Restore Discs don't work. Vista is annoying.

I created the 2 restore dvd's because i want that 6gb's back. I created them following the hp instructions.

When i tried to do the system restore ( following the included instructions), after the restart and f11 and I picked "System Restore", it initialized for awhile and siad that the system restore could not be performed from this disc.

How do I create a system restore disc that works?!

I tried install ubuntu by first resizing the partition that vista is on. However, I get errors every time i go to resize it. I was told to do a chkdsk /f to check the disk for errors

chkdsk /f kept freezing at 7% =/.

I know the ubuntu resize works because I have used it on different computers with XP on it.



1. Does Vista have some type of lock that prevents the resize of it's partition?

2. Is maybe my harddrive bad?

3. Is there a trick to making the recovery disc's work?

4. If i uninstalled Vista completely and installed XP (and downloaded all the drivers for it etc.). If i wanted Vista again at a later date, could I use the restore discs ( that work) to put back to factory using XP's system recovery?

5. Does Hp still sell dv2000z's with xp on it instead of Vista?

Thank You in advance.

 

What did you use to resize your partition? HP doesn't sell your notebook with XP anymore.

 

If resize doesn't work, try re-partition the disk (you lose everything on the disk) and install Vista using the DVD's.

 

if chkdsk keeps freezing its certainly a sign of either a faulty disk or just a faulty OS install (i had it on XP and when running chkdsk it would freeze at some points but resume after a considerable delay)

did u use partition magic? it might be able to partition the drive for u

shudnt be any tricks for getting ur restore discs to work. its possible that system restore (being the Windows program that restores your system to a particular point, not a reinstall or format install) only works IN Windows itself.

does your bios have a feature to check the hard disk ( i have on my dv9000)

also find out what the make of your drive is, download the diagnostic tools for it from the manufacturers site and run it, see what it says (provided you can enter windows or it can run from DOS or whatever)

 

I actually got into windows finally and did the recovery using the recovery partition. I still don't understand why the Recovery DVD's I made did not work.

If it gives any better clarification of the problem, it states "This PC is not supported by the System Recovery Discs. You will not be abl to continue to recovre this system with these discs"

With the recovery I had it set to reformat and install VIsta and still the same problems.

I was using gparted (the gnome partition manager) from an ubuntu live cd.

I read that Vista can partition/resize it's drives without restarting so I will try that and see what happens.

And thank you for that tip, I will find my drive's diagnostic tool. However, does HDTUNE do the trick as a universal check for bad blocks and errors?

Thank you in advance.

 

no idea how good it is, try as many diagnostics programs as u can until u find the culprit. so does vista actually ever load or can u never get into the OS?

also use memtest its supposed to be the leading memory tester, probably better than the vista one for sure.

 

I got into Vista, ( i used the Recovery Partition). I can resize the partition Vista is on but it will only let me resize to 50gb (it is 100 gb total). Vista is only using 13gb so I'm not sure why it won't let me resize further.

Does anyone have an idea why the recover dvd's i made wouldn't be "supported by this PC"?

I really like this hp, the look, the size, the speakers, but Vista is not letting me install my primary OS and I don't want to totally repartition because I won't be able to use Vista again after SP1 and I also paid money for Vista.

If I have the upgrade anywhere cd that came with this, and I get my product key, Can i make a clean install of Vista? This would mean I don't need that recovery partition at all.

 

discs or actual PC fault, either software or hardware cuz it shud work.

 

errr....

 

What i meant was that I love this laptop. My primary OS is Ubuntu Linux and i boot in XP every once in awhile. I would hate to have to return this notebook because Vista is being difficult =/.

In addition, the only reason I won't totally uninstall Vista is because I paid for it with the notebook and would like to have the option of using it at a later date, perhaps after service pack 1 when a lot of the kinks have been ironed out.

I have tried to make new restore discs but it only allows you to make 1 set. Is my only option to Buy Vista Home Premium again later? Return the Laptop, or Just forget about Vista forever?

 

Have you tried resizing the partition from within Vista? Just go into Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management -> Storage -> Disk Management. Select your Vista partition, then right click -> shrink volume. If it still doesn't let you shrink the volume as far as you'd like, then it may be time for Partition Magic or something similar.

