•System Restore This Microsoft Windows XP feature allows you to bring your computer configuration back to a previous time when a current software problem may not have existed. The feature does this by creating a “restore point” where it records the PC settings at that time and date. The installation of some software automatically sets a restore point for you, but it is recommended to manually set restore points, especially before installing or downloading additional software. When using Add Programs from the Add or Remove Programs feature under the computer Control Panel, the operating system automatically creates a restore point before it adds the software. If you experience a problem that you think may be due to software on your computer, use System Restore to return the PC to a previous restore point. For more information, type System Restore into the Search box in Help and Support.
•System Recovery Use the HP PC System Recovery program as a last resort to reinstall the software. Perform System Recovery using the hard disk drive partition first; see “System Recovery.” If necessary, next perform System Recovery using the recovery discs and choose Standard Recovery; see “System Recovery Using Recovery Discs.” Finally, if necessary, perform System Recovery using the recovery discs and choose full System Recovery.
Before using the HP PC System Recovery program or the HP Application Recovery program, use System Restore.
NOTE: Your PC hard disk drive contains the System Recovery image in a partition area of the disk drive. The PC does not include recovery discs in the accessory box, but you can make your own recovery CDs or DVDs; see “Creating Recovery CDs/DVDs.”
• Application and Driver Recovery If the problem with the PC seems to be with only one program or one driver, it may be that the application program or the driver program is damaged. You can reinstall individual
When your PC stops working correctly, the Restart, Turn Off Computer, and Driver Rollback methods (described above) may resolve the problem. After you have tried these three methods, if needed, try the remaining actions, using the table that follows as a quick reference.
For the specific PC problem, try the method listed as #1, then #2, and then #3.
| Microsoft | Application | System Recovery |
| Recovery | from the hard disk | |
Problem/Status | System Restore | program | partition |
|
|
|
|
You installed a new | 1 |
|
|
application or device driver |
|
| |
|
|
| |
An application does not work | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|
|
|
|
A device driver does not work |
| 1 | 2 |
|
|
|
|
PC stops responding or does | 1 |
| 2 |
not work |
| ||
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
You replaced the hard disk |
|
|
|
drive or removed the partition |
|
|
|
System Recovery from the recovery CDs/DVDs
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1
Creating Recovery CDs/DVDs
1You can recover (bring back) the operating system and programs that were included on your hard drive just as they were when you bought the computer.
NOTE: A hard disk drive is a disk inside the computer that stores the operating system, programs, and data.
2You recover the operating system and programs directly from your hard drive, where a copy was placed for your convenience.
We call this part of your hard drive the “recovery partition.” The recovery partition takes up some space on your hard drive.
3You can copy the information of this recovery partition onto CDs or DVDs.
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