Unable to boot or recover system

[MartinSuchy]

Hello,

I have a similar problem like others here but still no solution.

I had to reinstall a laptop (HP 250 G3), so I made a full disk backup (all partitions) using Acronis True Image 2017. Everything went OK. Then I did a factory reset and installed fresh system (Win 8.1).

Unfortunately I forgot to backup few important files. And because I did not realise that it is possible to just copy them out of the backup I restored back whole disk (all partitions - please, don't ask why not just the Windows partiton).

After that I am unable to boot into Windows, the System Recovery Manager (F11) also does not work. All I get is a BSOD. At first the BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO and now only "Your PC needs to be repaired" with a Error code: 0xc000000f.

All partitions and files are still there and accessible.

I tried every possible troubleshooting option in the Windows Recovery Enviroment as well as few bootrec and bcdedit tips.

So I need either a way to boot from the Recovery Partition (I don't have the Recover Media) or some other USB bootable tool that can create a Recover yMedia from the partition.

Is there a solution to this?

Martin

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@MartinSuchy 

Sorry, but I don't have good news for you ...

First, by erasing and restoring the ENTIRE drive, you probably also did that with the Recovery partition -- and doing that generally corrupts it.  So now, that's most likely why the HP Recovery will not work anymore.

Second, if you're asking if there is a way to make a recovery backup from that partition, the answer is no.

Third, some folks have reported success booting from the Recovery partition (presuming it is NOT corrupted) by using a bootable partitioning tool and setting that partition to Active.  You should try that to see if it works.

If nothing works, then your only recourse, if you want the HP system restored, would be to order something known as HP Recovery Media ...

HP Recovery Media is a set of DVDs and a CD, or USB stick, that will erase the hard drive (removing all data, settings, and applications, reinstall the original OS, drivers, and some HP Utilities.

In some cases, you may be able to order a USB stick instead of disks. You have to order these from HP; they can not be downloaded.

You can look online for Recovery Media starting with the linked paged: http://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers

Once there, input your Product name or number. On your Software and Drivers Download page, select your Operating System and and Version. Click "Update".

If HP Recovery Media is available for your machine, down near the bottom of the page, you will see an entry for Order Recovery Media-CD/DVD/USB. Click the "+" symbol to expand that entry and click on Order Media for details.

Or, if you prefer, you can do the same by contacting HP Customer Service:

If you live in the US or Canada, contact information is on this page: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/phone-assist.html#section1

If you live elsewhere, contact information is on this page: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/ww-contact-us.html

NOTE: After you get through, stay on the line until you are finally able to talk to some one -- it can take a while!

If you have trouble finding a phone number, then try: 1 (650) 857-1501.

If HP no longer provides Recovery Media for your model, another site you can check is: http://www.computersurgeons.com

When you get the media, if it is a USB stick, insert it into your PC, pressing F9 to get a Boot menu, then select the External USB Hard Drive to boot from it.

[MartinSuchy]

Hello WAWood,

thank you for your reply. Well, I wrote a message to few of the local HP partners, hoping they might have the Recovery Media, but it is a weekend so I have to wait 😞

In the meantime I managed to recover the W8 serial number from the backup and decided to download a W8 ISO and just install clean system. So far so good.

I also saw a post, that you can create a ISO file (with PowerISO) from your C drive, delete all the files from it and replace them with all files from the Recovery partition and then boot from that ISO. But I did not try that.

Also thank you for the links. I checked the http://www.computersurgeons.com and they, of course, have all the other Recovery Media, but not those that I need. I have a HP 250 G3 and they have them for G2, G4 and G5 😄

Thank you and have a nice day.

Martin