Format Hard Drive w/o Vista Disks

V

vf1409

New Member
I've recently been struck down with a trojan. I restored my computer to factory defaults, thinking this would do the trick. It did. However, I'm at Ohio State, and they're policy is that you have to totally reformat your hard drive before you'll be able to use the wireless internet. The problem is, i have an HP HDX16, and HP does not ship with Vista install disks, they have a hidden partition. I tried doing a system restore 3 times, and it didnt work. I backed dup the system defaults to an external hard drive, if that helps any.

My question is, how do i format my hard drive without the Vista Disks?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP HDX16t
    CPU
    Core @ Duo 2.20Ghz
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
Did you get any recovery CD's?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel Neo
    Memory
    2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intergrated Intel Graphics
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    10.1
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    160GB
    PSU
    Power Adapter
    Case
    It's special, it flips open :)
    Keyboard
    Acer
    Mouse
    Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    Down: 16mb/s Up: 1.6mb/s
    Other Info
    I killed my HP Laptop :'(
I have not made any, but i could, if thats what you're asking.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP HDX16t
    CPU
    Core @ Duo 2.20Ghz
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
The recovery disks have a Vista image on it with all of the pre installed software, drivers, etc. So I believe you could reformat then use those disks to reinstall Vista. Let me verify that before you do this. Again, do not reformat just yet.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel Neo
    Memory
    2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intergrated Intel Graphics
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    10.1
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    160GB
    PSU
    Power Adapter
    Case
    It's special, it flips open :)
    Keyboard
    Acer
    Mouse
    Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    Down: 16mb/s Up: 1.6mb/s
    Other Info
    I killed my HP Laptop :'(
Don't believe its possible :huh: Sorry...
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel Neo
    Memory
    2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intergrated Intel Graphics
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    10.1
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    160GB
    PSU
    Power Adapter
    Case
    It's special, it flips open :)
    Keyboard
    Acer
    Mouse
    Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    Down: 16mb/s Up: 1.6mb/s
    Other Info
    I killed my HP Laptop :'(
This is a very interesting question. CH asked me and I responded that I didnt think it would work. I just wonder if different manufacts do it differrently. Im pretty sure the recovery disks dont have an OS, just the files required to boot the computer and maybe some device drivers. thats why they are called recovery. you recover from the image on the other (recovery) partition. If there was an active Image it would have to be multiple dvd's and as far as I know there isnt't

Hope this helps

Ken
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron E 1405
    CPU
    [email protected]
    Memory
    4 gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    integrated intel 945
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    300 gig internal
    Internet Speed
    10 down 1.5 up
Hi vf1409

HP/Compaq recovery DVD & recovery partition, do a quick format first.

Can you still get in to windows, if yes, go to HP/Compaq recovery & burn your DVD's.

If no, you can call HP/Compaq for recovery DVD's,all they need is your tag No, some times free, some times not.
 

My Computer

System One

You can reformat your disk with Knoppix.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD AM2 6000+
    Motherboard
    Nvidia M2N-E SLI
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 7600GT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    WD
    Case
    Cooler Master
    Cooling
    Three fans
    Keyboard
    Dell Quietkey
    Mouse
    Dell Optical
    Internet Speed
    10 MBPS
A system restore is just that it restores the computer to an earlier point in time. A system recovery will reformat your computer back to factory settings making it like the day you bought it. Restart computer, when the blue screen appears you'll see some options. Press the F11 key, this will do a system recovery from the hidden partition, just follow the on screen prompts. Once that is done, burn your recovery disc set, this is a one time process. You will find this in your program list under PC help and tools, recovery disc creation.Then you'll have to add all software and hardware (printer) to the PC. Make sure you unplug all usb hardware first from the PC before doing the system recovery. This should satisfy your school requirements for connection to their network.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self built
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64x2 6000+ 3.0ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus M4N78 Pro
    Memory
    3Gb PC2-5300 DDR2 @ 667mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX Radeon HD 4770 512mb GDDR5
    Sound Card
    VIA HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual monitors: HP W1907 LCD 19" and Gateway HD Display 19" LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    Barracuda 7200.10 SATA 3.0Gb/s 320 x 2-GB Hard Drive
    PSU
    Antec Earthwatts 80 plus 500 watts
    Case
    Ultra E-Torque ATX Mid tower clear side w/2 120mm fans
    Cooling
    Thermaltake MaxOrb cpu cooler w/120 mm blue led
    Keyboard
    OEM HP
    Mouse
    OEM HP
    Internet Speed
    Download 6885 kb/s upload 367 kb/s
    Other Info
    Optical: Super Muliti DVD burner w/lightscribe, Hauppauge WinTV HVR-1800
i've been emailing HP and they said i can make a User-Created Recovery Disk, like bassfisher said, and once i put it in the drive, restart the computer, and it should act exactly like a regular vista install disk. once i try it i'll let you know if it works
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP HDX16t
    CPU
    Core @ Duo 2.20Ghz
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
That's great news! Good luck and let us know if you need anything else...
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD AM2 6000+
    Motherboard
    Nvidia M2N-E SLI
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 7600GT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    WD
    Case
    Cooler Master
    Cooling
    Three fans
    Keyboard
    Dell Quietkey
    Mouse
    Dell Optical
    Internet Speed
    10 MBPS
vf1409 said:
i've been emailing HP and they said i can make a User-Created Recovery Disk, like bassfisher said, and once i put it in the drive, restart the computer, and it should act exactly like a regular vista install disk. once i try it i'll let you know if it works
Click to expand...

