The first thing you should do is backup any important data, such as pictures, music files, favorites, and anything important that you've saved since purchasing the computer. All new data will be lost and the system will be returned to factory condition.
Next, you'll want to unplug any external devices, such as USB printers, cameras or scanners. These devices could interfere with the recovery process.
There are a couple of ways to reach the recovery screen. The easiest will be to tap the F10 key repeatedly when booting the PC. This will take you to a screen to begin the process. Or, once in Windows, you can go to Start>All Programs>HP Tools>HP PC System Recovery.
Follow the onscreen instructions. The process may take an hour or two depending on the size of the hard drive. Once complete, your HP computer should be reverted to the original factory condition.
Showing posts with label Recovery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recovery. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Vista Startup Repair: FAQ
What is Startup Repair?
Startup Repair is a Windows Vista recovery tool that can fix certain problems, such as missing or damaged system files, that might prevent Windows from starting correctly. When you run Startup Repair, it scans your computer for the problem and then tries to fix it so your computer can start correctly.
Startup Repair is located on the System Recovery Options menu, which is on the Windows Vista installation disc. If your computer manufacturer has preinstalled recovery options, Startup Repair might also be installed on your hard disk. If your computer does not include Startup Repair, your computer manufacturer might have customized or replaced the tool. Check the information that came with your computer or go to the manufacturer's website.
How do I use Startup Repair?
If you have a Windows Vista installation disc, you need to restart (boot) your computer using the installation disc. If you do not restart your computer from the disc, the option to repair your computer will not appear.
If you have a Windows Vista installation disc:
1. Insert the installation disc.
2. Restart your computer.
Click the Start button , click the arrow next to the Lock button, and then click Restart.
3. If prompted, press any key to start Windows from the installation disc.
Note:
If your computer is not configured to start from a CD or DVD, check the information that came with your computer. You may need to change your computer's BIOS settings. For more information, see BIOS: frequently asked questions.
4. Choose your language settings, and then click ,Next.
5. Click Repair your computer.
6. Select the operating system you want to repair, and then click Next.
7. On the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair. Startup Repair might prompt you to make choices as it tries to fix the problem, and if necessary, it might restart your computer as it makes repairs.
If Startup Repair is a preinstalled recovery option on your computer:
1. Remove all floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs from your computer, and then restart your computer.
Click the Start button , click the arrow next to the Lock button, and then click Restart.
2. Do one of the following:
* If your computer has a single operating system installed, press and hold
the F8 key as your computer restarts. You need to press F8 before the Windows
logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you will need to try again by
waiting until the Windows logon prompt appears, and then shutting down and
restarting your computer.
* If your computer has more than one operating system, use the arrow keys
to highlight the operating system you want to repair, and then press & hold F8.
3. On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight Repair your computer, and then press ENTER. (If Repair your computer is not listed as an option, then your computer does not include Startup Repair as a preinstalled recovery option.)
4. Select a keyboard layout, and then click Next.
5. Select a user name and enter the password, and then click OK.
6. On the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair. Startup Repair might prompt you to make choices as it tries to fix the problem and, if necessary, it might restart your computer as it makes repairs.
Are there problems that Startup Repair cannot fix?
Start up Repair cannot fix hardware failures, such as a failing hard disk or incompatible memory, nor does it protect against virus attacks. Startup Repair is not a backup tool, so it cannot help you recover personal files, such as photos or documents. To help protect your computer, back up your system and files regularly. For more information, search for "backup" in Windows Help and Support.
Start up Repair is not designed to fix Windows installation problems. For more information, see Troubleshoot Windows installation problems.
What if Startup Repair can't fix my problem?
If repairs are not successful, you'll see a summary of the problem and links to contact information for support. Your computer manufacturer might include additional assistance information.
Startup Repair is a Windows Vista recovery tool that can fix certain problems, such as missing or damaged system files, that might prevent Windows from starting correctly. When you run Startup Repair, it scans your computer for the problem and then tries to fix it so your computer can start correctly.
Startup Repair is located on the System Recovery Options menu, which is on the Windows Vista installation disc. If your computer manufacturer has preinstalled recovery options, Startup Repair might also be installed on your hard disk. If your computer does not include Startup Repair, your computer manufacturer might have customized or replaced the tool. Check the information that came with your computer or go to the manufacturer's website.
How do I use Startup Repair?
If you have a Windows Vista installation disc, you need to restart (boot) your computer using the installation disc. If you do not restart your computer from the disc, the option to repair your computer will not appear.
If you have a Windows Vista installation disc:
1. Insert the installation disc.
2. Restart your computer.
Click the Start button , click the arrow next to the Lock button, and then click Restart.
3. If prompted, press any key to start Windows from the installation disc.
Note:
If your computer is not configured to start from a CD or DVD, check the information that came with your computer. You may need to change your computer's BIOS settings. For more information, see BIOS: frequently asked questions.
4. Choose your language settings, and then click ,Next.
5. Click Repair your computer.
6. Select the operating system you want to repair, and then click Next.
7. On the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair. Startup Repair might prompt you to make choices as it tries to fix the problem, and if necessary, it might restart your computer as it makes repairs.
If Startup Repair is a preinstalled recovery option on your computer:
1. Remove all floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs from your computer, and then restart your computer.
Click the Start button , click the arrow next to the Lock button, and then click Restart.
