The F10 method should work, unless... the hard drive has ever been replaced, or reformatted? If you've still got the original hard drive, try holding down F10, and then pressing the power button (while still holding down F10). You def should come to a menu with an option to restore the PC.
The F10 method is the same as finding the HP Utility suite from within windows - it's just a different way to get to the same place. The "restore" points you mention are not a way to totally erase the computer. Those are just to go back to a recent date in case a problem crops up. They don't erase anything except some of the system files. But try F10 again. Unless the hard drive has been altered, you should be able to do a restore without any disks. Good luck, Donk On 5/30/2011 10:57 PM, Janice D wrote: > Hi Donk, > > It didn't work pressing the F10 key and I don't have the license key to use > the discs. > > Here is what I copied from the site you gave me: When I go to Start, All > Programs, there isn't an HP tools or PC system recovery > > Is this unusual? > > [image: hide] > Recovering from Windows XP > <http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph07145&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=461232#N81> > Use the following steps to recover the computer from the Windows XP desktop: > > 1. Backup files from the My Documents folder and from other folders you > may have created. > 2. Disconnect all connected devices (such as the Personal Media Drive, > USB drives, printer, and fax), remove media from drives, and remove any > recently added internal hardware. Do not disconnect the monitor, keyboard, > mouse, and power cord. > 3. From the Windows XP desktop, click *Start* , *All Programs* , and then > one of the following options: > > *NOTE:* The following options are for HP computers. Compaq computers will > have similar options (for example, Compaq Tools). > - *HP Tools* , and then *HP PC System Recovery* . > - *Hewlett-Packard* , *hp pavilion pc tools* , and *hp pc system > recovery* . > - *PC Help& Tools* , and then *HP PC System Recovery* . > A recovery Welcome screen appears. > 4. Click *Yes* or *OK* to continue the recovery process. > The computer restarts to the recovery program. If another welcome screen > is displayed, click *OK* to continue. > 5. Select one of the following procedures, depending on which recovery > type you want to perform: > - To perform a system recovery, click *Next* , and then click *Yes* > - To perform a destructive recovery, click *Advanced* , (select > *Destructive > Recovery* ) and then click *Next* . > > *CAUTION:* * A destructive recovery will format the hard drive. This > will delete all the information on the hard drive and reinstall > Windows XP > and the original software that came with the computer.* > 6. Read and respond to each window and screen that appears. > 7. After the System Recovery is complete, the computer restarts and > continues into Windows setup. Complete the setup screens and wait until > the > PC finishes the setup. > > *NOTE:* It may take a long time to complete Windows setup. This time > varies and may take over several hours. Recovery times are most affected > by > using recovery discs that were ordered from HP and/or the amount of files > that were stored in the user account folders (for example, My Documents > and > the Desktop). > 8. Before using your computer, update and protect your computer. For more > information, refer to Things To Do After Performing a System Recovery in > Windows > XP<http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/doclink?lc=en&cc=us&product=461232&tmp_docname=c00276693>. > 9. Re-install applications that you added after purchasing the computer, > and any files that you have backed up. > > > > > > > > > > > > On Mon, May 30, 2011 at 10:26 PM, Donk<[email protected]> wrote: > >> >> It appears your model does have the built-in recovery partition. You >> can start it by pressing the power button and quickly tapping the F10 >> key until you come to a menu. >> Here's a link to the HP support site for your PC, and what to do if the >> recovery fails: >> http://bit.ly/izhq3h >> I'm not sure what the menu options will be, but one of them should be to >> completely erase and restore the PC. >> >> Before you start it's important to make the PC exactly like it was when >> you first turned it on the day you bought it. That means disconnect any >> devices you've added since then - such as personal media drives, >> printers, scanners, cameras, camera-type memory cards, and other devices >> that did not originally come with the PC. It's a good idea to even >> unplug your internet cable (unless you've got wireless of course). If >> the recovery finds any unfamiliar hardware it might freeze up and stop >> working. >> >> If the worst case does happen, and you're left with a PC that won't >> boot, you can possibly call Microsoft and try to talk them into giving >> you a new key to reinstall from your XP disk. I dunno if they'll do >> that or not since XP isn't even officially supported anymore. >> >> Let us know how it goes? >> Good luck, >> Donk >> >> >> On 5/30/2011 10:05 PM, Janice D wrote: >>> Hi Donk, >>> >>> It is the Pavillion a1000y >>> >>> I can't do it with the disc because I do not have the license key. Please >>> tell me the few clicks to try. I hope it works. This woman really needs >> it >>> for her kids and it's been just sitting here. I would love to see it go >> to >>> good use, but I can't take any chances giving it away not knowing >> everything >>> is cleared off of it. >>> >>> Janice >>> >>> On Mon, May 30, 2011 at 6:44 PM, Donk<[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> What model HP is it? Most HP's come with a quick way to restore it to >>>> the way it was the day you bought it - without using disks and just a >>>> few clicks. It uses a hidden partition on the harddrive to install the >>>> original factory default image. It's a lot faster than reinstalling the >>>> whole OS - but if it fails you can still install XP from your disks. >>>> >>>> Good luck, >>>> Donk >>>> >>>> >>>> On 5/30/2011 11:53 AM, Recycle Diva wrote: >>>>> Hi, >>>>> >>>>> Somebody asked for an old windows 98 computer for their kids and I have >>>> this one sitting around but don't want to get rid of it until I do a >>>> complete recovery to remove whatever I have on there. I don't remember >> how >>>> to do it. 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