About the HP Recovery Manager

The HP Recovery Manager is an easy-to-use, versatile application that allows you to:

 Create a set of operating system recovery discs

 Recover the PC to the original operating condition in the event of a critical system failure
 Use the Supplemental discs that are available with some recovery discs
 Backup and restore important files
 Reinstall specific drivers or applications
 Restore computer settings to an earlier point in time
 Check the condition of the PC and installed files
 Do not remove the HP Recovery Partition
 Create Recovery disc on USB device

All of these features make the HP Recovery Manager a necessary tool for ensuring data security.

The HP Recovery Manager allows you to create recovery discs that are customized to your
specific computer. Therefore, a Windows 7 recovery disc was not provided with your computer.
The HP Recovery Manager restores the PC to its original licensed operating system. If you
created a set of personalized recovery discs in Windows Vista, and then your computer was
upgraded to Windows 7, the recovery discs will restore the original licensed Vista factory
settings.

Why perform a system recovery?

Reasons for performing a system recovery to restore the computer to original operating condition
include:
  The Windows 7 operating system files were accidentally moved, deleted, or corrupted,
and cannot be repaired.
 The notebook PC is infected with a virus or other form of malicious software that cannot
be removed by anti-virus software.
 The hard disk drive is corrupted, contains no data, or is not responding.
 To remove all the existing user files and programs before giving the PC to someone else.

Because the recovery process may delete some or all of the existing files, programs, and
partitions; HP recommends that you perform all other troubleshooting options to return the
computer to the proper operating condition, and backup of all important data and files before
doing a system recovery:

Are there different types of recovery?

Yes, there are different recovery options. Depending on when the model was released, the
Recovery Manager installed on your notebook was developed by either SoftThink or CyberLink,
or by an HP team. As a general rule, performing a recovery means returning the computer to its
original condition by removing all software and files and reinstalling the original operating
system, but there are some variations. The screens may be slightly different, and there may be up
to three very different types of recovery options available for your notebook.

 System Recovery: Reformats the system drive (normally C:), re-installs the original
operating system, all the original hardware drivers and software. Does not impact user
created partitions. If there are two hard drives, only the drive with the operating system is
modified.

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

 Factory Reset: Removes all partitions, reformats the entire hard drive, re-installs the
original operating system, and all the original hardware drivers and software. Also, re-
creates the required Recovery partition (normally D:) and UEFI partition (normally E:),
and re-installs the required software.

This Factory Reset option returns all of the notebook's software to the condition it was in
at the time of purchase. All user changes or additions are removed.

 Minimized Image Recovery: Removes all partitions, reformats the entire hard drive, re-
installs the original operating system and hardware drivers, and re-installs HP essential
software (i.e., HP Support Assistant, HP Recovery Manager, etc.), but does not install the
trial applications and games.

For more information on these recovery options, see HP Notebook PCs - Using System
Recovery, Factory Reset and Minimized Image Recovery Options .

When is a system recovery complete?

There are two parts to a complete system recovery process. First, the operating system is
installed and the computer is returned to an operating condition. Second, the computer unbundles
the software and sets up the basic operating conditions. The recovery can take 1 to 6 hours or
more depending on a variety of factors.
The HP Software Installation screen or the Windows Desktop may appear to pause or stop
working for several minutes. Some installation screens will appear to be error messages and a
number of restarts can occur. This behavior is expected and ANY user Intervention during this
stage can and typically will result in unintended errors such as "Windows could not complete the
installation."
During the setup you will be prompted to select settings such as language, date and time, and
type of network to use. After you have selected the settings, the computer will restart and prompt
you to log in to Windows. The system recovery process is complete when you are prompted to
login to the computer with a user name and password.
After completing the system recovery, it is extremely important to obtain and install updates
for the PC and its software, which has been released since the manufacture date of the PC.

 Launch the Windows Update function to install the latest Microsoft updates.
 Launch HP Advisor or HP Support Assistant to install the latest HP BIOS and updated
drivers. Or you can search for updates on the HP Drivers and Downloads support page.

