Windows 7 Recovery Files for a Netbook Computer

ISSUE: Recovery of my Windows 7 OS on an HP Mini 311 Netbook.

BACKGROUND: New netbook not even 2 weeks old. Unfortunately, with the Holidays, I did not have a chance to perform any type of Recovery Backup Files for this.
In the process of looking over my new netbook and the preinstalled applications, I saw a 60 Day Trial of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 and knew I did not need this since my Office 2000 works wonderful.
Decided to ?Uninstall? the following through the Control Panel Add/Remove Programs:
* Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
* Microsoft Office Powerpoint 2007
* Microsoft Office Application Assistant (I think that is what it was).
* Microsoft Office Compatibility Program (install date was after I received the netbook, so this must have been downloaded as a patch or upgrade).
Received message to restart computer after the first uninstall and I elected to restart later so I could finish with the other programs.

I rebooted the computer and the only thing that reappeared on my screen was the HP blue and white circle logo in the middle of the screen along with a message in the lower left corner which read ?Press the ESC key for Startup Menu?. I tried to press the ESC key and nothing happened.

I rebooted and tapped on the F8 key and received the same screen logo and message as above. I tried this several times and continued to get the same outcome.

Then I rebooted and tapped on the F10 key and received the same screen logo and the message this time read ?F10?BIOS Setup Options?. If I stop tapping when I receive this message it stays stuck on the ?F10?BIOS? message. If I continue to tap on F10 while it is on the ?F10?BIOS? message the entire screen goes black and there is nothing except the hum of the machine.

As a last resort, I rebooted and tapped on the F11 key and received the HP blue and white circle logo in the middle of the screen along with a message in the lower left corner which read ?Press the ESC key for Startup Menu?. Then the message changed briefly to ?F11?System Recovery? and then the screen goes black and there is only the hum of the machine.

Obviously something critical was removed in my ?Uninstall? process and now I am in trouble. I called HP support and we went through the entire process above and they said they would need to send me the Windows 7 Recovery DVDs for me to fix this. They also wanted me to purchase an external optical DVD Drive from them so I could install this (normally priced at $170, but if you buy now it is available for $99 ? a $70 savings). I did not buy the external drive and have been searching for ways to get this program onto my netbook once I receive the DVDs. Which I am not sure how long that is going to take to get those. I feel like I should be doing something during this ?lost? time. I also don?t like the fact that you buy a new computer and you don?t get a copy of the software installed on it. When did this all change?

I would really like to create my own boot (either to a USB flash drive or an external hard drive) and be done with this, but I don?t think I know enough to feel confident about doing this just yet. Based on what I've been reading, I am not familiar with partitions and ISO burning, etc. I'm sure I would need to create this on my desktop computer (which runs XP) and there are risks if I do it wrong. I do not need two computers out of commission. But then again depending on how long I have to wait to get the DVDs and the response I receive on this forum maybe it might be better for me to download/burn the recovery files and create this myself. By the time I receive the DVDs I might have just as much work to do to get this over to another format as I would in just downloading it from scratch. Again I will wait until I receive a response on this forum.

QUESTIONS: I want to avoid buying something I really don?t need.
* Can anyone offer any suggestions on what I should do?
* How do I transfer the recovery files on the DVDs to an external hard drive and plug that into my netbook to fix this? I have an existing drive with backup information on it and 55GB of free space.
* Can this be done on a USB Thumb/Flash/Jump Drive? What size drive do I need?
* Do you think I will need the full Windows 7 Operating System Software to reinstall to my netbook? If so, I don?t think that is what they are sending me.
* Can I request to receive a copy of the OS software from the manufacture so I will have it?
*Do you think I should just bite the bullet and buy a drive and have HP coach me through this? If so, can you recommend an affordable external dvd drive?

I appreciate any help. Thank you very much.
Lisa

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I missed one thing.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jan 2, 2010 2:36PM PST

Why not use some USB DVDRW drive? I know some think it is optional but when a netbook fails that is what is used to restore it. I've watched a tech spend 2 weeks trying to get around that then I loaned him my drive and it was restored in the next hour.

