Create recovery DVD's more than once

Hi,
I'm new owner of HP nx7400.
My laptop was as usual preinstalled with all the crap I'll never use, so I also immediatelly decided to reinstall the system.
As i have no CD/DVD medium in my package I found out, that I need to create recovery disks in order to reinstall system.
The problem was that I choosed to create ISO file instead of burning the discs. All the image files was created as expected, but before I burned them wizard deleted them all.

So my question is, if there is any workaround how to create recovery discs again, because wizard is now telling me that I already create my rescue discs.

Thanks for the answers.

 

Wait, something took out the ISOs? If you still have those, you can create as many as you want with a burner.

 

Well, that's exactly my problem, all the ISO files were deleted when I clicked FINISH at the end of the wizard.
And this was before I managed to burn them.

 

well on the pavilions u can trick the program into thinking u never created ur discs by searching for HPCD.sys (i think) in both your OS partition and the recovery partition and renaming it to .bak. then u can use the recovery manager to create a new set.

if u still wanna create just the iso's then before u click finish, search for them and move them to somewhere else (either copy or cut) then click finish.

 

Thank u very much, it's working

Now I know what to do but before I was just clicking without reading, because most of the wizard notes are just boring

Just a small info:
One hpcd.sys was located in the root of HP_RECOVERY partition and second in C:\Windows\SMINST\.
It's necessary to rename/delete them both!

 

yup heard about it here sometime ago, very useful to create multiple recovery discs to make sure when one is lost/scratched/broken, you have a replacement

 

Hi, nice to know of the workaround for pavilions, how about HP business notebook...any work around i could apply... can't seems to find this option on backup manger already..

 

If you already have 1 set of recovery discs, just copy them with your burning software, or you can use ISO Recorder (free). Copy the disc to an iso file, then copy the iso file to another blank disc.

 

my!!! SideSwipe you are really thee angel in my crisis
thanks!!
i posted on many forums but none of them replying

 

Does the new recovery DVD hold the Vista Updates made by Windows Update?
That's the main reason for which I'd like to have more recent recovery DVD's.

Otherwise, does anybody know how to keep the updates made by Windows
Update?

Thank you!

 

No, it does not keep the updates. Recovery DVDs are made from the recovery partition on the drive, not from your currently running system. If you want to do that, you'll need something like Acronis Trueimage, or if you have Vista Ultimate you can use "complete pc backup"

 

Thank you orev for your quick answer
OK I've got the point.
I presume Complete PC backup isn't available in Vista Home Basic, is it?
I have R-Drive Image which I think can do the same. The problem is that I only can make an image of the entire C: volume which is around 50 GB! Let's say 35 GB compressed, that is 7 DVD+RW's!!! Quite expensive ....
I can't believe that you have to download from zero all the updates when you reinstall your Vista!

 

I have a DV5140us and I deleted the two files in SMinst and the D: recovery and still get an error where it starts to read the disc like it's checking a DVD for writing and then says all discs cancelled. Then it says it will start where it left off.

I found a startup program using msconfig that was recguard and I had turned it off in the run list so I turned it back on. But that didn't help.

Anyone have experience with this problem?

 

If I delete the HPCD.sys will it affect the restore partition?

 

No, it will not prevent you from restoring from the partition. It is only used to keep track of if you made the recovery discs.

 

Hey guys,

I'm trying to make an ISO of my DVDs but ISO recoder fails at the end of DVD1 so I'm trying something called MagicISO instead. I guess I have to choose for the 'Bootable DVD' option but I'm not sure and if so, does the same thing count for the second recovery DVD? I would like to save the ISOs on my external HD as extra back-up. Any information is appreciated as I have little idea of what I am doing. Thank you.

Matthias

 

When making an ISO (DVD -> ISO file), you should not have to worry about any options, such as "bootable", etc... The ISO image should do all of that for you. It could be you are creating a new ISO image instead of making an ISO image from a DVD.

When ISO Recorder fails, does it give any error message? This problem could indicate a problem with the DVD itself, not the software.

 

Thank you Orev.

Yes, it gives an error message. I tried to use it about three times, the last time it encountered this message: Recording has failed. Code: 00000017

I'm pretty sure it is the same error that returns. I did accidentally reboot once with the DVD in there and it seemed to start working from there, so maybe the DVD does work? I'm not sure.

 

If the DVD is corrupted, it probably won't know it until it tries to read from the corrupted area, so don't assume it is OK just because it can boot. I would try to make the recovery DVDs again from the beginning, then make the ISO from the new ones.

 

Alright, thanks. I have tried to locate those hpcd.sys files but I can't find them. Not in the SMINST folder and the only thing I see when I open the HP_RECOVERY partition is a empty folder(the partition is the empty folder), I thought it wasn't a folder before but an other type of file.. Strange. As you have most likely figured out by now is that I'm not an expert. Can you please give me some information on how to locate those two files?

''It's necessary to rename/delete them both!'' This means that I first change their names and then delete them right?

Thank you.

 

You probably need to "Show hidden files". You can do this by opening an explorer window or "my computer" (Windows Key + E), then click on "Organize" and "Folder and Search Options". In the "View" tab, look in Advanced Settings and select "Show hidden files and folders". Also, uncheck "Hide protected operating system files".

