11 Backup and recovery
To protect your information, use Windows backup and restore utilities to back up individual files and
folders, back up your entire hard drive, create system repair media (select models only) by using an
optional external optical drive, or create system restore points. In case of system failure, you can use
the backup files to restore the contents of your computer.
From the Start screen, type
restore
, click Settings, and then select from the list of displayed
options.
NOTE:
For detailed instructions on various backup and restore options, perform a search for these
topics in Windows Help and Support.
In case of system instability, HP recommends that you print the recovery procedures and save them
for later use.
NOTE:
Windows includes the User Account Control feature to improve the security of your
computer. You may be prompted for your permission or password for tasks such as installing
software, running utilities, or changing Windows settings. For more information, see Windows Help
and Support.
Backing up your information
Recovery after a system failure is as good as your most recent backup. You should create system
repair media and your initial backup immediately after initial system setup. As you add new software
and data files, you should continue to back up your system on a regular basis to maintain a
reasonably current backup.
For more information on the Windows backup features, see Windows Help and Support.
Performing a system recovery
In case of system failure or instability, the computer provides the following tools to recover your files:
●
Windows recovery tools: You can use Windows Backup and Restore to recover information you
have previously backed up. You can also use Windows Automatic Repair to fix problems that
might prevent Windows from starting correctly.
●
f11
recovery tools: You can use the
f11
recovery tools to recover your original hard drive image.
The image includes the Windows operating system and software programs installed at the
factory.
NOTE:
If you are unable to boot (start up) your computer and you cannot use the system repair
media you previously created (select models only), you must purchase Windows operating system
media to reboot the computer and repair the operating system. For additional information, see
Using
Windows operating system media (purchased separately) on page 70
.
Using the Windows recovery tools
To recover information you previously backed up, see Windows Help and Support for steps on
restoring files and folders.
To recover your information using Automatic Repair, follow these steps:
68 Chapter 11 Backup and recovery