Recovery discs are not shipped with computers using the

Recovery Manager
HP does not include recovery discs with computers that are shipped with the HP Recovery
Manager. You can use Recovery Manager to create a personal set of recovery discs. In the event
that the hard drive crashes or the computer system becomes corrupted, you can use the personal
recovery discs to restore the system to its original condition.
CAUTION: The HP Recovery Manager allows the creation of only one (1) set of recovery
discs, and the discs are unique to the individual PC. The recovery discs cannot be
used to restore the operating system to another PC.
Because the personal recovery disc includes only the files needed for your specific computer,
you can perform a recovery in less than an hour. See Create a set of operating system recovery
discs .
If you choose not to make your personal recovery disc, and you order a replacement recovery
disc from HP, it will contain information needed for multiple models, and a recovery can take up
to four to six hours or more. See HP Notebook PCs - Order Recovery Discs For Windows 7,
Vista, Or XP

Create a set of operating system recovery discs

You can use HP Recovery Manager to create a personal set of recovery discs. When you select
the Recovery disc creation process, the HP Recovery Manager examines the PC and determines
how many blank DVD discs will be required. Depending on the model, you will need up to three
DVD-R or DVD+R (Non-read/writeable) discs. The creation process can take up to an hour or
more. Do not interrupt the creation process.
CAUTION: The discs must be either DVD-R, or DVD+R. Do not use DVD-R/W read/write
type discs because the creation process will fail.
Create a set of operating system recovery discs by following the steps below.
1. Click Start and enter Recovery in the search field. Select Recovery Manager from
the list to open the HP Recovery Manager window. Allow the action to continue, if
prompted.

Alternately, click Start , All Programs , Recovery Manager , and then Recovery
Manager . Allow the action to continue, if prompted.

2. Click Recovery Disc Creation .

The computer will restart and launch the Recovery Manager again.

3. Select Recovery Disc Creation again to start the process.

The program will appear to pause for about ten minutes while it examines the computer
and calculates how many DVD-R or DVD+R discs are needed. Do not interrupt this
process.

4. When prompted, put a blank disc in the optical disc drive and follow the on-screen
instructions to create the recovery discs.
After all of the recovery discs are created, label the discs and store them in a safe place.
NOTE:  If the recovery discs fail during the creation or become corrupted, you can order
 replacement recovery discs from HP.
Three ways to recover the PC to the original operating condition
The complete recovery process can take 4 to 6 hours or more to complete. For best results, the
computer should be connected to the internet, and it will restart several times during the process.
Do not turn off the power or interrupt the recovery process until the prompt to log in to Windows
displays.
1. If computer can boot to the Windows desktop, launch the Recovery Manager .

2. If computer cannot boot to the Windows desktop, press f11 to launch Recovery
Manager .

3. Insert your personalized recovery disc or replacement recovery disc in the optical drive
and start the computer .
When the recovery is complete, be sure to run the Microsoft Windows Update and the HP
Advisor or HP Support Assistant to install all updated drivers and software.

Restore the PC to its original condition with the HP Recovery

Manager from within Windows 7
If the PC can be started and opens to the Windows desktop, you can use the HP Recovery
Manager on the hard drive to restore the PC to the original factory condition by following the
steps below.
1. Click Start and enter Recovery in the search field. Select Recovery Manager
from the list when it becomes available. Allow the action to continue, if
prompted. The HP Recovery Manager opens.

Alternately, click Start , All Programs , Recovery Manager , and then

Recovery Manager . Allow the action to continue, if prompted. The HP
Recovery Manager opens.

2. Click System recovery . The PC will restart and reopen the Recovery Manager.

3. When the PC restarts, select the System recovery option and click Next .
 4. If prompted to use the Microsoft System Restore program, click No , and then
click Next .

5. When prompted, if you want to backup your personal files and settings, select
the Back up your files first (recommended) option, and then click Next .
Follow the on-screen instructions.

6. When prompted to Recover without backing up your files , please STOP

before clicking Next .

WARNING This is the final opportunity to change your mind about recovering the PC and
: deleting all the files and programs. Once you click Next , the restore process
cannot be stopped.

7. If you are satisfied that you want to begin the recover process, click Next . The
PC immediately begins formatting the hard drive and destroying all data.
The recovery process may take up to several hours and will return the PC to its original
condition. Any custom settings, drivers, software programs and updates, and/or hardware
updates are lost and must be reinstalled.

Restore the PC to its original condition using the f11 key if

Windows 7 is not accessible
If the PC cannot launch into Windows, it may still be possible to use the HP Recovery Manager
on the hard drive to restore the computer to its original operating condition. The Recovery
Manager can be launched during the startup process by following the steps below.
 1. Press the Power button to start the PC, and then press the f11 key when the
standard BIOS prompts are displayed on the black screen.
NOTE:  Pressing the f11 key during startup on a computer with an HP factory image will start
the system recovery process even if the prompt is not displayed.

o If the HP Recovery Manager can access the recovery partition on the hard
drive, a prompt to backup the user files before beginning the recovery is
displayed. Follow any on-screen instructions.
o If the HP Recovery Manager cannot access the hard drive to fix any
system errors, you will need to use the personalized recovery disc that
you created to recover the hard drive to its original condition.
o If you have not created the personalized recovery disc, or the discs are
corrupted, you can order a replacement recovery disc from HP.