Then follow the instructions to fiind the HPCD.sys file.

 

You were right. I changed the names, burned another pair of recovery DVDs and used iso recoder and it worked perfectly this time. Thank you very much.

 

I installed SP1 thru WU, and seems like after SP1 installation, I cant access the Recovery Disk to find/delete the necessary files. Also, I didnt find HPCD.sys anywhere in Windows directory, even with hidden files shown. How can I recreate recovery disks, and now if I do, would my recovery disks have SP1 included or not?????

 

If you can;t find the files, make sure windows is showing both hidden files AND "protected operating system files". There are 2 options, one for each.

No, the recovery discs would not contain SP1 or any of the changes that you made since you got the system.

 

I just bought a new dv6875se which come with Vista Home Premium, I am sure windows is showing both hidden files and protected operating system files, but I still not find any HPCD.sys in my computer. Anyone can help?

 

Those files will only be there AFTER you made 1 set of recovery discs.

 

I have made one set recovery discs but still not find any HPCD.sys

 

Thanks a lot! It is working. HPCD.sys file was hidden in both Windows folder and D: drive. From folder option, remove tick on option 'Hide protected operating system files', and select show hidden files and folder option for viewing HPCD.sys file

 

Dear Orev

Assume that some one like me has downgraded to XP. Now, assume that the only thing I have, is a Copy of all files in Recovery partition. In addition, Assume that the size of these files (I am sure that are complete) is approximately 7.3GB, in some parts of 560-570 MB files (split)

How to make the recovery DVD from these RAW data MANUALY?
Is there any software to help in order to make Recovery DVDs from these files?

Thanks

 

i deleted the recovery partition at the first day i got my laptop. *dumb

i just did a clean install and did a complete PC backup using the utility in windows after setting my latest drivers. For me its much better than having to burn the factory settings by HP with all the crapware.

 

Hi all,

what do you think about an hibrid method:

1.-Making the HP recovery set
2.-Install Antivirus
3.-Update Windows
4.-Uninstall "crapware"
5.-Install software
6.-Complete PC BackUp

Bye

 

For HP users that cant access Recovery Disks/ISOs. This can be for you.

Firstly, Windows Explorer will not display ALLSYSTEM files even though you have selected Show All. I'm sure they don't want novices to access all files just in case

This is bcoz of File Attributes. The File Attributes determine whether one can read/write/del or even view.

To VIEW/DELETE these "hidden" files is to use the Command Prompt - a slim down DOS enviroment.

I recall my DOS years, where I did everything plus more in DOS and XTREEGOLD. It was truly GOLD!

----
To find the hidden HPCD.SYS files in the RECOVERY partition and HDD is to:

1. Access Command Prompt
2. D:
3. DIR /AH - This displays ALL files with Hidden Attributes.
You should see the HPCD.SYS file.
4. Next you have to remove the Read Only System and Hidden Attributes in
order to delete.
5. type ATTRIB -R -A -S -H HPCD.SYS (This removes the required attributes
so you can delete or make changes.)
6. DEL HPCD.SYS

HARD DRIVE HPCD.SYS is the same.

1. C:
2. CD WINDOWS\SMINST
3. ATTRIB -R -A -S -H HPCD.SYS
4. DEL HPCD.SYS


KACHOW! You should be able to sucessfully perform the HP Recovery Disks!
)

 

Alternative option for non-tech-savy people is to remove the "Hide protected operating system files" in Windows Explorer.

Then manually changing the File Attributes by Properties and deleting the HPCD.SYS files one at a time.

 

guys,

i have a similar issue...

I installed Windows 7 on my HP TX1120us.
now, what i want is, i want to back up the pc on a DVD sets.
i tried a long time ago, and it was working, but now, it wont.

I went to HP recovery manager, and to CREATE RECOVERY DISC SET.
but after a while it says : CAnnot find recovery partition.

can i fix this issue some how? i dont have the partition, but i need to back it up on a DVD and make them bootable, so i can install it the same way as vista did

 

Recovery disca are not a backup of the currently installed system, they are a copy of the HP recovery partition that is installed at the factory. Since you have installed Windows 7, you may have deleted the recovery partition, so you will not be able to make recovery discs, but that is almost certainly not what you want anyway. If you did make those discs and use them, your system would be reinstalled with the original Vista install, not W7.

What you want is to make an image of the current system. You can use the built-in backup tools in W7 to make a "complete PC backup". This is probably what you are looking for.

 

does anyone know if this is possible with preloaded win7?
in win7 , there is no hpcd.sys, hpcd.bak, no sminst etc....

 

Hi I renamed both of the HPCD.SYS in the D and C drives to HPCD.bak and when i click on the recovery disc creator and then click next, i get a blank box with "cannot create discs" and and ok at the bottom. Before i renamed them the box said only one set of discs per machine. Am I doing something wrong? I would appreciate the help.

 

i'm sorry to bump this topic, but i want to report my findings.
on my new hp laptop, with windows 7 home premium x64 i have found and deleted the files to allow a new recovery dvd creation.
the files are named: hpdrcu.prc and i found them in D: (that means, my recovery partition) and in C:\ProgramData\Hewlett-Packard\Recovery

now i can create a new set of discs. unfortunately i thought that the app allowed you to create iso images, but i will find a way to get them.

cheers.