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Thread ID: 135088 2013-09-23 07:45:00 restoring PC pct (16854) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1354184 2013-09-23 07:45:00 Hey, can someone help me... I'm resetting my computer to factory settings. it already has windows 7 on it and I want to overwrite it, and have just the one OS

Which option do I choose?

Select the appropriate option below

Recover Windows to first partition only
Recover Windows to entire HD
Recover Windows to entire HD with 2 partition

Thanks :)
pct (16854)
1354185 2013-09-23 08:06:00 Where is it currently installed ? wainuitech (129)
1354186 2013-09-23 08:14:00 not sure, how do I find out??

I want the computer to be "out of the box" settings, so nothing of the old OS...

thx for the reply wainuitech
pct (16854)
1354187 2013-09-23 08:35:00 "generally" the OS will be on the first partition. Double click on my computer, there you will ( or should) see both partitions, one will be the OS (C ) the other depending on if you have anything on it, will be the second partition.

Was the second partition created by yourself or someone else, or did it come with two partitions. ?

What you would find if its a name brand PC ( and depending on what make) there will be at least two hidden partitions, 1 being the recovery partition, the other being a small one of around 100MB ( you normally wont see these as windows cant see them, if its something like a HP there will be a couple of other small ones as well.
wainuitech (129)
1354188 2013-09-23 08:49:00 Thanks! so in my computer, it only shows C drive..., can't see any sign of the other partition

Umm the laptop is second hand so I'm not sure if it came with two partitions or not...I know that it came with vista originally, then they put 7 on it....all their files are still on it, so I'm trying to use the recovery cd to reset it to Vista.

so yeah I'm not sure if about the partitions. It's an ASUS pc...what would you suggest? what could happen if I recover windows to the entire HD?
Thanks again wainuitech :)
pct (16854)
1354189 2013-09-23 08:55:00 If you want it so it is right of the box - then the entire HD. They generally only have one partition (C Drive) or 2 including the Windows 7 hidden systems partition. Those DVDs is not there just a factory restore or something like that. If you are just wiping it, just try both :D Nomad (952)
1354190 2013-09-23 09:06:00 Hmmmmm OK call it a caution -- It depends on whats been done in the past. Sometimes people do weird things.

If you are using a recovery CD set, when selecting the whole drive it "should" wipe everything, recreate a hidden recovery partition, as well as install the OS.

What you could do is make a backup image of the whole drive first, saved to a USB drive. This is in case something turns pear shaped and you can put it back as is.

To be honest --- What I normally do is save the drivers, wipe the drive clean all partitions, re-install from fresh, BUT you would need the install DVD's to do that.

Normally I would use active@disk Image used it for several years now.. There is another one I been playing with AOMEI Backupper backup-utility.com/download.html (www.backup-utility.com), you can make a bootable CD to boot from to put back the image if required ( used it twice and its worked fine) I used the WinPE version, but you will need to download a sizable file to create it. Have not tried the Linux option for the bootable CD.

Edited:
Personally I'd make a image first, seen it countless times try to do a full recovery from CD/DVD's and one is corrupted - if this happens you're stuffed using them, it will have gone to far to go back, and cant go forward.
wainuitech (129)
1354191 2013-09-23 09:14:00 install DVD -- that would be the recovery DVD would it??

I've got all the cd's from new

recovery dvd asusTEK Computer Inc.
support cd etc
pct (16854)
1354192 2013-09-23 09:39:00 If its a ASUS recovery DVD, then it "should" be OK. Have seen the odd factory recovery DVD set be duds. A recovery DVD will have all the drivers, Original software as well as any Trial programs and generally manufacturing rubbish.

A install DVD will be just the operating system and nothing else. You would still need to download and install Drivers, software etc.
wainuitech (129)
1354193 2013-09-23 09:48:00 your so helpful ! thank you so much! :) pct (16854)
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