Does this HP video help?

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c03481733&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en

Normally a system restore disk would be used to return a machine to its factory new state (software wise). You would use it if your machine became infected by a virus/root kit/etc that rendered it unusable.

Most major manufacturers suggest you make a recovery disk as one of your first steps in using the machine. Here is a quote from the HP web site:

"HP strongly recommends that you create recovery discs or create a recovery USB flash drive as soon as you receive your computer. If your HP computer with Windows 7 does not have the HP recovery program, or if the recovery discs or USB drive was not created before the recovery partition was damaged or erased, you will need to find a set of the HP recovery discs that match your model number from the Internet or install a new operating system.

"HP recovery software allows you to make only one recovery backup . These backup files contain the original operating system, drivers, and application software that shipped with the computer."

As noted if you did not delete the info on the hard disk, you should be able to make your own recover disk (usually on a DVD disk). If it was deleted then you would need to buy the disks from HP.

If you don't have the machine's instructions/manual, that tells how to make you own disk go the HP Support web page and drill down for the info on you model.

Here is a link that might be useful: HP product support

When they stopped putting the restore CD's in the package I made one and it did not work. After that I ordered them from the maker. They were only about $15. My Acer sent me a stick instead of the disks and it was $50. +. It is worth every penny of that if I have a problem I can not fix. Compared to a taking it to a shop that's pretty cheap.

I'm sorry I wasn't clear. What I need to know is what kind of blank disc to buy to make this recovery disc. CD, DVD? read only, read and write, ? Brand?

I have already explored the HP site for when I get the disc. Thank you.

cd-r and brand doesn't really matter. However, putting the system recovery "disc" on a usb is the easiest method.

I assume this is a Windows 7 or 8 machine? If so you need possibly 3 DVDs, certainly two to include the bloat that comes on the recovery partition. The program will tell you how many you need.

As pippsy notes using a thumb/flash drive is a good idea but for me there are 2 caveats. They can be misplaced easily and you may have to change the settings in the BIOS to have the drive recognised at start up, not a difficult chore of course.

I needed 3 DVDs for the recovery discs I made for my Windows 7 computer. Doesn't matter if it's DVD-R or DVD+R. Do not use DVD-RW. These are cheap and you can buy a spindle of 10 (maybe) or more for very little.

Thank you all for the good info. HP said nothing about 3 discs so this is a surprise and I'm glad to find out in advance.

And I think I will go with Emma's advice too to buy it from them, tho it's more like $50 than $15 for this computer.

If it is so important, and it is, then why doesn't it come with the computer, I wonder. Thanks again.

If you're running Windows 8, the HP video I linked above provides answers...

HP is saying you need either a USB with a minimum 22gig capacity or SIX DVDRs. (about 2 1/2 minutes into the video)

HP is also suggesting DVD+R media. (about 55 seconds into the video) BTW, those are "write once" discs. Meaning they come as blanks and you can write to them only once.

I think the last DVDRs I bought were about thirty cents each, so it would cost me about $1.80 for all six discs, and being frugal, that would be my personal choice.

As for brand, I'd agree it makes little difference. Personally, the last pack I bought were JVC and they've been burning fine.

I just had to do this on my new HP with Win 8.1. The documentation wasn't as helpful as I expected. It seemed reasonable that the backup routine could have told me exactly how much space I would need, but it didn't. Gee thanks! It turned out to require something like 19 gig.

19 is bigger than 16 (duh), so if you use a memory stick, you would require a 32 gig unit. With dvd discs, you would need four discs. If you attempted to use cd discs, you would need perhaps five times more discs. No one would want to do that.

Since you have a new HP, I assume you have HP Support Assistant. It has a section with a Backup instruction and routine to actually perform the backup.

It is important to me and it doesn't seem like it would cost the manufacturer much to include it. Maybe it is a financial situation for them. Companies will often often fix an out of warranty product if you buy another year's warranty. I did that with a printer years ago and also with a camera.

Actually they are system recovery disks, restore is go back a few days, recovery is incase you have to recover your entire OS=operating system, and yes you should always make these DVD's it takes about 4 DVD-R do not buy DVD-RW=rewritable. Years ago we used to get our OS along with a new PC, no longer the case so best to burn them ASAP or pay way over $100 to buy a new OS DVD to install.

This post was edited by Aputernut on Wed, Apr 2, 14 at 10:22

A flash drive works just fine. I did my HP v8.0, put it in a sealed envelope, and store it in my safe. I hope to never see it again.

DA

I just got back from Staples and bought a 10-pack each of DVD+R and DVD-R. It seems not to matter which I use.

To repeat: I am creating a System Restore set of discs for my HP Envy 700-213xt DT. Windows 7.

Thank you again for all your help and will let you know how it goes when I do it tomorrow.

I created the system restore discs this morning and the process went very smoothly. It took four discs. Let's hope I never need them.

Mainly I want to thank you all for your kind help and knowledge-sharing as always.

Did you also create a system repair disk? if option available?

I also made a system repair disc for my HP Envy 700-215xt1.00 at the same time I made the recovery discs. I just followed the directions supplied on the computer by HP.

I did the repair disk with this W 7.