from 7 to vista

[tismehi]

on my hp compaq 610 laptop vista, 2gb ram, 120gb hdd, centrino, i installed a windows 7 cd i was given this but as i now know this to be an illegimate copy.

so i would like to remove it and go back to the original set up supplied with the machine.

 

i called hp today and they advised me that to use the recovery partition on the hard drive i would need to tap f11.

i have tried this and also tried all other f buttons without any success.

i then went to the hp website and read that i could go to progs, hp, recovery. this is not available on my laptop for some reason.

 

i do not have a restore cd or dvd.

[Match]

OK first if you still have Win 7 Installed you need to check the recovery partition is still intact.

 

Start\Control Panel\System and Security\Administrative Tools, click on Computer management

 

Left hand Panel expand Storage, and click on Disk Management

 

:D or click start, in search box type Disk Management and hit return ;)

 

hopefully you should see a partition around 8 to 12G on your Disk.

 

if you don't you need to contact HP and buy a recovery disk, if you do post back ;)

[RandyL]

Is yours a Compaq Presario CQ40-610TU Notebook PC or Compaq Presario CQ40-610TX Notebook PC?

 

Like Match said post back if you need to order the recovery disks. Order options are different depending on what country you live in. Are you in the UK?

[LinkindinkinPark]

HP care takes about 14 days for delivery and £25

 

https://www.best2serve.com/

 

installing a diiferent OS will trash the recovery partition

 

if it hasnt been deleted it won't work cos the boot sector has changed

 

wish people wouldnt hang on to the intact recovery partition still working after OS install - not a chance

[tismehi]

i can't see any reference on the bottom of the laptop if it is a 610tx or 610tu.

i'm uk based.

i also do not think it is a presario either as nowhere does it state that name.

 

on control panel i can find system but no sign of system and security and admin tasks, therefore i am unable to develop this avenue.

 

in my computer there is a section "d" with 1.2gb free of 10gb. this is called hp recovery.

[Match]

OK so it sounds like the partition is still there so as Linkindinkinpark said it sounds like the Win 7 install just re wrote the boot files, and luckily didn't just remove the partition.

 

But this doesn't mean it hasn't corrupted the information in the partition, so

 

Hopefully you read the user guide and made a set of recovery disks

 

i do not have a restore cd or dvd.

 

or maybe not. so that means were left with

 

HP care takes about 14 days for delivery and £25

 

or you could find out if they will supply you with a Win 7 copy that's if you like it.

[RandyL]

If the partition is the Vista recovery partition then you may be able to reinstall Vista. Try tapping F11 or F10 in some rare cases at startup and you may be presented with various options including a complete recovery.

 

If not then you will need a set of recovery disks but they do need to be the right ones for your model.

 

To order if you are in the UK go to https://www.best2serve.com/sales/declare_rcd.php?part=&lc=en&cc=uk which is on the best2serve site that LinkindinkinPark posted.

 

You will need to enter your product code/model.

 

To determine your model go to Control Panel>System or download Belarc Advisor.

[tismehi]

thanks all.

 

i have previously tried tapping all the f keys, no result.

 

i might try buying a licenced copy of 7 or ordering the recovery disk.

 

thanks again.

[tismehi]

i finally made a dec ision today to go back to vista. so i called hp direct and placed an order for a recovery dvd. they did not ask for any payment so hopefully all will end well and free.