factory restore

[peac4ustoday]

I want to do a FACTORY RESTORE to my laptop but do not have restore disks.  I have a REPAIR DISK...is that the same?  If it is not, how do I get recovery disks?  I search for Recovery Manager and cannot find.

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

peac4ustoday

No, they are not the same.

The Repair Disk can only be used to make minor repairs to Windows booting problems; not to reinstall Windows.

Ordinarily, I would recommend using HP Recovery Media to restore your PC to its original condition. That would erase the entire drive, format the drive, and install the OS, the drivers, and the HP utilities.

Unfortunately, there is no HP Recovery Media linked to the HP Product Page for your PC. This could be an oversight by HP, or it could also mean that HP no longer stocks the recovery media for your PC. They no long stock recovery media for the older PCs.

You can try contacting HP Customer Support directly, using the links below, to see if you can order if from them:

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 (800) 474-6836

If HP no longer provides Recovery Media for your model, a couple of other sites you should check are: http://www.computersurgeons.com/ and http://www.restoredisks.com/

Good Luck

[peac4ustoday]

Thanks...the phone number worked !!

[FRJS_au]

Dean, as you may also help me here...

I have contacted HP support prior to Christmas break... and after lengthy discussions and chats... I was  finally sent a recovery set for windows 7.... albeit a win 7 64 bit set on CD.... when I asked for a win 7 home 32 bit on USB, so don't expect help straight away and actually help that works for you...

I also told (HP Support) HELP in 3 separate emails when asked for if 32 bit or 64 bit..... in reply as to being 32 bit sysytem originally.... and that I had removed the hard drive as the notebook could not recognise it or the cd drive... apparently... as originally a "No boot drive ) 3F0 fault/// after less than 100 hrs operating but unit was 5 yrs old... My standbye for when power is out at home... usage minimal..

So now that I have a new hard drive installed and not recognised by bios.... and a set of Windows recovery media (HP) for windows 7  -  64 bit... ( 3 disks + 1)application and driver recovery DVD...

Any ideas what I am supposed to do now.?

as the notebook  pavilion DV6 product No. LG257PA#ABG   ... which shows as a supposedly DV6-3204tx when searching the HP site.... who knows ?

gave them the serial number etc. and  the first chat help operator actually just dropped me without even taking the time for a answer within 30 seconds... so I sujjest you type bloody fast or get cut off...

OBTW  I'm 67 and only a 2 figer typist and as I was on my wifes tablet wich is miniscule and hard to see keyboard... I suppose 30 seconds is too long to wait these days as coutesy is by the wayside.

I would appreciate any directive assistance anyone with knowlege can give, thanks.

I am looking for a way to reinstall windows 7 back to my notebook, wether be it on a new Hard drive or the original (of which I have repaired the sectors) out of unit.

Jim

The  DVD or the CD is not recognised to boot, yes I have set the bios for priorities. etc.