5.- System recovery and recovery discs
Please consult the sections below in order to know what the system recovery implies and the different methods to complete it:
What does a system recovery mean?
It is the process used to reinstall all the software in the computer, leaving the same operating system and software configuration that the unit had at the time of purchase.
It implies the following steps:
- Formatting hard disk
: Deletes/erases the computer current entire content and prepares the disc in order to install a new copy of the operating system.
- Operating system installation
: Installs a new copy of the operating system on the hard drive.
- Drivers installation
: Installs the drivers of the various computer devices so that the operating system can access them and make them work properly.
- Installing programs
: Installs the computer programs that were originally installed on your PC at the time of purchase.
Computers shipped with a set of recovery discs
Mostly for HP Pavilion and Compaq Presario notebooks manufactured before 2001.
The computer may have several discs with the legend Quick Restore CD or Recovery CD
. These discs could also be numbered in order to know the order of use.
| NOTE: | These computers might come with a Operating system CD
not to be used in this process. |
Do as follows:
Insert the CD Quick Restore number 1
or the Recovery CD
into your computer.
Plug in the power adapter and disconnect the rest of peripherals.
Turn the computer off and turn it on again. Follow the instructions on the screen.
Additional recovery information can be found in the following documents:
Computers shipped with an operating system disc and drivers/applications discs
Most HP Pavilion and Compaq Presario notebook PCs manufactured between 2001 and 2005 are shipped with an Operating System Disc (OSD) that contains a full version of the Windows XP operating system.
Please perform the following steps:
The computer could have a disc, CD or a DVD, with the legend Operating System CD
together with a DVD or CD with the drivers and applications
that were pre-installed on the computer.
Insert the disc labeled Operating system CD
into your computer
Plug in the power adapter and disconnect the rest of peripherals.
Turn the computer off and turn it on again. Press any key when prompted on the screen.
When the installation program boots, press ENTER
.
Press F8
on the licensing contract screen to accept it.
Press ESC
in order not to repair and continue with a new installation.
Press ENTER
to select the partition.
Press C
to confirm the partition election.
Select Format the partition using the NTFS file system (fast)
and press ENTER
.
A warning screen will inform you that the formatting will cause the loss of every file on the partition. Press F
to begin the installation.
When the installation is complete, the computer will reboot and enter into Windows.
From the Windows desktop, insert the Driver Recovery CD or the Drivers and Applications DVD
and follow the instructions on the screen to restore the rest of the software.
Computers with partition recovery (No discs shipped)
For HP Pavilion and Compaq Presario notebooks manufactured in 2006 or later.
There will not be any disc shipped with your computer, because the files needed to make the system recovery are already contained in your computer hard drive.
In order to create the recovery discs, reinstall any system device driver, install any application or leave the computer in its original configuration, see
PC recovery solution
Computers with Windows Vista pre-installed
To perform a system recovery or create recovery discs on a HP Pavilion or Compaq Presario models with Windows Vista pre-installed, follow the instructions contained in these documents:
Ordering a recovery disc set
The processor type information (32/64 bit) can be important when ordering recovery discs for models that are CTO (Configured To Order, sold on HP Shopping or in a retail store kiosk). To find it, do one or more of the following:
Click Start
, Help and Support
, and then, click System Information
in the HP Help and Support window.
Press the fn
and esc
keys at the same time to open the System Information window.
Click Advanced
to open a detailed view of the System Information window. The type of processor displays next to the text, "System Type".
