This wikiHow article teaches you how to recover an HP laptop. HP computers have an HP Recovery Manager that you can use to recover your computer. Before running a system recovery, create a backup of all the personal files that you want to keep. The recovery process will uninstall all programs and reinstall Windows 10. If Windows cannot start properly, you can recover the system using a recovery media drive.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Without deleting the files
Step 1. Open Start
The Windows Start menu is in the lower lower corner of the taskbar.
Step 2. Click
The Power icon has a circle with a line across the top. It's in the leftmost column of the Windows Start menu.
Step 3. Click Shut Down
You will shut down the computer.
Step 4. Disconnect all cables and devices
This includes USB devices, printers, and external hard drives.
Do not unplug the power cord
Step 5. Turn on the computer
After you have disconnected all cables except the power cable, press the power button to restart the laptop.
Step 6. Click
After Windows has fully started, click the Windows Start menu on the taskbar again.
Step 7. Type HP Recovery Manager
This will show you a list of shows that match your search.
Step 8. Click HP Recovery Manager
This will open the HP Recovery Manager.
- You may be asked to enter the administrator password to continue.
- A user account control window may ask if you want to allow HP Recovery Manager to make changes to the system. Click "OK".
Step 9. Click Windows System Recovery
It's the second option under the 'Help' column on the left. This will start Windows System Recovery.
Step 10. Click Keep my files
The computer will take a few minutes to get things ready.
Step 11. Click Next in the list of programs
This is a list of programs that will be removed in the recovery process. Many of these can be reinstalled from the Windows Store, although some will need to be reinstalled from the internet or installation discs.
Step 12. Click Next on the warning screen
If you recently updated Windows 10, you will not be able to undo the update and go back to the previous version of Windows.
Step 13. Click Restore
This will remove all the applications and programs that are not pre-installed on the laptop. It will reinstall Windows and restore it to its default settings. This process may take a few hours.
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Warning:
Once the recovery process is complete, it cannot be undone. It will permanently restore Windows to its default settings.
Method 2 of 4: Complete System Recovery
Step 1. Click
The Windows Start menu is in the lower lower corner of the taskbar.
Step 2. Click
The Power icon has a circle with a line across the top. It's in the leftmost column of the Windows Start menu.
Step 3. Click Shut Down
You will shut down the computer.
Step 4. Disconnect all cables and devices
This includes USB devices, printers, and external hard drives.
Do not unplug the power cord
Step 5. Turn on the computer
After you've unplugged all devices except the power cord, press the power button to restart the laptop.
Step 6. Click
After Windows has fully started, click the Windows Start menu on the taskbar again.
Step 7. Type HP Recovery Manager
This will show you a list of shows that match your search.
Step 8. Click HP Recovery Manager
This will open the HP Recovery Manager.
- You may be asked to enter the administrator password to continue.
- A user account control window may ask if you want to allow HP Recovery Manager to make changes.
Step 9. Click Windows Recovery Environment
It's the third option under the 'Help' column on the left.
Step 10. Click OK
The computer will restart and start the Windows Recovery Environment.
Step 11. Click Troubleshoot
It is the third option after the computer has booted into the Windows Recovery Environment. It's next to a wrench and screwdriver icon.
Step 12. Click Recovery Manager
It's in the second option on the Troubleshoot menu. It's next to a key icon.
Step 13. Select if you want to back up the files and click "Next"
If you have already backed up the files you want to keep, click the radio button next to "Recover without backing up files." If you haven't backed up your files, use the following instructions:
- Click the radio button next to "Back up files first (recommended) and click" Next. "
- Choose "Automatic Selection" or "User Selection" and click "Next". Automatic selection will automatically choose files for backup by category. User selection will allow you to manually choose the files and folders you want to back up. Click Next when you're done.
- Select the files and folders or categories of files you want to back up and click "Next."
- Insert a flash memory or external USB drive. This will be the drive you will use to back up your files. You can also use a recordable CD or DVD.
- Select the drive you just entered and click "Next."
- Click "Next" to back up the files to your chosen drive.
- Remove the USB drive or disk and click "Next." You will return to the recovery manager. You can click "Recover without backing up files" and click "Next".
Step 14. Click Next on the System Recovery screen
The System Recovery screen tells you about the System Recovery process. It will reformat the drive and restore the laptop to its factory settings. You will see a checklist of the System Recovery process. The checkboxes will be checked automatically as the process completes.
Step 15. Click Continue
It will install any software that came pre-installed on the system and restart the computer. This process may take a while and the computer will restart several times. Once the computer fully restarts, you will have to go through the Windows setup process again.
Method 3 of 4: Create a recovery media drive
Step 1. Click
The Windows Start menu is in the lower left corner of the taskbar.
