HP Compaq Presario User manual

Backup and Recovery
User Guide

© Copyright 2007 Hewlett-Packard
Development Company, L.P.
Windows is a U.S. registered trademark of
Microsoft Corporation.
The information contained herein is subject
to change without notice. The only
warranties for HP products and services are
set forth in the express warranty statements
accompanying such products and services.
Nothing herein should be construed as
constituting an additional warranty. HP shall
not be liable for technical or editorial errors
or omissions contained herein.
First Edition: June 2007
Document Part Number: 448223-001

Product notice
This user guide describes features that are common to most models. Some features may not be
available on your computer.
iii

iv Product notice

Table of contents
Recovering system information
Creating recovery discs ........................................................................................................................ 2
Backing up your information ................................................................................................................. 3
When to back up .................................................................................................................. 3
Backup suggestions ............................................................................................................. 3
Using system restore points ................................................................................................ 3
When to create restore points ............................................................................. 3
Create a system restore point ............................................................................. 4
Restore to a previous date and time ................................................................... 4
Performing a recovery .......................................................................................................................... 5
Recovering from the recovery discs .................................................................................... 5
Recovering from the partition on the hard drive ................................................................... 5
Index ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6
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vi

Recovering system information
Tools provided by the operating system and Recovery Manager software are designed to help you with
the following tasks for safeguarding your information and restoring it in case of a system failure:
●Backing up your information regularly to protect your important system files.
●Making a set of recovery discs (Recovery Manager software feature). Recovery discs are used to
start up (boot) your computer and restore the operating system and software programs to factory
settings in case of system failure or instability.
●Creating system restore points (operating system feature). System restore points allow you to
reverse undesirable changes to your computer by restoring the computer to an earlier state.
●Recovering a program or driver (Recovery Manager software feature). This feature helps you
reinstall a program or driver without performing a full system recovery.
●Performing a full system recovery (Recovery Manager software feature). With Recovery Manager,
you can recover your full factory image if you experience system failure or instability. Recovery
Manager works from a dedicated recovery partition on the hard drive or from recovery discs you
create.
1

Creating recovery discs
After setting up the computer for the first time, be sure to create a set of recovery discs of the full factory
image. The recovery discs are used to start up (boot) the computer and recover the operating system
and software to factory settings in case of system instability or failure.
NOTE: Handle these discs carefully and keep them in a safe place. The software allows the creation
of only one set of recovery discs.
Note the following guidelines before creating recovery discs:
●You will need high quality CD-R, DVD-R, DVD-R with double-layer support, DVD+R, or DVD+R
with double-layer support discs (purchased separately).
NOTE: Read-write discs, such as CD-RW, DVD ± RW, and DVD±RW double-layer discs, are not
compatible with the Recovery Manager software.
●The computer must be connected to AC power during this process.
●Only one set of recovery discs can be created per computer.
●Number each disc before inserting it into the computer optical drive.
●If necessary, you can exit the program before you have finished creating the recovery discs. The
next time you open Recovery Manager, you will be prompted to continue the disc creation process.
To create a set of recovery discs:
1. Select Start > All Programs > Recovery Manager > Recovery Manager.
Recovery Manager opens.
2. Click Advanced Options.
NOTE: If you are operating the computer on battery power, you will be prompted to connect to
AC power before you can go to the next step.
3. Click Recovery disc creation, and then click Next.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.
2 Recovering system information

Backing up your information
When to back up
●On a regularly scheduled basis
NOTE: Set reminders to back up your information periodically.
●Before the computer is repaired or restored
●Before you add or modify hardware or software
Backup suggestions
●Create a set of recovery discs using Recovery Manager.
●Create system restore points using the Windows® System Restore feature, and periodically copy
them to disc.
●Store personal files in the Documents folder and back up these folders periodically.
●Back up templates stored in their associated programs.
●Save customized settings in a window, toolbar, or menu bar by taking a screen shot of your settings.
The screen shot can be a time saver if you have to reset your preferences.
To copy the screen and paste it into a word-processing document, follow these steps:
a. Display the screen.
b. Copy the screen:
To copy only the active window, press alt+fn+prt sc.
To copy the entire screen, press fn+prt sc.
c. Open a word-processing document, and then select Edit > Paste.
Using system restore points
When you back up your system, you are creating a system restore point. A system restore point allows
you to save and name a snapshot of your hard drive at a specific point in time. You can then recover
back to that point if you want to reverse subsequent changes made to your system.
NOTE: Recovering to an earlier restore point does not affect data files saved or e-mails created since
the last restore point.
You also can create additional restore points to provide increased protection for your system files and
settings.
When to create restore points
●Before you add or extensively modify software or hardware
●Periodically, whenever the system is performing optimally
NOTE: If you revert to a restore point and then change your mind, you can reverse the restoration.
Backing up your information 3

Create a system restore point
1. Select Start > Control Panel > System and Maintenance > System.
2. In the left pane, click System protection.
3. Click the System Protection tab.
4. Under Automatic restore points, select the disk for which you want to create a restore point.
5. Click Create.
The System Protection window opens.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Restore to a previous date and time
To revert to a restore point (created at a previous date and time), when the computer was functioning
optimally, follow these steps:
1. Select Start > Control Panel > System and Maintenance > System.
2. In the left pane, click System protection.
3. Click the System Protection tab.
4. Click the System Restore button, and then click Next.
The System Restore window opens.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions.
4 Recovering system information

Performing a recovery
NOTE: You can only recover files that you have previously backed up. HP recommends that you use
Recovery Manager to create an entire drive backup as soon as you set up your computer.
Recovery Manager software allows you to repair or restore the system if you experience system failure
or instability. Recovery Manager works from recovery discs that you create or from a dedicated recovery
partition on the hard drive.
NOTE: Windows has its own built-in repair features, such as System Restore and driver roll-back
capabilities. If you have not already tried these features, try them before using Recovery Manager.
NOTE: Recovery Manager recovers only software that was preinstalled at the factory. Software not
provided with this computer must be downloaded from the manufacturer's Web site or reinstalled from
the disc provided by the manufacturer.
Recovering from the recovery discs
To restore the system from the recovery discs:
1. Back up all personal files.
2. Insert the first recovery disc into the optical drive and restart the computer.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Recovering from the partition on the hard drive
You can perform a recovery from the partition on the hard drive from either the Start button or f11.
To restore the system from the partition, follow these steps:
1. Access Recovery Manager in either of the following ways:
●Select Start > All Programs > Recovery Manager > Recovery Manager.
–or–
●Restart the computer and press f11 while the “Press <F11> for recovery” message is displayed
on the screen. Then select Recovery Manager.
Recovery Manager opens.
2. Click Advanced Options.
3. Click System recovery, and then click Next.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Performing a recovery 5

Index
B
backup 3
R
recovery discs 2
recovery, system 1, 5
restore points 3
S
software
safeguarding information 1
system recovery 1, 5
system restore points 3
6 Index