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    System recovery without reformatting

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by ricksaint, Jul 24, 2009.

  1. ricksaint

    ricksaint Notebook Consultant

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    I have an HP dv7 with Vista.

    I want to do a system recovery only and save the documents and other folders, but both the recovery CD's and the recovery partition don't seem to give me that option. They want to reformat the HD and reinstall everything.

    Is there a way around that?
     
    ricksaint, Jul 24, 2009
    #1
  2. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

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    No. If you use the recovery partition or recovery discs, they will wipe your existing partition and replace it with an image of how the computer came from the factory.
     
    kegobeer, Jul 24, 2009
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  3. ricksaint

    ricksaint Notebook Consultant

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    What else could I use?
     
    ricksaint, Jul 24, 2009
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  4. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

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    A good backup of "the documents and other folders".

    Gary
     
    ScuderiaConchiglia, Jul 24, 2009
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  5. ricksaint

    ricksaint Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah, I just did that.
    I meant, I have seen in the past system-only recovery discs. Is there such a thing for this computer?
     
    ricksaint, Jul 24, 2009
    #5
  6. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    Recovery is recovery, totally put your comp back to the original state. If you just want the system files, the closest process would be a Vista repair from an installation .

    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Jul 24, 2009
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  7. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    You can try a system restore, which basically rolls you back to a previous image. It's mainly used if you installed something that was corrupted or if you recently got a virus.
     
    Lithus, Jul 24, 2009
    #7
  8. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    You don't have the option to do a "repair" installation from the recovery console?

    According to this _HP support page on HP Notebook PCs - Using the PC Recovery Solution, you should be able to do at least a basic repair (i.e., nondestructive recovery) of the installed OS.
     
    Shyster1, Jul 24, 2009
    #8
  9. ricksaint

    ricksaint Notebook Consultant

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    I found the following, but it seems to apply only to XP systems.

    Do the following actions to reinstall the operating system from the set of recovery disks.

    1. Connect PC to the AC power adapter.
    2. Open the disk drive, insert the first disk in the set of recovery disks, and close the disk drive.
    3. Turn off the PC.
    4. Press the Power button to start the PC and immediately press the F11 key.
    The PC begins operation from the disk and performs tests on the hard drive. After a short delay, a black screen, with a message, is displayed. If the C:\ drive and the special recovery partition are intact, three options are available:
    * Press 'R' for standard System Recovery options .
    * Press 'F' to format the hard drive and reinstall the original factory settings. All data will be lost!
    * Press 'Q' to Quit this menu.
     
    ricksaint, Jul 24, 2009
    #9
  10. J&SinKTO

    J&SinKTO Notebook Deity

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    J&SinKTO, Jul 25, 2009
    #10