2. When the Recovery Manager starts, follow the step-by-step system recovery
instructions shown above.
Resolving a common recovery issue.
If the Recovery Manager cannot be launched from either the desktop, or by pressing the f11 key
on startup, you can use the recovery disc to restore the computer to the original operating
condition in Windows 7.

Restore the PC to its original condition with the recovery discs

If the original operating system is changed to a non-Windows 7 OS, or if the PC cannot access
the Windows desktop, or the Recovery Manager cannot be started by selecting the f11 key on
startup, you can use either the personalized recovery disc that you created, or you can order a
replacement recovery disc from HP to start the PC and restore the hard drive to its original
operating condition.
NOTE:  Performing the recovery process using the personalized recovery disc that you created
may take less than an hour. Using replacement discs ordered directly from HP may
take four to six hours and includes several restarts.
If the HP Recovery Manager on the disc can access the hard drive, it will attempt to repair the
recovery partition. If successful, a prompt is displayed to continue running the recovery using the
Recovery Manager on the hard drive. If the program on the hard drive cannot be repaired,
continue using the recovery disc in the optical disc drive.
Use the recovery disc to restore the PC by following the steps below.
1. Insert the recovery disc in the optical disc drive and start the computer.

If the computer is running, insert the recovery disc and immediately click Start
and select Restart to force the computer to start from the recovery disc.

2. When prompted, Press any key to boot from CD or DVD, press any key on the
keyboard.
 3. Allow the recovery disc to start and load the required files while the Microsoft
loading screen is displayed. It may take several minutes to load the required files.

4. When the HP Recovery Manager window displays, click System recovery .

5. Follow the on-screen instructions and perform the required actions.

NOTE:  Do not interrupt the recovery process even though the computer may restart, or the
Windows desktop may display, or the process may appear to pause for several minutes
at various times.

o When prompted, follow the on-screen instructions to back up the user

files.
o After performing the backup, when prompted, re-insert the recovery disc,
and then click Next to continue the recovery process.

A status box is displayed to indicate the status of the recovery and the
estimated time remaining.

o If you used multiple discs when you created the personalized recovery
discs, follow the prompts to remove the first disc and insert any requested
discs.

6. When prompted to Insert the Supplemental driver disc , take one of the
following actions:

o If you purchased a replacement recovery disc from HP, and it included a

Supplemental driver disc, insert the disc and click OK or Next . The
recovery program checks the supplemental disc and installs the specific
needed files.

After the Supplemental files are installed, a prompt is displayed to

remove the Supplemental disc and insert the original recovery disc.

o If you purchased a replacement recovery disc from HP, and it did not
include a Supplemental driver disc, click Skip or Cancel . The recovery
program will ignore the request and install the next file on the recovery
disc.
o If you created a personal recovery disc, press Next to continue.

7. Continue following the on-screen instructions to complete the recovery process.

NOTE:  If you have not created a personal recovery disc, or the recovery disc fails or becomes
corrupted, see HP Notebook PCs - Order Recovery Discs For Windows 7, Vista, Or XP
for additional information.
Backup and restore important files
The Recovery Manager displays a prompt to make a backup copy of your files before it performs
any action that may erase or delete any files. HP recommends that you make backup copies of
your files on a regular basis, and that you store the backed-up files on a CD/DVD or other
external media in a separate physical location, away from the computer.
Doing scheduled backups will help you to recover some, if not all, of your information in the
event that something happens to the original files on your PC. It is important to decide which
files you want to save. Make a list of important information that you cannot easily replace. This
list will help you to determine which files to back up, and also give you a reference list in the
event that you need to retrieve the files.
To use the HP Recovery Manager to back up your files, see HP Notebook PCs - How To Back
Up User Files .

Reinstall specific drivers or applications

The HP Recovery Manager can install, or reinstall, individual hardware drivers and software that
shipped with the specific PC model. There may be other unsupported third-party applications
that are factory-installed on the PC. Consult the manufacturer's installation instructions for any
third-party programs that were purchased separately.
Use the Recovery Manager to install individual drivers or applications, or reinstall corrupted
applications, by following the steps below.
1. Click Start and enter Recovery in the search field. Select Recovery Manager from
the list when it becomes available. Allow the action to continue, if prompted. The HP
Recovery Manager opens.

