Urgent problem with Recovery Manager's File backup operation: No storage device detected

[Jackx]

I have a Pavilion g7-1070us laptop that failed to start and simply displays a blue-screen with a blinking cursor (no error message).

I could NOT get into safe-mode by hitting F8, but was able to activate the “HP recovery manager” by hitting F11.

I was trying to back-up my files before triggering the system restore. It asked me what types of files to back-up, then scanned the computer for these files and was finalizing the files for back-up; then suddenly an error message showed up saying something like "No storage device detected. Make sure the removable disc drive is connected to computer". But I have both a blank DVD sitting in the optical drive and a USB drive attached!!!!!!

I was expecting the system to ask me where to save these backed-up files but no such question was asked and this nonsense error message appeared out of nowhere. Apparently the recovery manager couldn't see my DVD or USB drive?

Can someone throw me a life-saver here? If I cannot recover my files, I cannot proceed with the system restore and I am forever stuck here!!!!!!

Please help!!!! Much appreciated!!

[Cloud_Strider · Accepted solution]

Back up files with the HP Recovery Manager
The HP Recovery Manager is used to back up your personal files to an external USB storage device.
Boot to the recovery partition by pressing F11 .
Click Advanced Options .
Click Backup computer files .
Select the type of files you need to back up from the list and then click Next . It will take several minutes to locate all of the files, no matter where they are on the hard drive.
Select the destination device (external USB hard drive or a USB flash drive/Memory Stick).
Click Next to start the backup.

I take it the bolded step is where you you get the message that there is no media?

Did you try removing the USB drive or DVD and reinserting it? In some cases, this can do the trick.



By chance, do you happen to have another functioning computer you can use?

If so, you can review this document from HowToGeek regarding backuping up files using a Live Linux DVD. A live version of Linux is one that is operated from the DVD drive and is functional without overwriting the installation of Windows so long as the try ubuntu without making changes option is selected.
NOTE: This method is not endorsed by HP and HP is not responsible for the results.

This method is a little techy.

I am not familiar with your technical knowledge, so I will also give another option.

You can purchase an external hard drive enclosure like this one. They are usually fairly cheap and is typically the easiest way to get data off a hard drive when the operating system won't boot.
If you choose this option, you can review page 51 of this guide to remove the hard drive and to reinstall the hard drive when you are ready to continue with the recovery.

As long as the recovery did not go past the error you listed, the data on the hard drive should be intact as long as there is not an underlying hard drive failure behind everything.

[Jackx]

Thanks a lot Cloud! That rescue CD suggestion is a great one and I will certainly try it out.

The HP Recovery Manager installed on my notebook may be somewhat diffeerent than the one you referred to since I coudln't find any "Advanced Options" button. What I am seeing is a three-column layout: on the left: Microsoft system rescue/system recovery/Minimized image recovery; in the middle: Run computer check-up; on the right column: File Backup.

Even if you choose the System recovery or image recovery on the left, you were still given the option of Backing up the files before the restore process, but I encountered the same problem there.

The file backup option in my recovery manager runs the following three steps: 1) Creating backup files; 2) Finalizing the backup files; and 3) "Where do you want to save the backup files?"  Note that it doesn't give me the option of choosing from the different destination device (USB, CD/DVD etc.)  like you have mentioned, but showed the error message ("No device available for the backup, make sure the removable disk is connected") even before I can see the "where do you want to save the backup files" sign.

I tried to insert the DVD or USB before or after the backup process but got the same failure.

I also tried to use a removable DVD drive connected to the USB port as a backup device but still got the same  error message.

Thanks again for your great tips!

I ran the Hard-disk and memory diagnotics tests but found no problem.

[Cloud_Strider]

At this point, the other two methods will be the best option to save your data.

I hope you have a great success with either of those methods.

Let me know how it goes.

[Jackx]

Hi Cloud,

Thanks so very much! Your rescue CD advice worked like a charm and solved my problem in 10-minutes!!!! I was able to see my drive and download all personal files using a USB drive. I owe you one!

However, I do need to bug you more for additional superb guidance: Recall my original problem was start-up failure with a blue-screen and blinking cursor (F8 failed to bring up the safe-mode). After saving all my files, I tried to use the HP Recovery manager to reset the system. I tried both the factory restore and the minimized image recovery (thhe second and third option after the Microsoft restore). Both ran smoothly and were able finish, but after restarting the computer, I am still stuck with the same blue-screen with blinking cursor issue.

Could you excercise the magic again and tell me the way????

Much appreciated!

[Cloud_Strider]

A blue screen with a blinking cursor is a rare issue. It's usually a black screen and it is the blue screen that makes this strange.

I take it you are getting this with only the charger and battery inserted.

Let's run a few tests to ensure everything it working properly. Running the basic tests are usually a good place to start.

Power off the notebook if it is not already.

Power on the notebook and press F10 about once a second until the BIOS screen loads.

Select Diagnostics and run both the memory and hard drive test. The hard drive test will start with a short test, but transition to a long test provided that no error is detected. If it does enter the long test, let it continue. The long test can take up to an hour in most cases.

Let me know the result of these tests.

[Jackx]

Hi Cloud,

So nice to hear from you again!

I may have to correct myself in the description of the issue. It could be a "black"screen, not a "blue"-screen,  with a blinking cursor at the upper-left corner. The color wasn't really blue at all and another person would easily call it a black-screen.

If it IS a black-screen issue, what could be the causes and solutions?

I actually already ran the F10 diagnostics tests on the hard-disc and the memory right after the crash. The hard-disc test proceeded EXACTly like you have described and passed without detecting any errors. So was the memory test. However, this was done before I used the recovery manager's minimized image recovery option to reset the computer.

My sincere appreciation again!

[Cloud_Strider]

The blinking cursor means the system is attempting to load Windows, but is unable to read the boot files. There are a number of causes including hardware issues. Run the tests as before to ensure the hardware is functional. I would have to run through the software repair steps only to find it is a hardware issue. Hard drives is perhaps the most common component to have issues regardless of the manufacturer.

I suspect the hard drive will pass the test and will go ahead and link to DavidPK's posts in this thread as they have the best chance to resolve the issue without losing and restoring everything. I do recommend this step at this point since two recoveries did not resolve the issue. DavidPK's solution comes in two parts, so be sure to follow both starting with the first post and moving to the second post should the first one not do the trick.

Let me know how this goes.

[Jackx]

Thanks again for your wisdom, Cloud. The link you referred to sounds very similar to my problem, and I will definitely try the rescue route establishd by that thread. Will keep you posted of the result (I am currently out of town but will be back home in 2-days).

Forgot to include a critical intel in my earlier posting: before the final irreversible crash, there were some earlier crashes that resulted in error messages on the screen. I was too stupid to note that down but just tried to choose the easy way out for a quick restart. Before the last crash happened, the screen flashed some error message from my Norton anti-virus program, but I was again too lazy to take a note of it. Then catastrophe struck and this time no easy way out.......

Since the two HP recovery partition based reset options failed, should I buy the recovery disc from HP and try that route? I completely forgot to create my own recovery disc earlier s now have to order one. Do you think if that may still work?  

My sincerest gratitude!

[Cloud_Strider]

A set of recovery disks ordered from HP should do the trick as long as the hardware tests passed. If you prefer to go that route instead of the repair process, you are more than welcome to. Both options are valid, but the recovery disks would repair the recovery partition as an added bonus making it the better option in this case.