Simple HP Recovery question

Ok, this is one simple question lol

I recently installed Windows 7 and want to go back to Vista.

When I bought the computer there was only 1 partition, so I created another one to backup data etc.

Will the HP Recovery tool erase only the partition where it installs Windows?(C: ) Or does it erase both (C: and D: )?

 

The computer should have come with 2 partitions one of them the recovery partition. If windows 7 erased the recovery partition then you can't use recovery. If the recovery partition is still there it gives you two choices a regular recovery should leave your partition intact as well as all the data you stored. I had an extra partition that survived the recovery even though I had already erased the encryption program that created it. The destructive recovery will erase everything. I run mine about once a month to get rid of all the rootkits. I think it's possible to restore your recovery by calling HP. It is also possible to backup your recovery partition I recomend you do this if you are going to experiment.

 

Using the recovery partition only erases the C:\ Drive (and I think it only erases the non recovery partition), It renames the D:\ drive back to "DATA" for some reason though, it won't delete anything on it.

 

Yes, it came with the so called C: and the Restore/Recover partition. But I divided C: into two: one partition with the SO and one partition where I keep My Documents, games, etc.

Will it erase both? Or only C:?

 

You start with one physical HD, 2 partitions, one which has vista loaded, and a recovery partition.

When you installed 7, you installed to C, and your recovery partition is left alone; however you cannot recover using it by normal methods because you no longer have the original bootloader on C. (if you went into services, then disk management you could make the recovery partition active then reboot, which might allow running of recovery, something posted many times to those trying to go back and not realizing they no longer have access to recovery by KB input on bootup...)

If you split C and added another partition to it, I can't say whether or not the recovery would take it out, only theorize.

It depends on how recovery was programmed to reformat (in our eyes, format in its own) drive C. Since you are not really given detailed information on the process while it is running, we can only guess.

I'd like to think that if presented with multiple partitions, it would format the system partition (C), recreate your recovery partition (D, or draw from it if running from it) and your other created partition you created would be left alone.

Can you copy data from your newly created data partition to an external one for backup as you try recovery?

Hey, at least you don't have an Acer laptop, it's recovery program, to use a light description: sucks.

 

I think it will erase both, at least it did so when i restored my 1.5 year old HP 6510b.

 

You are in new territory here if nothing else works the 515 is supposed to be compatable with SUSE linux. There is also a free open SUSE with it's own forum.

 

If the recovery partition still available, you can set it as active partition, use computer management in Win7 or use free tools in Linux or dos.

Once it was set as active partition it will run HP system recovery and if you were choosing factory install option, all new partition will be erased.

 

I do make a data partition on I machine I set up. Been setting up Dual/Multi-Boots for more than a few years. My experience has been the recovery partition or recovery disks will only format and install to the c:/ drive. I ALWAYS backup the data drive to and external(USB, Disc, Network, etc.). It will save your assets should a problem arise.

Yes some of the above issues are valid. Obviously we have experienced users on the forum. Dont be scared of the job at hand. Just back up the data and go for it.

Good luck with it
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