Need help Reformatting Windows 7

[EvilKupo]

Ok, so here is the situation. I just got a laptop from work (my property, it was somewhat of a bonus). It is an HP Dv6. Due to how it's been used (1 owner before me, TB's of data transferred to/from it over the past 3 months), I'd like to reformat. The problem is the tech guy seemed like he knew less than me about...well...everything. No backups were made and of course no disks were provided from HP. I think I remember that either Windows 7 itself or HP provide a way to reformat/factory reset without a disk, but for the life of me I can't find any features on the computer itself that allow me to do this.

I am probably just missing something.

I do have the Product Key for windows, so my second question is if there is no way without a disk/pre-made backup, is it possible for me to use someone elses windows disk to do it and just enter my product key?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[lxskllr]

Look for a recovery partition. You may be able to reinstall directly from that if one exists. Otherwise, there may be an HP utility to create recovery discs from the extra partition. Of course, that may have been wiped for corporate use. If so, any oem media should work(don't know about other media), but ideally, something from HP would be used.

 

[SimMike2]

If there is a recovery partition, look for text messages when the computer is booting. This should give you an F key to reinstall. Not all notebooks have this. You can also most likely get disks from the manufacturer, but you might have to pay a little bit.

 

[EvilKupo]

The drive is split into 3. The C: of course, D:, labeled as "Recovery" with about 18 gigs on it) and E:, labeled "HP_TOOLS" with about 2GB on it.

They didn't wipe anything besides sensitive data in the folders (which I was the one in charge of deleting). I've had many HP's, just weird that I can't find what I'm looking for in their software, was hoping someone else with an HP can direct me better to where to look.

Thanks, at least I know if I get the OEM software, I should be able to reformat!

Edit: and by D: I mean D : haha

 

[EvilKupo]

okay, so for whatever reason, the HP Recovery Manager was removed from the start menu, but after digging around google a bit, using different terms, I finally found what I was looking for. Problem solved, here's a link for anyone who comes here seeing similar solution: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&docname=c01867418

 

[lxskllr]

Thanks for updating the thread :^)

 

[shadow_k]

BTW you don't need to borrows someone's windows disk you can make your own from Microsoft website you just download and burn it to a DVD and enter your product key if you don't enter a product key it will be a 30 trial

http://www.mydigitallife.info/downl...cial-32-bit-and-64-bit-direct-download-links/

Pick which version you want