.

Prod no: XF482EA

Serial: [Personal Information Removed]

Windows 7 64 bit.

Please can you advise on how to resolve this. It came with no discs. I am in the UK

Thanks

[CherylG]

 @grambo99 

If you did not make a Recovery Disc set when you first got the laptop you will need to order them:

http://www.best2serve.com/page/rcd_hardware_related_products/?product_type_id=4&hardware_product_id=...

Are you 100% sure you didn't make the set & put it away?

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01867124

[grambo99]

Hello

Thanks for the reply. So you are saying I have to pay £36 to some third-party company with whom HP have a cosy little money-making agreement just to get a CD to make my laptop work?

No recovery disk set made. Isn't that a Windows back-up rather than a factory reset? I assumed the disk recovery function would work as advertised when I bought it. Is there a complaints department I can raise this with - the machine was obviously not in merchandisable condition when sold three years ago if it's factory reset function can only be accessed via a  £36 payment for a disk it never even came with.

Thanks

[CherylG]

Recovery Discs can be used to reinstall Windows and return the laptop back to Factory settings- on the old hdd or a new one. In the event of hdd failure you would not have the factory reset- thus you would need Recovery Discs, which you have software to create. Many manufacturers use that procedure now. Sorry ,but yes you must pay for them if you don't make them.

[grambo99]

Thanks for the reply. Interestingly the discs are FREE if you live in the US. Yet another company gouging money from us Britons. Despicable.

Quick final question to this unsatisfactory scenario that effectively means I pay a nearly ten pecent of the cost of the original machine just to get it working as it should do:

Will these discs reformat the hard drive and reinstall the hidden partition with the recovery image/tools - mine seems to have disappeared.

[CherylG]

The Recovery Discs are not free in the US- unless you are still within warranty and can't create them using the software on the machine.

Using the discs usually returns it to Factory shipped state-so Tools partition should be there. Installing latest BIOS 'should' also recreate the Tools partition if the recovery doesn't. No way to guarantee-recovery is varied on different models.

[grambo99]

Thanks for the clarification.

One final questiom - I downloaded a copy of WIndows 7 Home Prem which is the one listed on my sticker. I installed it with the acitvation key on the sticker. Now it says this activation key isn't acceptable - despite it being the same machine and same version of Windows. Surely to goodness this isn't happening? I have a laptop that comes with Windows and an activation key - and yet it wont' activate the version of Windows it came with?

Please tell me this is not the case!