Software Update, Backup and Recovery User Guide
© Copyright 2006 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Microsoft and Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
Table of contents 1 Software updates Updating the software .......................................................................................................................... 1 Downloading software updates from the HP Web site ......................................................................... 2 Accessing computer information .......................................................................................... 2 Downloading a BIOS update ...................................................
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1 Software updates Updates to software provided with the computer are available either through the HP Software Update utility or on the HP Web site. CAUTION If the computer is connected to a corporate network, consult with your network administrator before installing any software updates, especially system BIOS updates. Updating the software The computer includes a utility that automatically checks for software updates from HP.
Downloading software updates from the HP Web site Most software on the HP Web site is packaged in compressed files called SoftPaqs. Some BIOS updates may be packaged in compressed files called ROMPaqs. NOTE The BIOS initializes the operating system, determines how the computer will interact with the hardware devices, and provides for information transfer among hardware devices, including the time and date. The computer system BIOS is stored on the system ROM.
Downloading a BIOS update CAUTION To prevent damage to the computer or an unsuccessful installation, download and install a BIOS update only when the computer is connected to reliable external power using the AC adapter. Do not download or install a BIOS update while the computer is running on battery power, docked in an optional docking device, or connected to an optional power source.
Installing a BIOS update NOTE If the computer is connected to a corporate network, consult with your network administrator before installing any software updates, especially system BIOS updates. BIOS installation procedures vary. Follow any instructions that are displayed on the screen after the download is complete. If no instructions are displayed: 1. Open Windows Explorer by selecting Start > My Computer. 2. In the Windows Explorer window: 3. a. Double-click your hard drive designation.
Downloading and installing other software To download and install software other than a BIOS update: 1. Access the page on the HP Web site that provides software for your computer: ● Click a software update link in the Help and Support Center. – or – ● Visit the HP Web site at http://www.hp.com and click Software & Driver Downloads to download the software for your computer model. 2. Follow the instructions on the screen to find the software you want to update. 3.
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2 Backup HP Backup and Recovery Manager provides several ways to back up the system and to recover optimal system functionality. NOTE HP installed drivers, utilities, and applications can be copied to a CD or to a DVD using HP Backup and Recovery Manager. NOTE Formatted DVD±RW discs and DVD±RW double-layer discs are not compatible with HP Backup and Recovery Manager. NOTE The computer must be connected to external power before you perform backup and recovery procedures.
Backing up the system Using HP Backup and Recovery Manager, you can ● Back up specific files and folders. ● Back up the entire hard drive. ● Back up modifications since your last backup, using HP system recovery points. ● Schedule backups. Backing up specific files or folders You can back up specific files or folders to the recovery partition on the hard drive, to an optional external hard drive, or to discs.
Backing up the entire hard drive When you perform a complete backup of the hard drive, you are saving the full factory image, including the Windows operating system, software applications, and all personal files and folders. NOTE A copy of the entire hard drive image can be stored on another hard drive, on a network drive, or on recovery discs that you create. NOTE This process may take over an hour, depending on your computer speed and the amount of data being stored. To back up your entire hard drive: 1.
Backing up modifications made to the system When you back up modifications since your last backup, you are creating system recovery points. This allows you to save a snapshot of your hard drive at a specific point in time. You can then recover back to that point if you want to reverse subsequent changes made to your system. NOTE The first system recovery point, a snapshot of the entire image, is automatically created the first time you perform a backup.
3 Recovery HP Backup and Recovery Manager analyzes the hard drive and creates a dedicated hard drive recovery partition on the hard drive large enough to store a copy of the full factory image. You can choose whether you want to store that copy on the recovery partition, on another drive, or on external recovery discs. NOTE Before using HP Backup and Recovery Manager, try repairing the system by running Microsoft Windows System Restore.
Creating recovery discs (highly recommended) After setting up the computer for the first time, you can create a set of recovery discs of the full factory image, using Recovery Media Creator in the HP Backup and Recovery Manager. The recovery discs are used to start up (boot) the computer and recover the operating system and software to factory settings in case of system failure or instability.
Performing a recovery Performing a recovery from the recovery discs To perform a recovery from the recovery discs: 1. Back up all personal files. 2. Insert the first recovery disc into the optical drive and restart the computer. 3. Follow the on-screen instructions. Performing a recovery from the hard drive There are 2 ways to initiate a recovery from the hard drive: ● From within Windows. ● From the recovery partition. Initiating a recovery in Windows To initiate a recovery in Windows: 1.
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Index B backup files and folders 8 hard drive 9 modifications made to system 10 scheduling 10 BIOS update downloading 3 installing 4 updating 1 system backup 8 system recovery 11 system recovery points 8, 10 U updates, software 1 C computer information 2 D data, safeguarding 7 H hard drive backup 9 hard drive recovery 13 R recovery discs creating 12 using 13 recovery partition 11, 12, 13 recovery points 8, 10 recovery, system 11 S scheduling backups 10 SoftPaq 2 software BIOS update 3 downloading/insta
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