Dont forget about the F11 key, that will do the same thing as the recovery discs.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self built
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64x2 6000+ 3.0ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus M4N78 Pro
    Memory
    3Gb PC2-5300 DDR2 @ 667mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX Radeon HD 4770 512mb GDDR5
    Sound Card
    VIA HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual monitors: HP W1907 LCD 19" and Gateway HD Display 19" LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    Barracuda 7200.10 SATA 3.0Gb/s 320 x 2-GB Hard Drive
    PSU
    Antec Earthwatts 80 plus 500 watts
    Case
    Ultra E-Torque ATX Mid tower clear side w/2 120mm fans
    Cooling
    Thermaltake MaxOrb cpu cooler w/120 mm blue led
    Keyboard
    OEM HP
    Mouse
    OEM HP
    Internet Speed
    Download 6885 kb/s upload 367 kb/s
    Other Info
    Optical: Super Muliti DVD burner w/lightscribe, Hauppauge WinTV HVR-1800
So technically a drive can be reformatted then use a recovery disk as a Vista install disk?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel Neo
    Memory
    2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intergrated Intel Graphics
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    10.1
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    160GB
    PSU
    Power Adapter
    Case
    It's special, it flips open :)
    Keyboard
    Acer
    Mouse
    Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    Down: 16mb/s Up: 1.6mb/s
    Other Info
    I killed my HP Laptop :'(
vf1409 said:
i've been emailing HP and they said i can make a User-Created Recovery Disk, like bassfisher said, and once i put it in the drive, restart the computer, and it should act exactly like a regular vista install disk. once i try it i'll let you know if it works
Click to expand...


Forget all that :)

simple steps to take :)

Take the Drive out your laptop

If its IDE or SATA hook it upto a PC

(preferably one thats not go much on it)

boot into windows

My Computer, Right Click the drive, Format.

Thats the Drive formatted.


Next Create a recovery CD from the machine you are on

Take the HDD out and put it in ure Laptop again and run the CD get Windows loaded on it then all you need to do is make ure the CD/OEM key matches the one on ure laptop if it doesnt you can change it if you go into the properties of my computer. :) hope that helps some what :geek:
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer 5630WLMi
    CPU
    Intel Centrino Duo 1.66Ghz, 667MHz FSB, 2MB L2 Cache
    Memory
    1x 2GB 800MHz DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Onboard 256 Intel Rubish
    Sound Card
    Onboard Intel HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.4" Crystalbrite
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    160GB SATA
    PSU
    N/A
    Case
    N/A
    Cooling
    N/A
    Keyboard
    Laptop
    Mouse
    Laser Optical
    Internet Speed
    2.6mbps Download, Upload unknown (not tested)

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer 5630WLMi
    CPU
    Intel Centrino Duo 1.66Ghz, 667MHz FSB, 2MB L2 Cache
    Memory
    1x 2GB 800MHz DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Onboard 256 Intel Rubish
    Sound Card
    Onboard Intel HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.4" Crystalbrite
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    160GB SATA
    PSU
    N/A
    Case
    N/A
    Cooling
    N/A
    Keyboard
    Laptop
    Mouse
    Laser Optical
    Internet Speed
    2.6mbps Download, Upload unknown (not tested)
JayD said:
vf1409 said:
i've been emailing HP and they said i can make a User-Created Recovery Disk, like bassfisher said, and once i put it in the drive, restart the computer, and it should act exactly like a regular vista install disk. once i try it i'll let you know if it works
Click to expand...


Forget all that :)

simple steps to take :)

Take the Drive out your laptop

If its IDE or SATA hook it upto a PC

(preferably one thats not go much on it)

boot into windows

My Computer, Right Click the drive, Format.

Thats the Drive formatted.


Next Create a recovery CD from the machine you are on

Take the HDD out and put it in ure Laptop again and run the CD get Windows loaded on it then all you need to do is make ure the CD/OEM key matches the one on ure laptop if it doesnt you can change it if you go into the properties of my computer. :) hope that helps some what :geek:
Click to expand...

You can not use recovery DVD's from any old PC, vf1409 needs to use recovery dvd's for a HP HDX16 only, or a MS vista DVD.
 

My Computer

System One

You can not use recovery DVD's from any old PC, vf1409 needs to use recovery dvd's for a HP HDX16 only, or a MS vista DVD.
Click to expand...

:huh: im sure you can as the HDD that its goin on wont know the difference then all that needs doing is the right drivers istalling. i know ive done it with XP pro last week infact. bit of a challenge but its possible :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer 5630WLMi
    CPU
    Intel Centrino Duo 1.66Ghz, 667MHz FSB, 2MB L2 Cache
    Memory
    1x 2GB 800MHz DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Onboard 256 Intel Rubish
    Sound Card
    Onboard Intel HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.4" Crystalbrite
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    160GB SATA
    PSU
    N/A
    Case
    N/A
    Cooling
    N/A
    Keyboard
    Laptop
    Mouse
    Laser Optical
    Internet Speed
    2.6mbps Download, Upload unknown (not tested)
well, it didnt work. the HP person said that after i put the 1st recovery disk in, and restarted the computer, a blank screen will appear with a cursor and once that cursor moved i was supposed to hold CTRL and hit backspace, and that would bring up the manufacturing menu. however, i got no blank screen with cursor. it just booted up like normal.

Have any of you heard of this "Manufacturing Menu" or how to get into it?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP HDX16t
    CPU
    Core @ Duo 2.20Ghz
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
Hey did hp guy say CTRL, or right CTRL? sometimes it makes a difference. try both
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron E 1405
    CPU
    [email protected]
    Memory
    4 gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    integrated intel 945
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    300 gig internal
    Internet Speed
    10 down 1.5 up
he just said CTRL, but it doesnt matter because i didnt get to that screen anyways. nothing was different about the startup. and i did it 3 times
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP HDX16t
    CPU
    Core @ Duo 2.20Ghz
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
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