Solved Recovery Manager Doesn't Boot

Hi,

I'm having a little issue with my brothers' laptop. He got it quite a while back. It came pre-installed with Vista but a couple days back, he asked me to install another OS as he got bored with Vista. I did but now, he wants to go back to Vista for some reason.

It's a Compaq Presario C700 laptop.
Came default with 2 partition. One for the OS and the other is the recovery partition. I've since split OS partition into 2 for my brother to keep his important files without losing them in the event of a re-format. So now, there are 3 partition. (this all happened before the new OS installation)
When i installed the different OS (Non-windows), i made sure i left the spare and recovery partition alone.

Now, when i boot the laptop and press F11, it doesn't boot the recovery to restore to factory setting and things like that. I then installed vista with a non-activated DVD with the hopes that once i get windows to load, i could restore to reset settings and retain the genuine features plus drivers but that doesn't work. I do not have a recovery CD/DVD though.

What are my options to re-enable the recovery manager so i could format the OS?


Thanks for your time.
Danny

Hi Danny,

To use the Recovery Partition, you need HP Recovery Manager installed on the main drive (in effect, Vista must be installed with this program included and it may work even if Vista isn't booting as long as it is installed with the HP Recovery Manager software as well - but that's not the case here): Here's information about it: Recover Windows Vista Operating System Using HP Recovery Compaq Presario C700 CTO Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English). I don't believe F11 will work without it. NOTE: There were MANY options for Compaq Presario C700, so be sure I chose the right one before you do anything - it is important to get the precise model exactly correct.

A regular Vista disk is not going to work for this because it doesn't include the HP Recovery Manager software. But it should restore Vista and you should be able to download updated drivers from the HP website assuming mostly everything works with the default drivers from the Vista disk (but not the supplemental software that came with the recovery disks including the HP Recovery Manager software). Then you need to activate with the original product code for the system (which should be on a label somewhere on it).

If that isn't satisfactory or doesn't work (and it should for the most part even if some aspects will not be able to be restored like the HP Recovery Manager or the ability to use the Recovery Partition), at this point, since you didn't make recovery disks when you got the machine, I believe you need to get Vista Recovery Disks from HP to do the restore to factory conditions. Here's how to do that: Order Recovery Discs for Windows 7, Vista, or XP Compaq Presario C700 CTO Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English). NOTE: There were MANY options for Compaq Presario C700, so be sure I chose the right one before you do anything - it is important to get the precise model exactly correct.

I wish I had better news, but that's unfortunately how it seems to work with these computers.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Hi Lorien.

Thank you very much for your time to respond to my query.
After reading your reply, i was still determine (or some may say stubborn) to think that there is another way to make this work without going through all the process as you mentioned. I went on Google and abuse it to get some answers. Eventually, i came across another forum with some simple steps and I'm glad to say that i've made it work and i could now use the recovery manager to re-format the laptop to it's factory setting (with the drivers, HP junkware and retain the genuine stamp).

I could post exactly what i did but i tend to go overboard and end up posting a message as long as a book. I'll post the message that i came across which helped me.

The following is for guys who has two partitions: primary and recovery, primary has been deleted, and F11 or ALT+F11 keys don't work. Someone advice to delete primary partition and to make recovery partition primary, well ... that's not enough, you also need to make such partition bootable.

1. Delete primary partition: I used windows 7 DVD to delete such partition, of course there are others methods
2. Make recovery partition primary: Use this link
3. Make partition bootable: I used Ubuntu live CD, I run GParted then I saw only one partition, right click in that partition, choose 'Manage Flags' and select 'Boot'
When I rebooted the computer I didn't have to press F11 or anything, it goes right into the Recovery partition

Click to expand...

Danny

Hi Danny,

Well done! I have saved that link for when this situation comes up again (and it will) so I can provide a better solution than I did this time. You have helped many with your feedback and providing the process that worked.

Thank you very much.

I will request this thread be marked as solved.

Good luck and best wishes.

P.S. Now that you're back, I suggest you make the recovery disks as recommended by the manufacturer so the next time it will be a lot easier and so you'll have a backup method in case, for example, the hard drive fails completely and you lose everything on it including the recovery partition (and then need to restore to a replacement hard drive).

Hi Lorien.

Thanks again. I'm glad it worked out without having to go through so much trouble.

I'm just about to create the recovery disc right now. This would indeed save me all the trouble if i made one before but we all forget these stuff sometimes (plus it's not my laptop but i rest my case).

Ahh well, it's almost 1AM. I'm going to get some rest soon after furiously working on the laptop for hours.


Have a good one. :D
Danny