2. Do one of the following:
* If your computer has a single operating system installed, press and hold
the F8 key as your computer restarts. You need to press F8 before the Windows
logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you will need to try again by
waiting until the Windows logon prompt appears, and then shutting down and
restarting your computer.
* If your computer has more than one operating system, use the arrow keys
to highlight the operating system you want to repair, and then press & hold F8.
3. On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight Repair your computer, and then press ENTER. (If Repair your computer is not listed as an option, then your computer does not include Startup Repair as a preinstalled recovery option.)
4. Select a keyboard layout, and then click Next.
5. Select a user name and enter the password, and then click OK.
6. On the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair. Startup Repair might prompt you to make choices as it tries to fix the problem and, if necessary, it might restart your computer as it makes repairs.
Are there problems that Startup Repair cannot fix?
Start up Repair cannot fix hardware failures, such as a failing hard disk or incompatible memory, nor does it protect against virus attacks. Startup Repair is not a backup tool, so it cannot help you recover personal files, such as photos or documents. To help protect your computer, back up your system and files regularly. For more information, search for "backup" in Windows Help and Support.
Start up Repair is not designed to fix Windows installation problems. For more information, see Troubleshoot Windows installation problems.
What if Startup Repair can't fix my problem?
If repairs are not successful, you'll see a summary of the problem and links to contact information for support. Your computer manufacturer might include additional assistance information.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Server Recovery Tips
Data disasters will happen. Accepting that reality is the first step in preparing a comprehensive disaster plan. Time is always against an IT team when a disaster strikes, therefore the details of a disaster plan are critical for success.
Here are some suggestions from Ontrack Data Recovery engineers of what not to do when data disasters occur:
1. In a disaster recovery, never restore data to the server that has lost the data - always restore to a separate server or location.
2. In Microsoft Exchange or SQL failures, never try to repair the original Information Store or database files - work on a copy.
3. In a deleted data situation, turn off the machine immediately. Do not shut down Windows - this will prevent the risk of overwritten data.
4. Use a volume defragmenter regularly.
5. If a drive fails on RAID systems, never replace the failed drive with a drive that was part of a previous RAID system - always zero out the replacement drive before using.
6. If a drive is making unusual mechanical noises, turn it off immediately and get assistance.
7. Have a valid backup before making hardware or software changes.
8. Label the drives with their position in a RAID array.
9. Do not run volume repair utilities on suspected bad drives.
10. Do not run defragmenter utilities on suspected bad drives.
11. In a power loss situation with a RAID array, if the file system looks suspicious, or is unmountable, or the data is inaccessible after power is restored, do not run volume repair utilities.
Here are some suggestions from Ontrack Data Recovery engineers of what not to do when data disasters occur:
1. In a disaster recovery, never restore data to the server that has lost the data - always restore to a separate server or location.
2. In Microsoft Exchange or SQL failures, never try to repair the original Information Store or database files - work on a copy.
3. In a deleted data situation, turn off the machine immediately. Do not shut down Windows - this will prevent the risk of overwritten data.
4. Use a volume defragmenter regularly.
5. If a drive fails on RAID systems, never replace the failed drive with a drive that was part of a previous RAID system - always zero out the replacement drive before using.
6. If a drive is making unusual mechanical noises, turn it off immediately and get assistance.
7. Have a valid backup before making hardware or software changes.
8. Label the drives with their position in a RAID array.
9. Do not run volume repair utilities on suspected bad drives.
10. Do not run defragmenter utilities on suspected bad drives.
11. In a power loss situation with a RAID array, if the file system looks suspicious, or is unmountable, or the data is inaccessible after power is restored, do not run volume repair utilities.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Windows XP and Vista Product Key Recovery
Run regedit. Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > Software > Microsoft > Windows NT > Current Version.
In the right window, double-click on DigitalProductID. This is the entry that contains the encoded product key.
We want the information in bytes 52 to 66. You can use the chart below for reference. We need the 15 sets of numbers where the 1’s are located.
0000 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..
0008 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..
0010 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..
0018 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..
0020 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..
0028 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..
0030 00 00 00 00 11 11 11 11 ..
0038 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 ..
0040 11 11 11 00 00 00 00 00 ..
0048 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..
0050 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..
Now that you have the 15 byte encrypted code, you can type it into my decrypter tool without spaces:
Web-based version
Windows XP/Vista Key Decrypter Tool
Download stand-alone version (exe)
Windows XP/Vista Key Decrypter Tool
Just click ‘Decrypt Code‘ and you will have your 25 digit Windows XP/Vista product key!
In the right window, double-click on DigitalProductID. This is the entry that contains the encoded product key.
We want the information in bytes 52 to 66. You can use the chart below for reference. We need the 15 sets of numbers where the 1’s are located.
0000 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..
0008 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..
0010 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..
0018 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..
0020 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..
0028 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..
0030 00 00 00 00 11 11 11 11 ..
0038 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 ..
0040 11 11 11 00 00 00 00 00 ..
0048 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..
0050 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..
Now that you have the 15 byte encrypted code, you can type it into my decrypter tool without spaces:
Web-based version
Windows XP/Vista Key Decrypter Tool
Download stand-alone version (exe)
Windows XP/Vista Key Decrypter Tool
Just click ‘Decrypt Code‘ and you will have your 25 digit Windows XP/Vista product key!
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