Each HP PC model comes with a specific operating system installed. Therefore, it is not possible to order a recovery disc from HP for a different operating system. Please use the following charts to determine and facilitate your CD ordering option:
| OS originally installed in your PC and CD ordering option recommended |
|---|
XP
PC is not Vista-capable | Order the XP recovery disc set. Do not upgrade to Vista
. |
XP
PC is Vista-capable
Ready to upgrade to Vista | Order the XP recovery disc set or create a set of XP recovery discs using Recovery Manager
before attempting to upgrade to Vista. |
XP
Vista upgrade failed | Order an XP recovery disc set. |
XP
Successfully upgraded to Vista | Order an XP recovery disc set. Not eligible for Vista. Use the Windows Backup and Restore Center
to back up all of the Windows-recommended files. |
| Vista | Order a Vista recovery disc set or create a set of Vista recovery discs using Recovery Manager
. |
Vista
Downgraded to XP but there are no drivers available | Order the Vista recovery disc set. HP does not support downgrading Vista PCs to a different OS
. |
Blue screen error message pops up when trying to install recovery CDs from HP
This is usually due to faulty ram or hard drive. Therefore, HP recommends to perform both the hard drive test and the memory test within the BIOS setup. Please do as follows:
Immediately after switching on the unit, start tapping the F10
key, under Boot options
, select Safe mode
and enter the BIOS setup
.
Look for Diagnostics
and press the Enter
key, then press on Primary hard drive test
and select Extended hard drive self test
. Remember to note the results of the test. Usually a fail with error message or pass with no faults is found.
If it passes, then do the Memory test
under Diagnostics
in the BIOS.
6.- Notebook turns on without display and makes beeping noises
Please perform these steps in order to solve this issue:
Remove battery and disconnect all USB devices or any other hardware connected.
Remove the memory module following these steps:
Locate the memory module cover on the bottom of the notebook.
Remove the screw that covers the memory module.
Use your finger or a flat head screw driver to lift the inside edge of the memory module and remove it.
Then, insert again the memory module into the slot at a 45-degree angle until it is seated. If the notebook starts up normally to the Windows desktop, no further action is needed.
8.- Notebook freezes up and is very slow
This incidence occurs when:
Nothing moves or blinks on the computer display.
The computer will not respond to the mouse or keyboard.
An error message appears and does not go away.
Freezes, crashes or lock-ups may be caused by programs locking up resources, software conflicts, or older programs being incompatible with newer operating systems.
Please perform the steps in the following sections until your issue is resolved:
Safe mode test
Shut the unit down.
Immediately start pressing F8
on start up and select Safe mode
under boot options.
If the unit still freezes up in safe mode, HP recommends to perform both the hard drive test and the memory test within the BIOS setup.
Switch the unit off. On start up, start tapping the F10
key, under Boot options
, select Safe mode
and enter the BIOS setup
Look for Diagnostics
and press the Enter
key, then press on Primary hard drive test
and select Extended hard drive self test
. Remember to note the results of the test. Usually a fail with error message or pass with no faults is found.
If it passes, then do the Memory test
under Diagnostics
in the BIOS.
Closing locked-up programs and locating the software conflict
Follow the steps below to close locked-up programs and locate the software conflict:
Close the program that is "Not responding" and determine if the lock-ups continue.
If the lock-ups no longer occur after the program is closed, go to the next section.
If the lockups continue, press Ctrl
+ Alt
+ Delete
to go back to the Task Manager
.
Write down all of the programs that are running when the lock-up occurs. The conflict could have originated by another software application that is running at the same time.
Close other programs that are running one at a time, except for Explorer
and Systray
, and determine if the lockups continue. Once you find the problematic software application, go to the next section.
Uninstalling and re-installing the problematic software
To resolve the problem that is causing the notebook to lock-up, uninstall the suspected software and then re-install it. Follow the steps below:
Click Start
, Control Panel
and Uninstall a program
.
Select the program that is causing the lockups and right-click it. Then select Uninstall
.
After removing the problem programs, close the Control Panel
and restart the computer.
Re-install the program following the vendor's instructions.
If the computer continues to lockup even after re-installing the program, continue to the next section.
Understanding backwards compatibility issues
Most programs that were written for Windows XP will also work with Windows Vista, but some older programs might run poorly, or not at all. Always make sure that your software has the latest patches and updates installed (most software vendors provide updates on their website) before running your programs in Windows Vista.
Microsoft provides two utilities to improve compatibility of older programs with newer operating systems:
The Program Compatibility Assistant
automatically launches itself after running and exiting an older program - assuming it finds a problem.