Alternately, click Start , All Programs , Recovery Manager , and then Recovery
Manager . Allow the action to continue, if prompted. The HP Recovery Manager
opens.
 2. Click Software program re-installation or Hardware driver re-installation , Next ,
and then follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall the desired software programs
and hardware drivers.

After installing the driver or application, restart the computer.

Restore computer settings to an earlier point in time using the

Microsoft System Restore utility
The HP Recovery Manager prompts you to use the Microsoft System Restore utility to restore
settings and applications to an earlier point in time when the computer was operating properly. In
some cases, setting up a new program can cause problems by installing drivers that conflict with
existing drivers. The Microsoft System Restore utility makes it possible to restore program
settings to an earlier time when the computer was operating properly.
The HP Recovery Manager and the Microsoft System Restore are different utilities, and they
produce very different results. The Microsoft System Restore utility uses restore points to return
system files and settings to an earlier point in time. If any updates or programs were installed
after that restore point, the updates and programs must be reinstalled.
Use the HP Recovery Manager to access the Windows Restore utility by following the steps
below.
1. Click Start and enter Recovery in the search field. Select Recovery Manager from
the list when it becomes available. Allow the action to continue, if prompted. The HP
Recovery Manager opens.

Alternately, click Start , All Programs , Recovery Manager , and then Recovery
Manager . Allow the action to continue, if prompted. The HP Recovery Manager
opens.

2. Click Microsoft System Restore , Next , and then follow the on-screen instructions.

3. If the Microsoft System Restore utility is not turned on, or if there are no specified
restore points, System Restore prompts for the creation of a first system restore point.
To create a restore point, click open System Protection , Create , and then follow the
on-screen instructions.
 4. When prompted to choose a location to store the Microsoft Windows Recovery restore
points, select either the C: drive or an external storage device.
NOTE:  Do not select the HP_Recovery drive partition as a storage location! HP_Recovery
is small partition on the hard drive and is dedicated to the Recovery Manager files.
Attempting to store any other files on this partition may cause an error.

5. If there are one or more restore recovery points available, click Choose a different
restore point , Next , and then select a Date and Time when the PC was operating
correctly. Follow the on-screen instructions.

6. Allow the PC to restart to complete the Microsoft System Restore.

If you do not wish to use the HP Recovery Manger, you can also access the Microsoft System
Restore function by following the steps below.
1. Click Start , All Programs , Accessories , System Tools , and then System Restore
. Allow the action to continue, if prompted. The Microsoft System Restore utility
opens.

2. Follow the on-screen instructions to restore the PC to a previous restore point.

Check the condition of the PC and installed files

The HP Recovery Manager can access Microsoft utilities to check the condition of the memory
and files on the hard drive. The utilities can correct errors before they cause serious problems.
You can perform a Computer Checkup by following the steps below.
1. Click Start , enter Recovery in the search field, and then select Recovery Manager
from the list when it becomes available. Allow the action to continue, if prompted. The
HP Recovery Manager opens.

Alternately, click Start , All Programs , Recovery Manager , and then Recovery
Manager . Allow the action to continue, if prompted. The HP Recovery Manager
opens.

2. Click Computer Checkup , Next , select the desired type of checkup from the list, and
then click Next . Follow the on-screen instructions.

oMicrosoft Memory Test - the PC restarts to perform the test.

oCheck Disk for the Windows Partition - runs the check disk (CHKDSK) utility
on the primary partition.
oCheck Disk for the WinRE Partition - runs the check disk (CHKDSK) utility
on the partition reserved for the Recovery Manager partition.
oOpen a Command Prompt - opens a Command Prompt window for the purpose
of running additional Windows utilities. Log on as the administrator to run the
utilities.
Do not remove the HP Recovery Partition
In an attempt to reclaim additional space on the hard drive, some users want to remove the HP
Recovery Manager and the recovery partition. HP does not recommend the removal of the
recovery partition from the hard disk drive.
If it is critical to reclaim some of the storage space on the hard disk drive, HP recommends that
you create the set of operating system recovery discs before making any changes. In the event of
a hard drive failure, use the recovery discs to recover the PC to the original operating condition.
For additional information, see HP Notebook PCs - Uninstalling The Recovery Manager .

Create Recovery disc on USB device

The default drive setting, for the Recovery Manager for HP Pavilion and Compaq Presario
notebook PC models sold with the Windows Vista or Windows 7 operating system, requires that
backups be made using an optical disc drive. For notebooks that do not have an internal optical
disc drive, HP also provides a USB Recovery Flash Disk Utility to create the required files on a
USB flash disk. See, HP Notebook PCs - Creating A Recovery Disk On A USB Flash Disk .