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General discussion

extract XP from recovery partition

by johndoesniper Aug 1, 2007 4:25PM PDT

I got a HP a year or two ago and it doesnt have any recovery CD's but a recovery partition on the hard drive. Everytime I recover my system it recovers the OS with all of the junk trial software. I'm just wondering if there is anyway to extract just XP from that partition so that next time I have to recover I don't have to spend hours uninstalling and deleting all that junk. That partition is filled up with over 6gb of of stuff...XP fits on a cingle CD so you can imagine how much crap I have to put up with.

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8 Posts
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Not really
by MarkFlax Former Forum moderator Aug 1, 2007 8:18PM PDT

That partition is not something you can easily access and edit.

Perhaps a call to HP for a replacement disk would help. They would charge, but the cost would be minimal compared to buying retail.

However I wonder why you need to recover your system so often. I've had mine for over 4 years now and have never had to do so. Is there something you're doing, or not doing, that is different from me?

Mark

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One option...
by John.Wilkinson Aug 2, 2007 1:41AM PDT

The recovery disks from HP include all of the bundled software as well, and there's no way of stripping the recovery partition's contents down to the base OS without destroying the recovery system. However, PC Decrapifier can make the process of removing the extra junk a bit easier, automating part of the process.

Hope this helps,
John

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enticing but not good enough.....
by johndoesniper Aug 2, 2007 8:55AM PDT

Decrapifier sounds enticing but it just isn't good enough. I really would much rather have a clean OS install. At this point I'm just being stubborn and I can admit to that.
Anyway, I don't think you really have to mess with that partition of your hard drive. I mean it's only a little over 6gb with an actual 3gb of data (even tho it shows 6.06gb used space, the actual data is 3 and some change gb). Trust me, last thing I want to do is to screw up that partition because I recover my system frequently (I like the feeling of a fresh PC...slight case of OCD).
Anyways, I copied the partition as is onto my main partition so I can mess around with it and I have managed to browse the files in it using a utility that comes with Advanced System Optimizer. It lets me copy individual files and folders out of that one locked file that keeps all of them but the copied files are also locked. There is a i386 folder in there and I know that that is the windows install folder. I really do believe that theres a way to get those files out I just don't know how and i haven't been able to find any useful info online yet but I haven't searched around thoroughly yet. If you guys have any more ideas, let me know...otherwise I'll let you know how things turn out.

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You can indeed reverse ...
by Edward ODaniel Aug 3, 2007 11:21AM PDT

engineer the HP recovery but that is illegal and potentially "disasterous" if you don't understand EVERYTHING you are doing including the scripting.

A legitimate and legal method to arrive at the result you desire is to purchase a copy of Acronis True Image ( http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/ ). After performing a normal HP system recovery you remove everything you don't want and install anything additional you do want (such as Service Packs, patches, updates, etc.) then you install True Image.

After the installation of True Image you simply allow it to create a hidden recovery partition from which you can recover to your preferred installation.

The second legal and legitimate method is of course to purchase an XP installation CD and after ensuring you have all your necessary drivers (DriverGuide Took Kit ( http://www.driverguidetoolkit.com/ ) is one method and another is Driver Genius ( http://www.driver-soft.com/drivergenius.html ) you simply install XP, then any applications and then either image the result to DVD or repeat as necessary.

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Cutting your hours down to minutes.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Aug 2, 2007 1:37AM PDT
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got the files...
by johndoesniper Aug 2, 2007 11:10AM PDT

I extracted all the files by browsing that partition with WinNc.Net. Copied everything without a problem and now I have access to all the files but I'm ont sure how to seperate the crap from windows. Also, this is Windows Media Center Edition and I'd actually like to keep Media Center too. If anyone knows what I need and what I don't need, then please let me know and help me out on this. Your help is greatly appreciated.

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Type this into GOOGLE.COM
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Aug 2, 2007 11:56AM PDT

HOW TO CREATE A XP CD FROM YOUR RESTORE PARTITION

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Use NLite to build clean WinXP disc from recovery partition
by Whiznot Aug 6, 2007 7:25PM PDT

You can use the free NLite to build a clean WinXP CD from a recovery partition. Install NLite. Burn recovery disks from the recovery partition. Find the i386 folder on the recovery disks and browse to this folder when NLite runs. Installation files will be extracted and NLite will then create a bootable ISO file. Finish by burning the image file.

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