Boot the Recovery partition

[WAR-DOG]

Hi guys,

 

I have a rather interesting problem.

 

I got a new HP laptop - long story short, I went installing a clean version of Windows instead of having that HP bloatware Windows.

 

During installation, I went and deleted some partitions I tought were unnecesary, So I was left with System reserverd, C:\ (windows and boot), and D:\ (with hidden partition on the same disk "Recovery").

 

Now, I want to return the laptop, because it's complete garbage (Yeey...)

and I tought, installing back the original windows would be easy, but it's not.

 

I can't seem to set the system to "see" the recovery partition or even boot into it. No HP Recovery Manager available as you might imagine.

So, I can clearly see the partition in any "Partition magic" app you can imagine, I just can't copy the files out to create a bootable USB or anything.

 

How can I force my laptop, to boot into recovery mode?

 

Screenshot 1

Screenshot 2- Diskpart

[WAR-DOG]

It would be good to write what I have tried:

 

- USB boot Windows install - Repair PC - no luck there

Tried to change the partition into dynamic as suggested on many forums, not possible.

 

notable to mention, the partition is EFI system partition.

[Circaflex]

If the unit still has the HP recovery partition the recovery manager would use, you need to mark the partition as active so you can boot from it. 

[WAR-DOG]

I managed to get the partition to show up in explorer with DISKPART:

DISKPART> assign letter=r

 

and started explorer.exe from CMD run as administrator, I can now see the partition, but clicking on it I get an error "Access is denied.".

So I tried to set up the security, setting the owner as Administrators group - didn't work

setting Everyone Full-Control - didn't work

 

I'm runing out of ideas...

[Circaflex]

  On 07/08/2017 at 16:17, WAR-DOG said:

I managed to get the partition to show up in explorer with DISKPART:

DISKPART> assign letter=r

 

and started explorer.exe from CMD run as administrator, I can now see the partition, but clicking on it I get an error "Access is denied.".

So I tried to set up the security, setting the owner as Administrators group - didn't work

setting Everyone Full-Control - didn't work

 

I'm runing out of ideas...

Expand  

You need to mark the partition as active, this will force the computer to boot from this partition when you turn it on. After this is completed, you can recover the system.

 

  Quote

1.Right-click on "Computer" icon and select manage. 
2.This will launch the Microsoft Management Console. 
3.On the left side of the MMC, click on "Disk Management" and it will show you all of the partitions. 
4.Right-click on the "HP Recovery" partition and select "Mark as Active Partition." 
5.When the warning prompt appears, select "Yes" - Reboot the notebook and it will automatically boot into the Recovery Manager (without having to press F11).

Expand  

 

[WAR-DOG]

  On 07/08/2017 at 15:38, Circaflex said:

If the unit still has the HP recovery partition the recovery manager would use, you need to mark the partition as active so you can boot from it. 

Expand  

I can't mark the partition as active. I only get "Help" in the context menu, that was also the first thing I tried.

 

I did boot a live linux distro, mounted the partition, copied all the files to another folder I can see in Windows.

Created a bootable USB with Rufus.

 

Booted the USB, but got an error that something is wrong with the windows install disk

 

I gave up on this.

 

Screenshot

 

Edited August 8, 2017 by WAR-DOG
added screenshot

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

 

It's been a while since I've done this, but what about running DiskPart (filename: DISKPART.EXE) and issuing the following commands:

 

LIST DISK

SELECT DISK x

LIST PARTITION

SELECT PARTITION y

ACTIVE

 

You would replace "x" with the number of the disk containing the recovery partition, and "y" with the number of the recovery partition.

 

The next time the system reboots, it should start from the recovery partition.

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

 

[WAR-DOG]

  Quote

 

The selected disk is not a fixed MBR disk.

The ACTIVE command can only be used on fixed MBR disks.

 

Expand  

the content of this partition is the same as you would see on a normal installation disk:  Screenshot

 

Reset this PC does not work either.

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

 

In that case, I would suggest contacting Hewlett-Packard's tech support and see if they can walk you through restoring the computer to its factory settings.  Failing that, they may be able to provide you with recovery media.

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

 

[WAR-DOG]

Thank you all for your input.

 

I have decided I will keep the laptop, and keep my windows system on it.

Anyway, I change laptops every 2 years, so no big deal...

[Steven P. Administrators]

  On 10/08/2017 at 08:49, WAR-DOG said:

Thank you all for your input.

 

I have decided I will keep the laptop, and keep my windows system on it.

Anyway, I change laptops every 2 years, so no big deal...

Expand  

If you are only keeping it because you can't restore, why not try this first https://support.hp.com/lt-en/document/c04758961 I didn't see anywhere that this was even tried yet

[Circaflex]

  On 09/08/2017 at 07:21, Riva said:

As far as I know, the recovery partition isnt bootable, just contains a .wim that windows installer can use to restore your PC.

So the way to restore the PC is going to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC.

If you screwed up the partitions big time then have a look at this, but remember to retain HP data stored in the recovery image. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/configure-uefigpt-based-hard-drive-partitions

Expand  

Its 100% bootable, I've used this trick dating back to Vista machines.

[Kennedy]

Hi,

The recovery partition is used to reinstall Windows. You need not use any bootable pendrive or CD to reintsall Windows. Since it is a HP laptop, keep tapping on F11 key before it boots into Windows. It will take you to the recovery environment. From HP recovery partition you can do the reinstallation of Windows.

Note: Before performing OS reinstallation, take a data backup. 

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03489643

[xendrome]

Why not just use the Windows 10 Media Creation tool to create a USB and boot from that and be done with it?