I don't have the restore disk for my HP pavilion notebook computer. I bought it as a "open box" item from best buy. I want wipe the hard drive to rid it of spyware and other problems but I am afraid of losing all the drivers for the sound card and everything else. I tried it while under warrenty and had to send it to Hp to fix. Is there any way to save just the drivers to kind of make my own restore disk. I can buy the disk from Hp for 129.00 but I am cheap and don't want to crack open my wallet and pay for it unless neccesary.
Any help appreciated even if you tell me to just buy the disk dummy.lol
virtually all the manufacturers post updated drivers on their web sites. have you checked there? you may actually get newer, better drivers that way then if you used the supplied restore disk. have you tried cleaning up your machine by using ad-aware & spybot?
Geek, nerd, dork, freak (oh wait, people who call me that don't know I work with computers )
I would suggest buying the disk. You can get rid of the spyware and other things with software easily accessible (I use a free virus detector from www.grisoft.com that works well), but if you have any major problems the disk will work wonders. It gets you back to factory install very quickly.
You need to remember, if you have installed anything since you bought the PC you will have to reinstall it yourself. I use the rebuilt disk as a last resort because of this.
<~~~~big time geek and hater of bundled software form high end companys
i hate gateway software and hp and dell and all those guys
when someone comes to me for repairs or a software problem the first thing i ask them is if there warrenty is up, if it isnt i wont touch it, but if it is, the first thing i do is go get all the drivers for there perfs. then delete the hard drive fdisk it format it thenreinstal a full version of whatever software they want XP pro i perfer, then install there drivers and let it be a stand by itself system instead of a company controlled system. usually after that all the bugs caused by installing after market software goes away.
I have a HP that the company gave me to use, it did have Win 98SE but it had something wrong with it it was sloooow booting. I reformatted it installed Win 2000 Pro and just went to the HP site and downloaded the drivers, you don't need the HP restore or HP OEM software unless you are determined to restore it the original configuration as shipped from HP.
Sorry Guys the "geek comment was'nt meant as an insult I was using one of CT Fuzzy's lines as a self proclaimed computer geek. Just a joke not a personal slam. Sorry to those I offended. Thanks to those who posted.
I am stupid when it comes to the workings of a OS. The biggerst problem is with windows internet explorer. wont let me update with windows update. Tried to delete it and reinstall but it won't let me do that. I am also too cheap/poor to pay someone to fix. I'll probably just keep messing with it untill it is screwed up beyond any help then buy the disk.
I hesitate to say it, but if all else fails I'd try to install XP Pro or W98SE. The reason I hesitate is that I've been told that some HP's with onboard video need some of that software off the HP disks. One buddy of mine tried to do the above and never could get the video to work. On the other hand, another reader here may be able to offer more insight into this thought than I can. If my daily routine didn't depend on that pc, I'd try installing a fresh OS in a heartbeat.
Well, I hate to say this, but it your not savy enough to update drivers and such. You might just want to stick to the HP software.Remember "KISS" Keep it simple stupid
Might just make life easier for you...
you can get all the hp drivers from the hp website, you dont need the restore disk, i just did 2 of them last week. give me the model and serial number and i will post the link for you to get the correct drivers
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