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    How do I recover the HP Vista & Apps to my Laptop?

    Discussion in 'HP' started by Ikenga, Aug 28, 2008.

  1. Ikenga

    Ikenga Newbie

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    Hi,

    I bought a "refurbished" HP laptop online and it came without any Vista DVD disk and the hard drive was formatted completely so that there is no recovery partition to recover from.

    There is a Vista OEM sticker on the bottom of the laptop though.

    I have a legal copy of VISTA Ultimate but after installation, I do not get the proper HP experience and some of the devices are not recognized and the HP update program refused to run correctly. I'm also missing all the 3rd party software that originally came with my laptop. For example, no BLU-RAY player software, HD Movie Making/Burning software or Norton Antivirus.

    I would like to use my copy of Vista (Ultimate instead of Premium) but I also want the usual HP recovery manager , the built-in support and troubleshooting applications and the 3rd party software that comes pre-installed.

    I've checked all over the HP web site and I can't find anywhere to download a "patch" or update to restore all this missing functionality.

    I'd rather have the built-in HP recovery/backup partition and the included pre-installed software than use my Vista Ultimate.

    So who knows how I can re-install Vista on this wiped HP Laptop and still get the standard HP applications and recovery features?

    Also, is it possible to use my own Vista Ultimate Retail and still use the HP applications?

    I'm Looking forward to answers.....
     
    Ikenga, Aug 28, 2008
    #1
  2. booboo12

    booboo12 Notebook Prophet

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    Have you gone to the HP site and downloaded drivers for your laptop manually?

    As for the associated HP apps, you'll have to order HP's recovery disk-This disk contains an image of an Vista install with all of HP's applications baked in.
     
    booboo12, Aug 28, 2008
    #2
  3. Infamous22

    Infamous22 Notebook Deity

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    The disk is $19 bucks, not to shabby.
     
    Infamous22, Aug 29, 2008
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  4. Ikenga

    Ikenga Newbie

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    I already have the HP recovery DVD but it is for Vista Premium.

    So if my computer shipped with Vista Premium can I order Vista Ultimate recovery DVD for $19? I don't think so.

    So if I already have my retail Vista Ultimate DVD, where can I order the HP DVD that will install just the HP and 3rd party stuff that normally comes with my HP including the needed Blu-Ray software player?
     
    Ikenga, Aug 30, 2008
    #4
  5. Vision33r

    Vision33r Notebook Consultant

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    When you need is your original Vista recovery DVD from HP, once you restored your laptop it will ask for your Vista License key, at the bottom of your laptop. This will activate Vista, depending on what version of Vista it says on the license, you can only use that one.

    If you want Ultimate you will have to buy the Upgrade and perform a Vista Upgrade.

    I don't think think its worth the price over Premium though unless you want Media Center and some Vista mini games.
     
    Vision33r, Aug 30, 2008
    #5