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    HP Restore Disk

    Discussion in 'HP' started by SP Forsythe, Aug 9, 2007.

  1. SP Forsythe

    SP Forsythe Notebook Evangelist

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    I've got a DV9500t. Immediately upon arrival I burn a Double Layer restore disk that nearly fills the DL DVD. Since the system only permits this process only once, my anal retentive nature leads me to order an independent spare from HP.

    The HP disk is a little over half the size of my system restore disk. What?

    My understanding is that the system restore disk is supposed to return the computer to the state received as new, with all the apps and bloatware origianlly on the system. That being the case, should not both disks be identical in size?

    Why the enormous size discrepancy between my burned disk and the factory disk?
     
    SP Forsythe, Aug 9, 2007
    #1
  2. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    The HP disc is a generic that can be used no matter what configuration your laptop is. It's pretty much a drivers disc that also allows you to reinstall Vista. HP doesn't spend the time to customize the disc for every single possible customization option. Those lazy bums.
     
    Lithus, Aug 9, 2007
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  3. TwiztOG43

    TwiztOG43 Notebook Evangelist

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    its just for the money
     
    TwiztOG43, Aug 10, 2007
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  4. SP Forsythe

    SP Forsythe Notebook Evangelist

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    Sooo in retrospect, it would seem that making your own restore disk is paramount if you actually want to do a factory image restore without the restore partition. The factory restore disk is of limited value in comparison.

    HP sure doesn't make that clear. Every indication is that that either choice is the same, which it isn't.
     
    SP Forsythe, Aug 10, 2007
    #4
  5. suland

    suland Notebook Evangelist

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    The bad thing is that on older systems you were able to install drivers or system or additional software ONLY(whichever you like) . Now HP gives you only one choice - to bring everything to Factory Conditions.... LAZY? or they are trying to HP you!!!
     
    suland, Aug 10, 2007
    #5
  6. SideSwipe

    SideSwipe Notebook Virtuoso

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    If you want to burn another one I think you can do this by searching for HPCD in all partitions (click the hidden files thing too) and rename them to something else like .bak that way you can run the restore disk creator program again. dunno if it works on vista but thats how it works on the xp systems
     
    SideSwipe, Aug 11, 2007
    #6
  7. orev

    orev Notebook Virtuoso

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    Or just make a direct disc copy of the one you already burned.
     
    orev, Aug 13, 2007
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  8. kanehi

    kanehi Notebook Deity

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    I ordered from HP and wondered if they used a compression algorithm. When I re-installed using their disc it took forever to restore while I ones I made only took 3 hours!
     
    kanehi, Aug 14, 2007
    #8