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    System Recovery Disc

    Discussion in 'HP' started by hotwater, May 21, 2011.

  1. hotwater

    hotwater Newbie

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    Hi, this is my first post. I have a new dv6 and I'm wondering about the options for creating the system repair disc.

    It looks like I can either run sdclt to get to the control panel's backup and recovery program, and from there click on 'Create a system repair disc', or run HP's Recovery Manager program and click on 'create a set of recovery media'.

    Which one should I use? What are the differences?

    The Recover Manager warns that I can only make 1 set of discs and I can never run it again. I don't see a similar warning from sdclt.
     
    hotwater, May 21, 2011
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  2. Jerohm

    Jerohm Notebook Evangelist

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    I believe they ARE different. Another interesting thing is that the Factory installed OS version must be stored on the machine. My machine shipped with Home Premium, but I upgraded to Professional. I purchased a set of (stamped, not burned) HP recovery discs from a guy off these forums whose machine shipped with Professional. When I used these discs, my machine reverted to Home Premium. The labels on these discs say absolutely "Nothing" version (Home, Professional, Ultimate) specific ... only "Windows 7 Recovery Media for Windows 7 Products [64bit]"

    If you have ever done a "retail" load of Windows (XP, Vista, 7), when you insert the disc, one option other than Install, is Repair. I believe there lies the difference. The repair option will NOT preform a complete reinstall, where the recovery will.

    If the [hidden] recovery partition is intact on the HD, I don't think you even need the recovery dvds you are suppose to create. If you attach an external USB drive, it even gives you the option to backup your personal data.... sweet
     
    Jerohm, May 21, 2011
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  3. KLF

    KLF NBR Super Modernator Super Moderator

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    System repair disc is a set of recovery tools, same options are available when you boot from normal install disc and instead of install you choose "repair my computer" option. Some extra info you can see from there: System Repair Disc - Create - Windows 7 Forums

    If your hard drive breaks and you need to replace it, System repair disc doesn't do any good. It can be used to deal with some minor issues, bootsector gone bad or you can launch System Restore with it.

    To reinstall whole system you need an install disc and that's what the recovery discs are. They restore the PC back to the state you bought it, including all the crapware (at least it works :p ). When recovery disc is used, computer is effectively new and asks for new owner information etc.

    Windows own backup would only restore to the state computer was when backup was made. Big difference.

    The moment your hard drive breaks and all the data, including the hidden recovery partition, is gone... is the moment when you need the dvds to bring your system back to factory condition.
     
    KLF, May 21, 2011
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