7 Backup and recovery

Your computer includes tools provided by the operating system and HP to help you safeguard your information and restore it if ever needed.

This chapter provides information on the following topics:

●Creating a set of recovery discs or a recovery flash drive (HP Recovery Manager software feature)

●Performing a system restore (from the partition, recovery discs, or a recovery flash drive)

●Backing up your information

●Recovering a program or driver

Restore

In the event of hard drive failure, to restore your system to its factory image you will need a set of recovery discs or a recovery flash drive that you can create using HP Recovery Manager. HP recommends that you use this software to create either a set of recovery discs or a recovery flash drive immediately after software setup.

If for some other reason you need to restore your system, this can be achieved using the HP Recovery partition (select models only), without the need for recovery discs or a recovery flash drive. To check for the presence of a recovery partition, click Start, right-click Computer, click Manage, and then click Disk Management. If the recovery partition is present, a Recovery drive is listed in the window.

CAUTION: HP Recovery Manager (partition or discs/flash drive) restores only software that was preinstalled at the factory. Software not provided with this computer must be reinstalled manually.

NOTE: Recovery discs have been included if your computer does not have a recovery partition.

Creating restore media

HP recommends that you create either a set of recovery discs or a recovery flash drive to be sure that you can restore your computer to its original factory state if the hard drive fails, or if for any reason you cannot restore using the recovery partition tools. Create these discs or the flash drive after setting up the computer for the first time.

NOTE: HP Recovery Manager allows the creation of only one set of recovery discs or one recovery flash drive. Handle these discs or flash drive carefully and keep them in a safe place.

NOTE: If your computer does not include an integrated optical drive, you can use an optional external optical drive (purchased separately) to create recovery discs, or you can purchase recovery discs for your computer from the HP Web site. If you use an external optical drive, it must be connected directly to a USB port on the computer, not to a USB port on an external device, such as a USB hub.

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