The Program Compatibility Wizard
to emulate the behavior of earlier versions of Windows, allowing the program to run correctly.
If all the latest updates are installed, and even the Program Compatibility Wizard
does not allow your software to run in emulated mode, you may need to buy a new, updated copy of the software, specifically designed to operate with Windows Vista. Please contact the vendor of your software for more details.
Changing the operating system emulation with the Program Compatibility Wizard
To launch the Program Compatibility Wizard
to allow Vista to emulate a previous version of Windows to run a program that was not designed for Vista, follow the steps below:
Click Start
, Control Panel
and Programs
.
Under Programs and Features
, select Use an older program with this version of Windows
.
Follow the directions in the wizard and select which version of Windows from the list provided you want Vista to emulate in order to enable your software to function correctly.
The program is now set to run in Compatibility mode
.
10.- Wireless connection does not work
I cannot connect to Internet using the wireless connection
Please follow the steps below to solve this incidence:
Make sure that the device is listed in the Device manager
:
Check that the wireless LED is blue/green or orange/amber and ensure the switch is on.
If the LED is orange/amber, have a look in the Device manager
to see if the wireless card is listed under network adapters.
Click Start
, enter Device
into the search field, and then select Device manager
from the list when it becomes available.
Right-click the device wanted, and then click Properties
.
Click the General
tab to view the device status.
Load default BIOS settings:
Check the BIOS setup settings as some models have the option to disable the WLAN card in the BIOS settings.
After the notebook has been shut down, start it up while tapping the F10
key.
This allows entering your notebook BIOS setup
screen.
Load the BIOS setup defaults by pressing the F9
key and selecting yes
.
| NOTE: | Loading the BIOS setup default values usually takes care of this since the WLAN card should be enabled by default. |
If the same issue still persists, please proceed with the next step.
Reinstall drivers:
If your notebook has Vista operating system, type Recovery
in the search box, then press the Enter
key.
A pop up box will appear, click Allow
, Advanced options
and select the Hardware driver re-installation
.
Click Next
until the Select a driver to install
pop up box appears.
Search for the driver in the list and click Install
. After that, please restart the computer.
If having access to the internet via Ethernet connection, please download the wireless driver from your country HP website.
The notebook wireless LED light is blue but only the Bluetooth connection works
Please follow the steps below to solve this incidence:
Uninstall HP wireless assistant software:
If your notebook has Vista operating system, click Start
, Control panel (classic view)
, Programs and features
and look for the HP wireless assistant
and uninstall it.
Type Recovery
in search box, then press the Enter
key.
A pop up box will appear, click Allow
, Advanced options
and select the Program re-installation
.
Click Next
until the Select software to re-install
pop up box appears.
Select HP wireless assistant
and install it. After that, you may be prompted to restart the computer.
If this does not work, please proceed with the next step.
Type Recovery
in search box, then press the Enter
key.
A pop up box will appear, click Allow
, Advanced options
and select the Hardware re-installation
.
Click Next
until the Select a driver to install
pop up box appears.
Search for the driver in the list and click Install
. After that, please restart the computer.
If the steps or the link above do not work, your wireless network card may need to be replaced.
11.- DVD/CD-Rom troubleshooting
My notebook DVD/CD-Rom drive does not eject
Please perform the steps below in order to solve this issue:
Make sure the optical drive is detected:
Click Start
, then type Device manager
in the search box and press the Enter
key.
Click Continue
, click the +
sign next to DVD/CD-Rom drive and the driver should be displayed below it.
Uninstall the driver and then right-click it to scan for hardware changes. This will re-install the driver again.
Restart the computer and then, eject to test issue.
If the door still does not open, restart the computer and press the Eject
button on the front of the drive when the first screen appears (before Windows launches).
Open the drive manually:
Close all programs and shut down the computer.
Unplug the PC from the power outlet and remove the battery.
Locate the manual release hole in the front faceplate of the optical drive tray. This is a small hole under the door that is a little bigger than the diameter of a paper clip. The location of the manual eject hole will vary.
