Have to back up the OS from BIOS upon first switch-on?

happycatuk

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Hey there!

Apols if this has been covered a lot in the forum, but a search baffled my untrained eyes..!

Have just purchased this; HP Pavilion g6-2210sa 15.6" Laptop - Red Deals | Pcworld

Upon hearing that I was up for the challenge of setting it up myself, the sales assistant pointed out that the very first thing I must do is back up the OS (windows 8).

I asked, 'oh, is the OS on a hidden partition?' .. and he said no, its in the BIOS. And I only have one chance to make a back-up copy, as soon as I switch on. Also; if I have software issues after that point, but haven't backed up the OS, I can't claim it under the manufacturer's warranty as an issue.

I believe that the .. key? .. is in the bios now, so I never have to worry about losing it, but apart from that .. egad.

Is there an auto-prompt, or do I need to do a regular ol' back-up .. and where do I back it up to, a separate hard drive/dvd etc?

So. I have this shiny, new, laptop. In it's shiny, new, unopened box, right now. And am starting to wonder if I should have coughed up the £50 to get 'em to set it up for me..!

Advice, please?

Thanks! :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
Welcome to EightForums.

information   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2855-system-repair-disc-create-windows-8-a.html



Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03502680.pdf


HP/Compaq said:
Creating HP Recovery media

HP Recovery Manager is a software program that offers a way to create recovery media after you
successfully set up the computer. HP Recovery media can be used to perform system recovery if the
hard drive becomes corrupted. System recovery reinstalls the original operating system and the
software programs installed at the factory, and then configures the settings for the programs. HP
Recovery media can also be used to customize the system or aid in the replacement of a hard drive.

How to
Performing an HP System Recovery (Windows 8) | HP® Support

? If the HP Recovery media do not work, you can obtain recovery media for your system from the
HP website. For U.S. support, go to Contact HP / Customer Service | HP. For worldwide support, go
to Contact HP Worldwide | HP.
 

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  • OS
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Hi there
in addition to taking the OEM backup why don't you download a decent free disk imaging program and backup all the partitions to a separate ext disk.

Download something like Free Macrium -- then you can boot from a USB and restore partitions if you have to.

The Manufacturers recovery doesn't always work -- but if you take your OWN image backup this should always workj.

I use a paid for piece of software - Acronis 2013 -- works every time and supports UEFI (and protected boot) which HP machines generally have.


(I did give up on Acronis for a time -- ATH 2011 and especially ATH 2012 were unmitigated disasters -- Acronis seem to have got its act together again with ATH 2013).

I recommend in any case a decent backup program --it will save you so much time -- well worth every cent of the 40 or so USD.

If you have trouble booting a stand alone recovery program from a UEFI protected boot -- post again and I'll go through the procedure -- I had this issue when making backups for an HP - Envy laptop before installing W8 Professional on it and removing all the OEM bloat and crapware.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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Hello!

Thanks for such a prompt reply!

A recovery disk is probably what the sales guy meant; certainly, that fits more with my past experiences.

It's very interesting; all your advice is what I expected, but the sales guy's way of describing the process, including the BIOS bit, left me feeling rather vulnerable to problems :(

Will open it up, switch it on, and see what happens shortly!

:)

Welcome to EightForums.

information   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2855-system-repair-disc-create-windows-8-a.html




Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03502680.pdf


HP/Compaq said:
Creating HP Recovery media

HP Recovery Manager is a software program that offers a way to create recovery media after you
successfully set up the computer. HP Recovery media can be used to perform system recovery if the
hard drive becomes corrupted. System recovery reinstalls the original operating system and the
software programs installed at the factory, and then configures the settings for the programs. HP
Recovery media can also be used to customize the system or aid in the replacement of a hard drive.

How to
Performing an HP System Recovery (Windows 8) | HP® Support

? If the HP Recovery media do not work, you can obtain recovery media for your system from the
HP website. For U.S. support, go to Contact HP / Customer Service | HP. For worldwide support, go
to Contact HP Worldwide | HP.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
Hey Jimbo,

You see, this is why I love forums; partitioning the 1tb disk was on my list to do .. but, given I'm moving from an unfilled netbook with 100gb, I hadn't planned how to use ALL that extra space efficiently!

Thanks!

:)

Hi there
in addition to taking the OEM backup why don't you download a decent free disk imaging program and backup all the partitions to a separate ext disk.

Download something like Free Macrium -- then you can boot from a USB and restore partitions if you have to.

The Manufacturers recovery doesn't always work -- but if you take your OWN image backup this should always workj.

I use a paid for piece of software - Acronis 2013 -- works every time and supports UEFI (and protected boot) which HP machines generally have.


(I did give up on Acronis for a time -- ATH 2011 and especially ATH 2012 were unmitigated disasters -- Acronis seem to have got its act together again with ATH 2013).

I recommend in any case a decent backup program --it will save you so much time -- well worth every cent of the 40 or so USD.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
Hello folks,

It's taken me a couple of days to get out to buy a flash drive, but I've finally made it. However, am using HP's recovery utility .. and it's looping on 'Copy File Image' :(

I can't even close the program. Any tips, please? Should I ctl+alt+del to force a shut down? Then take the procedure given in the first response? Thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
? If the HP Recovery media do not work, you can obtain recovery media for your system from the
HP website. For U.S. support, go to Contact HP / Customer Service | HP. For worldwide support, go
to Contact HP Worldwide | HP.

or
Use the Windows system image, as the Bootable Recovery CD/DVD/USB will boot with Secure Boot

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8956-system-image-create-windows-8-a.html

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/9044-backup-restore-files-folders-windows-8-a.html

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...overy-restore-image-computer-windows-8-a.html


or
You could look for a 3rd party Partitioning,Backup & Cloning software, which fully supports Windows 8, uEFI, GPT & Secure Boot.
Which is signed by Microsoft.

Paragon 12 has support for Windows 8 uEFI, GPT & Secure Boot.

PARAGON Software Group - partition manager, drive backup, hard disk partitioning
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
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