Step 2. Click
The power icon has a circle with a line across the top. It's in the leftmost column of the Windows Start menu.
Step 3. Click Shut Down
This will shut down the computer.
Step 4. Disconnect all cables and devices
This includes all USB devices, printers, and external hard drives.
Do not unplug the power cord
Step 5. Turn on the computer
After you've unplugged all devices except the power cord, press the power button to restart the laptop.
Step 6. Click
After Windows has fully restarted, click the Windows Start menu on the taskbar again.
Step 7. Type HP Recovery Manager
This will display a list of programs that match the search result.
Step 8. Click HP Recovery Manager
This will open the HP Recovery Manager.
Step 9. Click Create Recovery Media
This is the first option in the second column labeled "Precautions."
Step 10. Click the checkbox
next to "I accept".
This indicates that you accept the agreement that you can only create one recovery media disc.
Step 11. Insert a recordable DVD or flash memory
You will need a flash memory with a minimum of 20 GB or 5 recordable DVDs.
The extra disk space will not be usable after the recovery media is created
Step 12. Click USB Flash Drive or DVD.
If you're using a USB flash drive, click the box with a flash drive image. If you're using a recordable DVD, click the box with a disc image.
Step 13. Click Continue
This will create a recovery media disc. Follow any other instructions you see on the screen.
Method 4 of 4: Restore a recovery media drive
Step 1. Insert the recovery media disc into the disc drive
HP may have provided you with the recovery media disc, or you can create your own in Recovery Manager. If the recovery media is a USB drive, plug it into any available USB port. If it's a CD or DVD, put it in an optical disc drive.
Step 2. Turn off the computer
If you can start Windows, you can shut down the computer using the Windows Start menu. If your computer is unresponsive or won't start Windows, you can turn it off by pressing and holding the power button.
Step 3. Disconnect all cables and devices
This includes all USB devices, printers, and external hard drives.
Do not unplug the power cord
Step 4. Turn on the computer
After you've unplugged all devices except the power cord, press the power button to restart the laptop.
Step 5. Press Esc repeatedly
Doing so immediately after turning on the computer will open the Start menu.
Step 6. Press F9
This will open the boot device options menu.
Step 7. Select the drive with the recovery media
Use the up and down arrows on the keyboard to highlight the drive with the recovery media. Press ↵ Enter to select it.
- If you are using an HP media recovery disc, you will see a black box that says "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD." Press any key to continue. If it does not respond within a few seconds, the computer will restart normally and you will have to start over.
- If there is more than one boot drive available, you may have to guess which drive it is. If the drive you chose does not start recovery or displays an error message, you may need to restart your computer, re-enter the Start menu, and select a different drive.
Step 8. Select a language and click Ok
Once the Recovery Manager opens, you will see a list of languages. Click the radio button next to the language you understand and click "OK."
Step 9. Select "Factory Reset" and click Next
This will take you to the Recovery Manager welcome page.
Step 10. Select if you want to back up the files and click "Next"
If you have already backed up the files you want to keep, click the radio button next to "Recover without backing up files." If you haven't backed up your files, use the following instructions:
- Click the radio button next to "Back up files first (recommended) and click" Next. "
- Choose "Automatic Selection" or "User Selection" and click "Next". Automatic selection will automatically choose files for backup by category. User selection will allow you to manually choose the files and folders you want to back up. Click Next when you're done.
- Select the files and folders or categories of files you want to back up and click "Next."
- Insert a flash memory or external USB drive. This will be the drive you will use to back up your files. You can also use a recordable CD or DVD.
- Choose the drive you want to back up files to on the screen and click "Next."
- Click "Next" to back up the files to the selected drive.
- Remove the USB drive or disk and click "Next." You will return to the recovery manager. You can click "Recover without backing up files" and click "Next".
Step 11. Click Next on the System Recovery screen
The System Recovery screen tells you about the System Recovery process. It will reformat the drive and restore the laptop to its factory settings. You will see a checklist of the System Recovery process. The checkboxes will be checked automatically as the process completes.
Step 12. Click Continue
This will install any software that came pre-installed on the system and restart the computer. This process may take a while and the computer will restart several times. Once the computer fully restarts, you will have to go through the Windows setup process again.
Advice
- If you didn't get a media recovery disc with the HP laptop, make one as soon as possible. Don't wait until the computer fails to start before trying to get the tools to fix it.
- Update Windows immediately after running a system recovery. This will ensure that you have all the latest security patches and updates.
- Install security software (such as antivirus software) and update it before installing any programs or restoring backed up files.
Warnings
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Make a backup copy of all the files you want to keep before running a system recovery.
The recovery process will reinstall Windows and restore all default settings. Any files that are not backed up could be permanently lost during this process.