 

I have, for some reason Vista will only let me resize it to 50gb instead of 20, even though it is only using 13gb. Why is this?!

 

try partitionmagic then, never did like windows partition software whatever the OS

 

I bought this from costco and I know the policy is now 3 months full refund no matter what.

I was wondering If i just got rid of vista entirely (waste of $35 =/) would they still take my return?

Do they turn it on to check the problems or do they take it for any reason at all?

Can I later reinstall VIsta with my OEM KEy?

 

gotta love it...you screw it up not having a clue and you wanna know if they will give you your money back? Do I understand that part?

The answer is yes unless you took a hammer to the thing they should have no problem refunding the money. FYI I understand they are really starting to flag accounts for big ticket and/or excessive returns.

Also if you search, I think the Windows OS & SSoftware forum here or just the whole site, somewhere there is a turtorial to do what you wanted to do to begin with...

best of luck...

 

Thanks for everyone's help. I am going to return it and buy a the same laptop with less RAM and Vista home Basic so i'm not wasting money when i reformat.

grumpy3b I did not screw anything up, every is just as it was when i first bought it.

I have looked and there is not a partitioner/resizer that is compatible with Vista atm.

 

oh darn it...I must have had another tread in mind as I rwas reading down your thread. For some reason I thought you deleted and/or already resized your partions and something happened in the process...sorry about that...no wonder it made no sense to me...I was cornfused!!

I guess where you are at is waiting for the drive utils out there to catch up with Vista (in all it's variations). Stuff like this always happens when MS releases a new OS. Stuff breaks and the software folks scramble to fix whatever is broken.

Have you googled this at all?

http://www.google.com/search?source...z=1T4HPNN_en___US206&q=vista+partition+resize

Or this thread here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=107132

 

When you return it to COSTCO, make sure to state a reason (A defect) when you return so:

A: Unit is marked non-resaleable.

B: So HP takes the loss instead of COSTCO.

.

 

Yes... they do track what you return (can you blame them?)

Seems like they looked at the amount of abuses, and are clamping down on things..

If I'm reading it right the return window has been reduced from 180 to 90 days, BUT they have extended (doubled) the warranty from 1 to 2 years...

Which is a good trade-off (better than nothing)


Costco will accept returns within
90 days from the date of purchase
for the following items:
•Televisions
•Computers
•Cameras
•Camcorders
•iPod/MP3 players
•Cellular phones
2 Costco offers FREE technical support
for televisions, computers, cameras,
camcorders and iPod/MP3 players
purchased from Costco or costco.com,
through Costco Concierge Services at
1-866-861-0450. Technical support for
cellular phones is provided by the cell
phone service provider.
3 Costco extends the manufacturer’s
warranty on Televisions and Computers
to 2 years from the date of purchase. See
the manufacturer’s warranty for specific
coverage terms. For warranty service,
contact Costco Concierge Services at
1-866-861-0450.

 

that would be GREAT if they doubled the warranty period!! A much better way to manage it I am sure. This is the first I have read about the warranty being longer.

 

First I heard of it was when I checked the site after reading the post by Turbonetdis (posted #14 above).
Him saying it had been reduced to 90 days, down from 180.

To check the details:

Custom config a Hp OR pick ANY pre-built, then look at the link about "warranty" that appears under the price. (pdf format)

http://www.costco.com/Images/Content/Misc/PDF/concierge.PDF

That's were I got the info above... off that pdf.

Really hate to see the return window go from 180 to 90-days... was hoping other vendors would be forced to offer the same.


PS: For you guys thinking of upgrading to VISTA, fighting to get it to work right you might want to read this:

Windows Vista: The Best Case for Windows XP Ever

(PS: the review is by Pulp... a respected reviewer here on notebookreview)

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3529

.

 

hp sent me two recovery discs for me dv6000 series laptop, first disc takes 1 hour to reformat hard drive even though its already formatted. it then asks to insert second disk, i inserted second disk, waited 20 minutes went through the HP is installing needed software, went to work and the bottm progress bar was in the same place and the top progress bar was moving along just fine, was doing this for 10 hours.

i had xp on this lap top but i couldnt get drivers to hook it up to my tv through xp and hp said they dont support that.

 

My Vista recovery discs didn't work either so I just talked to HP support and had them send me recovery discs for free. You can try that if yours are not working.