Now that my system is running XP Pro (the HP came with XP Home), I no longer have the HP installed apps , and the first one I want back is the DVD playback software (even Windows Media Player will not play DVDs without it).
I made a recovery CD from the store’s display model last night. I am looking for a way to use this, or the recovery partition that is still intact on my stystem, to pick and choose which pre-installed apps I want to reload (if there is any way short of using the total system restore which would wipe everything and re-install XP Home as well). Any ideas?
I’m really a bit put out by this backward bu apparently common “el cheapo” mass production , lack of support for knowlegable computer people that most companies have begun to implement. It’s further down the line of disgust to make it impossible to upgrade the XP version to XP Home.
ONe knows that HP has all the software (since they loaded it in the first place). Anybody who is an owner of one of their machines ought to have some way of installing individual programs. But…….what with the backwards-ass way they prepared and shipped these machines, I am somewhat wary of any of those “HP Support tools” they install on there. If the pre-shipped system made it too difficult (or maybe even impossible) to run the XP Pro automatic upgrade of XP Home, what kind of havoc have they unleashed on the non-OEM , non-tampered versions of XP? Anyway, I’m looking for a solution today, so email me or comment or trackback if you have an idea.
I wrote HP support and asked if there was a way to get a copy of Application Recovery (which came installed on the system….but I did not have it of course after the Clean INstall of XP Pro. I wanted to use it to restore some of the stuff that came preloaded. Here is the reply I got:
Dear Dale,
Thank you for contacting HP Total Care.
I infer from your e-mail that, you want to re-install the HP
Application Recovery in your HP Pavilion a530n.
I like to inform you that, if you want to re-install the Application
Recovery you have to perform a full system recovery, after
performing the full system recovery your computer will be configured
to the original factory settings that came when you bought the
system and the XP Professional that you have now will be replaced by
the XP Home.
In a Non Destructive recovery, the system files of the operating system
is replaced with the loss of contents of following folders …
1. My Documents
2. Windows Desktop
3. Windows folder ( C:\Windows )
4. Some programs ( those refer any files in the Windows folders )
So it is advised to copy all the documents that need to be saved and
NOT to place them in anyone of the above folders. However, you can
place it in the C:\.
~ alternatively ~
You can also place all the files in the My Documents folder and rename
it before proceeding with recovery.
The information below explains how to reset the HP Pavilions software
to its original state. All work stored on the hard drive might be lost
unless backed up to another form of media (CDs, floppies, Zip, or a
second hard drive).
CAUTION: If extra hard drives have been added to the HP Pavilion,
disconnect the IDE and power cable from the back of the
extra drive before performing a system recovery to
prevent data loss on the new drive.
HP Pavilions that ship with Microsoft Windows XP do not come with
recovery CDs. Instead, they use a hidden space (partition) on the hard
drive to store the recovery information. The use of a hidden partition
provides a convenient process that eliminates the use system recovery
discs that may be lost or scratched.
CAUTION: If Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) has been or
will be installed, download and install the SP1 software
patch to prevent boot up issues. Refer to the “Download
SP1 software patch” section below.
There are two options to perform a full recovery. These two options
are listed below.
Option 1: Recovering the system from the Windows XP Desktop
CAUTION: A destructive recovery will format the hard drive. This
will delete all the information on the hard drive and
reinstall Windows XP and the original software that came
with the computer.
1. Disconnect all peripherals and internal non preinstalled devices
from the PC, except the monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
2. From the Windows XP Desktop, click Start, All Programs, and then
HP Tools.
3. Select HP PC System Recovery. The Recovery screen will open with
the question “Do you really want to start HP PC System Recovery?”
4. Click Yes, to continue the recovery process.
5. When the Recovery screen opens, click Next, and then click Yes to
perform a normal, non-destructive recovery.
Option 2: Recovering the system without using Windows
1. Disconnect all peripherals and internal non preinstalled devices
from the PC, except the monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
2. Turn on the computer.
3. When the initial blue HP screen opens, press the F10 key repeatedly
until a recovery menu appears. The progress indicator that first
appears does not indicate that a recovery is taking place. The
progress indicator represents the time before the recovery process
is started.
4. When the Recovery screen opens, click Next, and then click Yes to
perform a normal, non-destructive recovery.
After the System Recovery is complete, and the computer starts
successfully, update the computer software by visiting the Web sites
below:
* Update the system virus definitions
URL
* Get the latest critical system updates using Microsofts Windows
Update
* Update the HP software on the system
=== Download SP1 software patch ===
To download and install SP1 software patch, visit the Web site below
and follow the instructions given:
URL
NOTE: Clicking the link may give an error indicating it is
invalid. If this occurs, copy the portion of the address
on the remaining line(s) and paste it at the end of the
address showing in your browser until the complete address
is displayed in the Address box.
This should resolve the issue. If you need further assistance, please
reply to this message.
Sincerely,
Max
HP Total Care
“Total Care” must mean “Total dependence” and “Totally Locked in”. Whoa! “Totally, man”
No thanks. Looks like I’ll be returning it.
A second email back to support, challenging the idea that I shoudl be required to reinstall, resulted in a second reply, repeating the same mantra:
Hi Dale,
Thank you for contacting HP Total Care.
The reason why you must return to XP home is that the Application
Recovery
feature that you want to use is only designed for Windows XP home
edition
shipped bundled with the computer.
If you wish to install and use Windows XP Pro, you may very well go
ahead and
do it successfully. However, the Application recovery and all bundled
softwares will not be available to you.
Although this service is provided as a means of technical support for
our customers, we appreciate any feedback about our company’s products
and services. The e-mail message you sent has been reviewed and
forwarded to the proper individuals. We value your comments.
Have a great day!
Sincerely,
(I withheld the name)
HP Total Care
The idea that a software can be “designed” or NOT designed for just the Home Edition is laughable. Pro is the same operating system, with additional components or programs. The only programs that would not work iwth one system or another would be apps that use features of the Profesional Version woujld require Pro. No apps that run on Home would NOT run on Pro. If they would provide the install disks for Application Recovery, the software would NOT know the difference (unless they wrote it to recognize the difference….and why anyone would do that, I don’t know). Anyway, the thing is going back.