Cold Boot OK, loads Windows OK but will not Re-Start (warm boot) on Pavilion dv6-3120sa

[AttackofZaq]

Hello irw.  I can certainly explain what each of those do for you.

The HP_Tools partition contains the diagnostic tools that you were using earlier.  So the HDD, RAM, and Run In Tests are all contained here.  

The Recovery partition is what is used to reset the notebook back to factory conditions.  It actually erases all of the partitions and creates the entire thing from scratch.  So, if you have custom partitions it will also reset those.  Keep in mind that any data you don't back up before performing a recovery will be lost.  This recovery is pretty much the "full install" that you mention.  

If the recovery partition is corrupted it is highly unlikely that it would work.  However, in the event that the recovery failed you would just have to get a set of recovery discs. I know you stated you didn't want to have to get a set of these discs.  Having these discs is, however, very helpful in situations in which the hard drive has failed or the partition otherwise doesn't work.  If you're unable to get the recovery to work through the F11 method (see this document) then you should contact HP Support and inquire about getting a set of discs.

If you're in the US/Canada the number is 1-800-474-6836.  If you're in another part of the world you have to first visit HP Support Worldwide as I mentioned above.

I hope this answers your questions.  If you have any more please do not hesitate to ask.  I also want to say thank you for being so patient while we've been working together.  I really appreciate it.

I will keep an eye out for further replies.  I hope you're enjoying your evening!

[irw]

Excellent.  Thanks for this info and I will go away and try stuff.

The Recovery partition action is as I thought, so pretty disastrous.  It is not so much that I don't want to pay for the disks but that I don't want to do a vanilla install, but accept that day is looming closer.

I have a back-up of sorts but I did it in haste when the laptop was barely breathing using Midnight Commander and placed the files on another PC.  I would rather do proper backups of the user profiles but cannot log in to normal mode.  Will see what I can achieve in Safe Mode.  May have to post you about this action.

I keep forgetting to click Kudos for you, sorry.

Ian

[AttackofZaq]

You could try using a Linux Live CD to access the files on your drive.  This won't allow you to backup and restore user profiles (as far as I know) but it should allow you to reach files that are otherwise blocked in Safe Mode.  Here is a link to some instructions.  

I think there may still be a little confusion here.  A recovery and a vanilla install are slightly different.  When you perform a recovery it will also reinstall all of the drivers and software which shipped with your notebook.  The term "vanilla install" usually refers to only a plain Windows install (without drivers or third-party software).  The recovery discs save a lot of time when you reinstall Windows by also installing these drivers and other pieces of software.  

Thank you so much for the Kudos.  I really appreciate it! 🙂

Let em know the result of the backup and recovery process.  I will be watching for a reply.  

[irw]

Hi AttackofZaq

Thanks for the idea of Linux Live CD but I managed with another Linux offering.

Ok re recovery and vanilla install.  I understand the difference but did not make this clear in my post.

I found that even though the Recovery partition appears to be uncorrupted on the disk, I could not invoke it from the power on F11 System Recovery or from the HP tools menu.

I found the lack of a Restart interfered with System Restore and so I could not restore the PC to earlier versions, even though I had been able to do this when carrying out earlier diagnostics.

I reluctantly gave in and did a fresh install of Windows but was impressed that it made a backup of my old profiles so I could reinstate everything as before and I found a directory of the HP installed software except Office Starter 2010 and HP Recovery/Tools.

I don't think the Recovery DVD includes Office Starter 2010 so have I lost that forever or is there a way of getting it back?

The PC now works without fault but without a working Recovery partition; I can live with that but it would be nice to learn how to get it working.

The PC Restarts correctly, the reason for my original post, but as we never found the cause for its failure to reboot and I had to do a reinstall to cure it, I can't consider this issue 'Solved'.