Recovery DVDs

i just got my notebook, but I don't have any blank dvds at home currently. So i'm wondering if I can do stuff with my notebook (like delete bloatware and download songs) today and buy the dvds tomorrow to make the recovery dvds.

 

I wouldn't, my brother did that and loaded his software first, and it wouldn't allow him to burn them. HP had him restore his HD from the partition, then he made his burn..

 

Yes, you can uninstall programs without a problem. Everything HP makes is included in the SWsetup folder (make sure THAT one isn't deleted, in fact copy it to some place safe), so making the recovery DVD is independent of whether a program is installed or not.

Also, I'd recommend making a copy of your recovery DVDs. Why HP only lets you burn one copy, I don't understand, but it will save your trouble if you ever loose your original set (the DVDs are customized to your laptop I believe anyway).

 

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First off... read thru this thread, insert the word "laptop" for "phone":

http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15717

To add to what has been said above...

If it was "me" (knowing what I know), what I'd do is make a backup of the C:\SwSetup Folder before doing anything.

(Note that most all the needed drivers are on the HP website, and also note the "downloadable" drivers may be NEWER than the ones in the C:\SwSetup folder)

2nd thing is to make the restore discs, (TIP, shut down ALL un-needed apps, disconnect from the net, disable any type of program that may "pop-up" that may steal cpu cycles while the disc(s) are being created.

The HP disc creator only allows (1) set of discs to be created.... DO NOT USE A RW DISC, and read the read-me to see what type of disc is prefered (I think it's + discs).

In addtion to the above, I'd run from the BIOS a FULL scan of the hard drive, test the memory.... and then from the OS run same type of tests.... before wasting any time installing apps (another reason to not install apps right away is a app install may "break" something in the OS install)

Instead of downloading songs I'd research
:

1: Firewalls
2: Anti-Virus apps
3: I'd then hunt down some "stress-testing" /burn-in programs that stress /test the hd, the gpu, the memory and sub systems to give the unit a real good work-out..... to test the hardware before wasting time configuring any apps.

In addtion to the above, I'd hunt down a copy of a disc "imaging" program to "image" the hd, maybe (1) copy before activation, another copy once activated... and you may want to consider while the unit is "brand-new" running the "user" created "recovery" discs to do a restore.... to confirm that they "work". WHY?, well say the "recovery" disc doesn't work .... if your within your 14 day grace period (if bought from Hp directly)... you have "leverage" to get them to ship you the discs that should have been shipped with the unit in the first place.

Wait say a year or two or three, and then find that you "need" the discs and they will laugh in your face... The newer the unit is, the more leverage you have to get them to ship you the discs (for free).

PS: Don't right off the bar delete the recovery partition, until you confirm the recovery discs work, have made a backup copy.... AND/OR have aquired a "real" disc imaging program. (One that will allow backups at ANY time such as Acronis.)

I'd run the unit for a few days at least with some stress testing programs / "burn-in" type programs before spending much time installing a bunch of stuff.. Point being to verify the hardware is GOOD, plus to reduce anykind of "conflicts"...

Downloads yes, installing a bunch of apps no.

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If you're planning on running Vista... you might want to check out this info:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=1890233&postcount=16

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=111580

 

when creating the recovery disks... is there suppose to be a progress bar or something? For me, it says "put in the blank disk, and then push next" but when i put in a dvd+r... i hear it spinning for a short while then it goes silent and the "next button" is still grayed out. So i'm not sure is it actually even doing something in there since there isn't a progress bar.

Plus it only says "if you are using blank CDs... it will take 10 CDs"... but it never mentions anything about DVDs.

 

Try inserting (1) dual-layer DVD +R if you don't want to deal with so many CD's.