These are very cheap like newegg.com or geeks.com http://www.geeks.com/products_sc.asp?cat=348

I take it that time is plentiful? Hope you find a way besides the external and share it with us.
Bob

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Since you loaned it to the Tech, can I now borrow the Drive?

by HPMini311 Jan 3, 2010 1:04PM PST

Thanks for your reply Bob!

I head back to work tomorrow after being off for the past 10 days. It was really nice having the time off, but I still didn't get everything accomplished like I wanted to. Unfortunately time is not as plentiful now that I am back to reality.

I checked the link you provided and saw these Drives can run about $40. I also called Best Buy in town to see if I needed a fancy external hard drive with the capability to burn DVDs and he said with what I need to do, that would not be necessary. He said they have external DVD drives at their store for $60. Like I said before, I really don't want to put any more money into this. I have too many gadgets sitting around here collecting dust because they were one time use items.

I have decided to ask around at work this week and see if anyone has an external dvd drive that I can borrow for a few days. I will let you know how it turns out.

Lisa

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Do you have any drives at all?

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jan 3, 2010 10:22PM PST

Maybe the 10 buck adapter (runs from that to 20) is better if you have drives you can re-cycle. Here's a link -> http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=2020&cpc=SCH

As to loaning I limit that to family so check with yours to see who has one.

I hinted that many felt this was optional when you have a netbook. What many are learning is it isn't. I hope you sort it out with or without and share what your final solution was.
Bob

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While I agree with Bob ...

by Edward ODaniel Jan 4, 2010 4:00AM PST

that you NEED access to an external USB DVD drive (preferably a writable one) you do have an option to make use of a USB flash drive for re-installing the OS.

This link leads you through the process assuming you have access to another computer running Windows Vista or Windows 7 that also has a DVD drive.

Configure a USB flash drive to be a Windows 7 installation platform
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/window-on-windows/?p=1446&tag=leftCol;post-1501

Configure a USB flash drive for Windows 7 installation: Revisited
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/window-on-windows/?p=1501&tag=nl.e132

You could also simply make use of a handy little converter kit that allows you to use ANY IDE or SATA internal drive as an external USB drive -
USB 2.0 to IDE SATA 2.5 3.5 Hard Drive Converter Cables and power supply

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Getting Closer to a Solution

by HPMini311 Jan 4, 2010 3:06PM PST

Thank you both very much for your replies.

Edward - I really liked the articles on how to create a USB flash drive. That was just the type of information I was looking for and I feel confident that I could do something like this. The only draw back is in regards to my Desktop PC only running Windows XP.

The other item is that I would only be looking to create this for the Restore Files and not the full Windows 7 Installation. I don't believe I will be given that software. However, I feel that I should have that full OS software in the event I would ever need to reinstall the Operating System and my Netbook is no longer under warranty. Do I have a right to ask for my own copy of the Windows 7 Operating Software?

Bob & Edward - As a last resort, you both directed me to the purchase of a converter/adapter. I have looked at both of these sites and even googled some other sites to get a better understanding of what this is used for and how it can work for me. I'm having a hard time picturing this. I realize the USB is to be plugged into the Netbook, but I do not know what IDE or SATA is referring to. In looking at the pictures, Is this actually the physical hard drive within the body of the DVD Rom of my Desktop Computer? Where are the disks installed? The pictures I've seen are hard to understand.

In the meantime I did check at work this morning and one of our Marketing guys has a laptop computer with an external Hard Drive which is a DVD Writer as well. It appears to be mounted in a docking station, but he can pop this out and mentioned there is a different sleeve to put it in which would allow me the ability to connect through a USB connection. I am going to find out a little more about it tomorrow. Right now, this is sounding like a pretty good option. I will provide a status update later this week.

Thank you both again for your suggestions and recommendations. This is a nice site and I'm impressed by the response time and assistance I've received.

Lisa

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I feel that I should have that full OS software in the

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jan 4, 2010 9:27PM PST

"I feel that I should have that full OS software in the event I would ever need to reinstall the Operating System and my Netbook is no longer under warranty. Do I have a right to ask for my own copy of the Windows 7 Operating Software?"

