Problem creating Recovery Disc for Clean Install

Hi,

I have tried to create the Recovery Disc 3 times, but each time it failed in verification stage. I tried doing the restore from the disc anyway, but it didnt work. I tried running the restore from hard disk, and it seemed to at least go into the process properly (which was not happening with the DVD). So what are my options now?!

1. Ask HP for replacement recovery disks, but I have read that those often give problems too, and is not reliable at all.

2. I actually got 2 of the same laptops - all config is same except that one has the Lightscribe disk, while the other doesn't. I was able to create the Recovery Disk fine on the other laptop. If required, will I be able to use that recovery disk on the laptop that I couldn't create one from, as I expect all drivers will be the same? Any issue with Vista key?! Even if there will be the Vista key issue, can I use the ABR utility from orev's post to backup my current key and once I restore the system then update the key from this backup. Does this make sense?!

3. Send the laptop back to HP for replacement.

4. Other options?!

Thanks!

 

Call HP and tell them you have a problem creating a recovery disc. I'm sure they will gladly sent you a recovery disc. Even if you sent the laptop back, it doesn't mean they'll ship you one problem free. From what I read on the forums, a replacement seems worse off than their first laptop they received.

If you follow the clean Vista installation, you should have no problem restoring the key.

I have my recovery on a dual-layer disk so I only have one disc.

 

Thanks! So, even if I do an "un-clean" install with other laptop's recovery disk, I will still be able to restore the 'correct' key if I back it up from this laptop - right?

How is activation handled if they send me the recovery disk?! Do I need to call Microsoft in that case?!

 

Not sure about other laptop recovery disc, but with HP and the majority of laptop, the OS is pre-activated at the factory. If you insist on using the key on the bottom of your laptop, you will need to contact Microsoft to activate it.

Follow the Vista clean installation, there's an instruction on how to backup your activation file, and restore the activation key after installation. Follow this method if you DO NOT want to call Microsoft.

 

Yes, I will be doing the clean install and use key backup/restore. I was talkign about a What-If scenario if I ever need to go back to factory install coz of something.

Anyways, I just tried the recovery disk of other laptop, and it loaded fine. I then restored the backed-up key to avoid conflict. Any suggestions how I check if the keys on 2 laptops are now same or different?! When I go to Welcome Cente r-> System info where it shows Product key info, both laptops have same info (even though they were both restored from their respective backups). Is it because the vendor uses same key for several laptops, or did I do something incorrect?!