Minimized image recovery and System Recovery differences ?

[SergiyVoytovych]

I have bought HP Envy dv7-7252sr laptop and before ussage would like to learn possible recovery processes from HP Recovery manager.

HP Support document  http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&taskId=120&prodSeriesId=...

With Factory Reset its clear - HP Recovery media needed and HDD will be fully reformated and partitions by default created

With Minimized Image Recovery  and System Recovery    it is no so clear what are the differences:

1. Is the only difference  that  Minimized image recovery will not install trial software?

2. What about partition preparation process?  for System Recovery  written that reformats the system drive and what about Minimized image recovery ? Does it make reformatting ?

3. What is the difference between to start Minimized image recovery /System Recovery from HDD and from HP Recovery media?  

4. By default System Recovery not delete user created partitions but Minimized image recovery provide a prompt: delete or not.    Is it valid for both methods: from HDD and from Recovery media?

5.CAN I  DELETE SOMEHOW  MY USER PARTITIONS AND LOST MY DATA WHEN USE Minimized image recovery /System Recovery ?   I found on this forum answer that from  Recovery media there is no prompt in Minimized image recovery and by default user created partitions will be deleted 

[WaseemW]

Hello,

Thanks for posting this one. very interesting post, let me try clarify all of these.

first thing i would like to share is that link you shared in your post is not for dv7 series its for a mini PC. hence it may not be the same for your PC.

here is the link for your PC service manual, http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c03591253/c03591253.pdf

1. Is the only difference  that  Minimized image recovery will not install trial software?

Ans: -  CORRECT.

2. What about partition preparation process?  for System Recovery  written that reformats the system drive and what about Minimized image recovery ? Does it make reformatting ?

Ans: - in Minimized image recovery - if the partitions are modified, you get a prompt to change partitions to make default partitions of leave them intact and just install OS.

3. What is the difference between to start Minimized image recovery /System Recovery from HDD and from HP Recovery media?

Ans: you do not get an option to start minimized recovery from HP recovery media. HP recovery media has to perform factory reset only. 

4. By default System Recovery not delete user created partitions but Minimized image recovery provide a prompt: delete or not.    Is it valid for both methods: from HDD and from Recovery media?

Ans: as mentioned above, Recovery media will always run the recovery in factory reset mode - if you continue recovery from DVDs/CDs, you have to agree to loose the data.(except few very old PCs which had an option to choose save data).

5.CAN I  DELETE SOMEHOW  MY USER PARTITIONS AND LOST MY DATA WHEN USE Minimized image recovery /System Recovery ?   I found on this forum answer that from  Recovery media there is no prompt in Minimized image recovery and by default user created partitions will be deleted 

 Ans: you answered it yourself... yes, if you run from media, there is no option to start a minimized image recovery.

Hope this Helps. Good Luck !!!!!

[SergiyVoytovych]

I have Laptop already.   I had made a new partition for personal  data storage (drive C shrinked till 100GB).

The best way is to make few tests and see how all recovery features works.(System recovery, Minimized image recovery and Factory reset)

The idea is to find out if there any possibility to have my  personal partition  deleted during System recovery or  Minimized image recovery (without any prompts for example...)  and define best option for future recovery when it become really needed and lots of personal data will be present on HDD (around 500GB possible) and any backups is a long process. 

I need to know how to make safety system recovery or minimized image recovery on my shrinked C drive till 100GB   and not lost personal partition.(~500GB)

Laptop is far from my place ( wife's siter  is owner) and I can do trials only in few weeks.  

Any comments are wellcome.

[SergiyVoytovych]

I had proceed with Minimized Imag Recovery and there were any prompts  about deletion of  user created partition .

 But partition was deleted!!!

Does it mean that user manual for recovery process not up to dated for HP ENVY DV7-7252sr???

[lasvegaswireman]

Please see Performing an HP System Recovery (Windows 😎 for your computer. Based on this document, the process has changed for computer shipped with Windows 8. The "USER MANUAL" aka HP MSG doesn't appear to specify what action takes place during a "Minimized Image Recovery." And it appears the information you were going on was based on a computer shipped with Windows 7 and different recovery software.

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Please click the white KUDOS star to show your appreciation

[SergiyVoytovych]

Thanks Dean,

Does it mean that System Recovery  not applicable for my DV7-7252sr  ?  

From document mentioned above I can see only Minimized Image Recovery  in use  as the  only possible  recovery type.

Thanks

[lasvegaswireman · Accepted solution]

Types of recovery

Your computer might have three types of System Recovery available, or it might have only two. Use the recovery type that resolves your issue without making more changes than necessary.

• System Recovery: This option reformats the system drive (usually C:), reinstalls the original operating system, and reinstalls all the original hardware drivers and software.
  

  WARNING:If the size of the OS partition (usually C:) was reduced below a minimum size requirement, other user created partitions will be removed and stored data will be destroyed.

• Factory Reset: Factory Reset removes all partitions, reformats the entire hard drive, reinstalls the original operating system, and reinstalls all the original hardware drivers and software.  This option also recreates the required Recovery partition (usually D:) and UEFI partition (usually E:) and reinstalls  the required software.
  The Factory Reset option returns all of the computer's software to the condition it was in at the time of purchase. All user changes or additions are removed.

• Minimized Image Recovery: Available on many of HP's notebook computers, the Minimized Image Recovery removes all partitions, reformats the entire hard drive, reinstalls the original operating system and hardware drivers, and reinstalls HP essential software (such as HP Support Assistant and  HP Recovery Manager). Minimized Image Recovery does not reinstall the trial applications and games.
  Still three choices but the overall process, action, and results may have changed from previous version of Windows.

  If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

  Please click the white KUDOS star to show your appreciation

[reedsnvt]

So Dean,

 I have been searching for :

When you do a Minimized Image Recovery, do you loose the " Recovery partition (usually D and UEFI partition (usually E and  the required software"?

I would like it to be like the original setup only without the trial software and games.

Maybe just the factory reset and then remove those items is best?

If I was to mirror the 180 gb ssd to a 250 gb ssd would that creat a problem with the recovery partion in the future?

I have asked this question posted here:

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware/How-to-copy-the-data-from-one-hard-drive-to-another-af...

Hp DV7  Notebook

Thanks