Insert a straightened paperclip into the manual release hole until resistance is felt.
Once the resistance is felt, keep pushing the paper clip until the drawer comes out about a quarter of an inch.
Remove the CD and turn on the computer.
My notebook DVD/CD-Rom drive does not read any media
This issue might be due to errors in the recording software, driver errors, shortages of resources, incompatibilities, hardware failures, etc...
Software conflicts
: Several CD/DVD programs may be installed on your PC. Sometimes, this could cause a conflict between them and a malfunction of the recording unit. Try uninstalling the latest CD/DVD software installed on your PC.
Speed
: If your CD-DVD Writer burns recordable discs correctly but does not recognize the rewritable ones, check the speed of the rewritable discs used. CD-DVD Writers only accept rewritable discs whose rewrite speed is equal to or less than the maximum speed of the re-recorder. If it higher, the disc will not be recognized and burnt.
Format
: If your CD-DVD Writer does not recognize a DVD (recordable or rewritable), check its format. Some HP Pavilion or Compaq Presario CD-DVD Writer models that are not dual, only recognize DVD + R and DVD + RW, DVD-R but not DVD-RW. Anyway, check the specifications of your CD-DVD Writer before buying a particular type of disc.
The next troubleshooting is used to solve the most common problems experienced by CD-DVD Writers:
| Windows XP | Windows Vista |
|---|
Click Start
. Right-click My Computer
. Click Properties
. A new screen will open. Locate the Hardware
tab. Click the Device manager
tab. A new screen will open . Look for the DVD/CD-Rom drive
, click the +
sign and right-click it to uninstall the driver below. While still in Device manager
, locate the IDE ATA/ATAPI CONTROLLERS
. Click the +
sign to Uninstall
all Primary
and Secondary IDE CHANNELS Restart the computer.
| Click Start
. Right-click My Computer
. Click Properties
. A new screen will open. Locate the Device manager
tab. Look for the DVD/CD-Rom drive
, click the +
sign and right-click it to uninstall the driver below. While still in Device manager
, locate the IDE ATA/ATAPI CONTROLLERS
. Click the +
sign to Uninstall
all ATA Channels 0
and ATA Channels 1 Restart the computer.
|
12.- Fixing AC adaptor and battery issues
HP Limited Warranty Service Enhancement
Your HP Pavilion dv2000/dv6000/dv9000 or Compaq Presario V3000/V6000 series notebook PC is not powering on. Although it is out of warranty, your country HP site shows that it is on warranty. For more information please check,
HP limited warranty service enhancement
The power adaptor does not seem to power my notebook
Perform one or more of the following tasks to check the operation of the AC power adapter:
Connect the output cord from the AC adapter to the notebook and plug the power cord into a working electrical outlet.
See if there is any led activity where the power adapter is plugged in.
Feel if there is any heat coming from the adapter as an indication that there is electrical current going into the unit.
Check the Power
icon in the system tray:
If the Power
icon resembles a power cord, the AC adapter is operating properly.
If the Power
resembles a battery when the AC adapter is connected, the AC adapter is defective.
Check if the AC power adapter can operate the notebook when the battery is removed
:
Turn off the notebook.
Remove the battery.
Connect the AC power adapter and press the Power
button to start the notebook.
If the notebook does not start and operate normally, the AC adapter is defective and must be replaced.
If the notebook starts and operates normally, the AC adapter is working properly.
Why does my battery only last 10 minutes even though it was fully charged?
First, make sure the battery is properly inserted into the unit and everything is plugged in. Leave the battery charging for about ninety minutes.
Then, determine the battery status by using the HP Battery Health Check
tool:
Click Start
, All Programs
, Hewlett-Packard
and HP Battery Check
.
After running the tool, it will display one of the following messages:
Good
: The battery health is good.
Replace
: The cells of the battery are damaged and need to be replaced. If still in the first year warranty, the battery can be replaced. Otherwise, a new battery needs to be purchased.
Invalid
: The battery is not installed correctly or the power adapter is not connected.