You have the right to ask but the answer should be no. Today's OEM systems come with recovery media and reduced rights and features. This is hard for some to accept and they may feel they are entitled to the full RETAIL version and rights. This is a well worn area that those that feel entitled to such don't take well to how this works and what they are entitled to.

As to the adapter it's clear to me how to use such a thing but as you suspect at 10 bucks there won't be tech support.
Bob

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Helpful information incase of reinstall

by TaraS_WinTeam Jan 5, 2010 2:41AM PST

Hello Lisa,

I am sorry for your issues. Here is information on how to install Windows 7 on a netbook: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/installing-windows-7-on-a-netbook. You will either need to download the version or use an external dvd drive to install: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/installing-windows-7-on-a-netbook.

As far as needing to do a system recovery at a later point, a writable dvd drive would come in handy for creating system repair disks and implementing in the case of restoring your computer: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Create-a-system-repair-disc.

Cheers,
Tara

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Disks are on their way - hopefully they are mine to keep.

by HPMini311 Jan 5, 2010 2:55PM PST

Tara,

Thank you for your information. I have a question regarding your 2nd point. If I am to receive the Windows 7 Recovery Files, is there any reason for me to create a system repair disk later on? Isn't this what I am receiving?

I do have another Netbook, however it runs Windows XP and I need it to remain that way due to the fact that I need it primarily to back up a my Palm Centro phone calendar and contact data. My Desktop PC runs Windows XP Multi Media and after spending a great deal of time trying to get an older version of the Palm OS upgraded to Version 6.2.2, I finally found out that the newer version of Palm I needed and the Multi Media version of Windows I was using did not work well together. My solution was to find a laptop running straight Windows XP without paying a lot of Money for this. That is when I discovered the little Netbook and it has worked out great so far.

If I can get Palm Version 6.2.2 to operate with Windows 7, there would be no need for the HP Mini 110. Like I told my 11 year old niece, at that point the Netbook would make a nice doorstop I know she has her eye on this and would like to really have it. If I can get Windows 7 to work out with the Palm Software, she could possibly have her first little computer by her 12th birthday.

The one thing I don't have for this Netbook would be a set of system recovery files. I believe the external DVD drive I plan to borrow has that capability. I want to make sure I have this in place for the other Netbook as well.

Is there any chance you can burn this to a flash drive instead of a DVD?

Thanks for all your help!

Lisa

Once I get this Netbook up and running I will open up another Thread for Palm Software and try to get that issue resolved too. Thanks again! Lisa

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System repair. Good topic on its own.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jan 5, 2010 10:13PM PST

What I'm finding is that some are trying to do system repair using what OEMs are providing. Let's try these scenarios.

1. The OEM supplies recovery media and the owner is trying to repair the OS. This is going to be upsetting to the owner as what we can do with the RETAIL version may not be possible with the OEM supplied restore media.

In this case the answer is no.

2. The OEM supplies OS INSTALL MEDIA which is the OEM version like this one -> http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116762

In this case you get full repair capabilities.

But if you did your research you find out why HP and others don't supply that. Imagine the owner demanding support for what you can do with that version? Even if you tell them up front that software issues are not a warranty item they may not get it.
Bob

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Found solution, no Windows reinstallation

by TheQwerty0 Mar 30, 2010 5:46PM PDT

I can't be certain that your situation is identical to mine, but I was having the exact same problem as you. My HP Mini 3100 would get stuck on the HP logo screen, and exhibited the same exact behavior when I tried the Esc and F-keys.

It has nothing to do with uninstalling any programs. I hadn't installed or uninstalled anything when it happened.

It turned out that the problem only occurred when the USB receiver for my wireless mouse was plugged in during startup. I think it's a Logitech M505, with the nano receiver. I tested it a few times. All the symptoms came back when I plugged it in, including the responses to the F-keys. And when unplugged, all the responses were correct and it starts up fine. Also, you won't encounter any problems if you plug in the receiver when the computer is already running (explaining why I didn't see it more often).

It might be too late to catch the original poster's problem but hopefully this will help anyone who arrived here googling their problem, as I did.

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