[In Progress] slow/freezing computer

[K27]

Hi,

The choice is yours as to whether or not to reinstall Windows, if that is what you would like to do please let me know and I will post you some basic outlines on the best way to go about it.

Thanks
K27.

[faces432]

yea i'd like to do a clean reinstall and make sure i use the system restore image do hicky but if i  do reinstall i need to get my hands on a windows disk right?

[K27]

Hi,

A few questions before I can give the correct information.

Please confirm the following:

1) Is this a Laptop or Desktop.

2) What make and model is the machine

3) How old is the Machine

4) How was Windows 7 installed on the machine, was it preinstalled or did someone do it for you.

Thanks
K27.

[faces432]

1) Desktop
2) Compaq Presario - AY026AA-ABA CQ5300F
3) No less then a year old
4) I think it was pre-installed but has been reinstalled i bought this computer from my friend

I got the system model from system information but if you meant something else let me know

[faces432]

on how old the computer is i meant to say no more then a year old i'm guessing maybe 6 months since the computer was preinstalled with windows 7 and that didn't come out until October

[K27]

OK, on most new machines there is a hidden Harddrive partition the stores a copy Windows exactly the way it was when the machine was pulled from the box, if that is still in place then things will be easy, if not, then you are going to have to ask you friend for the disk to reinstall Windows or you are going to have to borrow or buy a genuine Windows 7 disk.

Before we try for the recovery partition we need to back up anything important that you dont want to lose as doing the "Reset to Factory Condition" is going to wipe the C: partition of the harddrive and you will lose every thing on it.

Please backup all important files such as word documents/ photos / E-Mails to a removable media such as an external HardDrive if you have one or you can use CD/DVD disc's, as everything will be wiped in the "Restore" process,

Please post back once you have backed everything up and will will try the Factory Restore process.
Regards
K27

[faces432]

there wasn't much just my wallpaper and a cd key i'm ready!

[K27]

Turn on the computer.

When the initial blue HP screen appears, 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.

To perform a destructive recovery, click Advanced, and then click Yes.

You will then have to wait for anything between 30 minutes and an hour, (maybe longer)

The machine will reboot a few times in this process, DO NOT touch anything just let it keep going until you get the Windows Setup screens, they will prompt for you to enter you language, keyboard language, computer name, password ect..ect...

Enter the information when prompted to and let the machine reboot when prompted to, after so long you will be taken to the desktop.

Once there follow these steps:


1) When the restore has finished you will need to do all the Windows Updates, keep going back and checking as there are updates for updates of updates, depending on the age of your system this could take some time but its very important that you do this to fully patch the system, just keep going back until you get "Windows is up to Date", to do this, go to Start > All Programs > Windows Update > Check for Updates > Install UPdates.

2) If your system came with a preinstalled Anti-Virus program then that is likely going to be out of date and will need uninstalling via "Programs and Features" in control panel.

3) Install ONE AntiVirus program, as you are using Windows 7, Windows Defender will take care of your Anti-Spyware for now and the Firewall will suffice for the time being, you can find some very good free Security programs HERE

3) Again, depending on the age of the system, alot of your other programs non microsoft programs are going to be out of date and will need updating, this is especially true of Adobe Reader and Flash Player and Java if you have them preinstalled.

4) Your machine will have all the junk that comes bundled with new machines on it so you will need to uninstall the programs that you removed last time if you removed any, If you are not sure on what to remove or did not remove any when you got the system then you can just ignore this item.

If you have any worries or concerns before you begin the Restore please post back and I will give you as much information as you need.

Once you have finished the Restore, please post back if you need any advice on the above steps I have outlined for you.

If you can complete the above steps with out problem then please post back and I will provide you with some advice on how to minimize the chances of this happening in the future and how to keep your system fully patched and secure.

If you have any questions at all then just ask away.

Regards
K27

[faces432]

when i hit f10 it brings up the setup menu and i looked through it but couldn't find what your talking about i'll continue to look at the different options but when i try to hit f11 for system recovery it just boots normally

[faces432]

i found this site about creating a system repair disc is this the same thing? http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Create-a-system-repair-disc

[K27]

No, thats for creating a disk to get into an unbootable system, it will not Factory Reset the system.

Please go to start > control panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > a window will then open, please double click "Disc Management" in the left hand pane.

Please list of all the drives and thier partitions from the big box in the middle of the top of the screen.

example:  OS (C:)
              RECOVERY <--- Thats what we need to be there
             
NOTE: There will be a partition with no name or drive letter, this is normal and is where Windows 7 places is critical boot files.

There will be no point to keep trying the different hotkeys to open the recovery partition if its not there.

Thanks
K27.

[faces432]

under (C:) it's "System Reserved" is that what your looking for? not sure what your asking me to list

[K27]

No, thats not it.

There is a list there like this



Please list for me what you see smiler to this.

Sorry the picture is so small, the photo server seems to shrink it back to that size no matter how large I make it. 

[faces432]

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x10/faces432/disk.png only 2 i suppose this means i need to run out and get the windows 7 install disk from my friend?

[K27]

OK, I does not look like it is there, If your friend only reinstalled the OS and formatted the C: drive then it should be.

Go to THIS site for instructions on how to use the HP Factory Restore application.

If the steps from starting the process from the hard drive fail, please try the F11 method from bootup, if that fails then I'm afraid you will have to get a disk.