Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Recovery disks; what are they and how do you make one?

Feb 5, 2005 8:42PM PST

I was speaking to a sales rep the other night with HP Shopping.com about customizing a new desktop PC and I was told to ask HP if any of their new desktop PC's came with recovery disks.

The HP rep who happened to be located in Canada so he told me said no; none of their desktop PC's came with a recovery disk; I'd have to make one. What are recovery disks and is this something that other computer manufacturers are also leaving out of their PC boxes as well? Comments anyone.


Big Steve
End Of Message
02/06/05

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Current HP...
Feb 5, 2005 8:57PM PST

It offers it when you first boot the machine. Later, it's under a menu item.

Bob

- Collapse -
What are recovery disks?
Feb 6, 2005 5:43AM PST

Bob:

Thanks for the reply. Did I post my question in the wrong forum? If I did which forum should I post in to get more information?


Big Steve
End Of Reply
02/06/05

- Collapse -
No. But you may have asked something ...
Feb 6, 2005 5:48AM PST

That you can find on your own. I don't duplicate common web content. Here's an example Google:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=What+are+recovery+disks%

While not every article on the page is applicable, I do see a few that would tell what a recover disk would do.

Here's another thought -> Why do business with a company that will not offer an answer to your questions? Today's retailers are getting a free ride on the consumer's backs. Make them work for your business.

Bob

- Collapse -
Recovery Disks
Feb 6, 2005 5:57AM PST

Recovery Disks are a set of (or possibly one) floppy disk that you create, that you may later use in an emergency to boot up from. If your hard drive or operating system has an issue and won't boot up the PC, you may be able to boot from the Recovery Disks. Anti-virus applications such as McAfee and Norton also have a utility to create a "rescue disk" to boot from if you PC is seriously infected.

The disks contain sort of an image at a given point in time and provide you very basic (only) utilities to get your PC booted up to a minimal point - where you can then diagnose / work on the problem.

The're nice to have in an emergency.

- Collapse -
Recovery disks
Feb 6, 2005 9:03AM PST

HP computers have the system recovery program on the hard drive is why they dont come with a disk. I just got a new Hp pc and it came with a program to create a rescue disk. I have'nt had to use it but I think it's a nice addition. The new one has the system recovery on the hard disk also, btw. I bought a used emachines and i wish it had the recovery thing on the HDD. I had to use a credit card to get the disk from them, cost me 20 bucks. O well, live and learn......

- Collapse -
Recovery disks; what are they and how do you make one?
Feb 6, 2005 5:19PM PST

Crazeebob:

Which HP PC did you buy recently? I'm looking at configuring an a815n or it may be an a815y; it's the one with the P4 processor. Thanks for your comments.

Big Steve
End Of Reply
02/07/05

- Collapse -
My HP
Feb 10, 2005 8:50PM PST

is pavilion a705w, it has a celeronD processor which runs at 2.93 gigs 256 ram and a 40 gig HDD, i got it at wal mart for 520 bucks total and i love the thing. I play the diablo2 expansion game on ut and it works great.

- Collapse -
Forgot,
Feb 10, 2005 8:55PM PST

I ran the belarc advisor just to see what ot said, it called my celeronD processor a pentium4, it was fooled somehow.

- Collapse -
Need recovery disks
Apr 13, 2005 4:23AM PDT

I recently bought an eMachines laptop M5414 at Best Buy. I didn't make the recovery disks immediately as suggested. Then, XP hangs. I have installed XP professional. Now, I need all the drivers. I went back to Best Buy, they asked for $90+tax for that. So, I didn't do it there. I ordered the recovery disks from eMachines (which costs reasonably $20) last saturday. However, they say it's out-of-stock, and it may take a while to get it.

So, I wonder if you can help me out. EMachines customer support couldn't tell me which kind of the integreted network card and wireless cards are in the machine. So, I don't know what driver I can take. I guess if I know the manufacture name and the model number, I could download the driver from the Internet. I'm not sure if they are same if your model is different to mine (M5414).

Thank you very much in advance.

- Collapse -
The discussion is how to make them.
Apr 13, 2005 4:35AM PDT

Your post seems to be something else.

You deserve your very own discussion.

Bob

- Collapse -
M5414 recovery discs
May 12, 2005 3:24PM PDT
- Collapse -
Sony
Feb 9, 2005 1:48PM PST

My VAIO didn't come with a recovery kit, but there were instructions on how to make one, which I did -- one CD and one DVD. Great way to test those burners, at any rate. I have subsequently splurged a bit and invested $17 o the recovery "kit" from sony, which arrived today. Same thing, just "official" and really nicely packaged, with directions on the back of the jewel box.

- Collapse -
Here is a place to a look at......
Feb 11, 2005 3:39AM PST
- Collapse -
We have Recov disk set for HP a705w
Jun 4, 2010 2:42AM PDT

contact us here