Doing an hp System Recovery

P

Passive

New Member
I wanted to reformat my computer, but then found out that you have to have your OS on a disk to boot it from later on. The problem is that when I bought my computer Wndows XP was already installed and I didn't get it on a back up disk.

I was searching on my computer how to reformat and I found instructions on how to do a system recovery. It says that it returns the computer to the orginal software it had when it was shipped from the factory. Does this mean that it would be all the software that was on it when I first connected it and started it up? (Excluding Norton Security, I know I would have to reinstall that) I bought my computer from Best Buy and I don't know if they installed the OS or if hp did, would it matter?

I just want to make my computer how it was when I got it so any viruses are deleted and to clean up my harddrive. So, if I'm not on the right track to doing this, any suggestions would be appreciated. :-)
Thanks for your help in advance.
 
What make is the laptop. Normally they come with a recovery cd which will, as you rightly suggested, return every thing back to the way it was when you first turned the machine on. The instructions should be simple. Just insert the cd, boot laptop, and follow on screen instructions. (You may need to press c during early boot to ensure it boots from cd).
Depending on the options you choose your hard drive will be formatted, and the os put back along with all that crap they normally get paid to put on there new laptops :D
 
It's not a laptop, it's a desktop: hp pavilion a220n. I'll try searching my house again for a recovery cd, but is it possible to do it without a cd?
 
to be clear an OS cd and a recovery cd are differnt things
OS cd, these contain just your operating system be it XP or win2k, etc
recovery cd these are often sold with retail products and while they do contain an OS they will often have other stuff as well.

Now you will have gotten one of the above when you bought your pc, and if you have lost it you may be able to order a replacement from either microsoft, or hp

You can not clean format and restore your system without one of these disks, they are important and should be saved :)
 
If you have the recovery disks (which should have come with it) they restore everything to the state it left the factory in
 
I can't find any recovery disks, but in my drive D there's an icon that's a key and it's named Recovery. Could this be an alternative to having recovery disks?
 
HP/Compaq machines tend to have a partition dedicated to their recovery stuff although i dont know if its a bootable configuration
 
The last HP I had (5 years ago) came with a recovery cd, as did the last compaq (~2 years) I know those aren't exactly recent experiences but i wouldn't expect them to change from cds. Also the a guy I know got a compaq lappy about a year ago it had cds as well.
 
My housemate bought a Compaq desktop in september (even though I offered to build one for her) and it came without CDs (and an expired trial version of Office 2003 Student edition at that)
 
i have an HP pavilion and u are right thay do not come with any sort of disk apart from a microsoft works CD. if u run the recovery it will wipe it clean cause you set the date wen u want it to go back to so u can set the date to wen u first got it. so i would do a recovery and see if that is waht u need.
 
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