I have a question about the backup also. I keep getting a message saying the last backup failed because there is no free space on disc D/ recovery. I tried to free some space by disc clean but there was nothing to clean. Sorry, but I don't have a clue how to make space on D/recovery. Are there settings I need to change? The computer has 250 G harddrive and 1 G of RAM. Thanks.

Another message is: Backup did not complete. There is not enough space to save the backup files. Free up disk space or change backup settings.

Where were you saving the backup? On the D: drive? If so, how much space is available on the D drive and how much is used on the drive you are backing up?

I'm lost on this one because I don't understand it. As far as I can tell when I started up the computer it was set up that part of the harddrive is D and the main part is C. D is designated as recovery. It's a brand new computer, I just hooked it up a week ago.
HP ©....203 GB free of 226 GB.....0% free.
Recovery (D)..... 257 MB free of 6.25 GB.....90% free.
The comp is an HP a1723w.

That recovery Drive (D:) is going to be way to small to create a backup on. I think that recovery partition is used to restore your computer back to factory defaults.

Any ideas what I'm supposed to do? There's a little icon in the tray that says...last backup failed. I know it failed because there isn't enough space on D. I have a small pocket harddrive that holds 40GB. It's a small WD USB 2.0 40GB. Maybe put the D recovery on that? I really don't see any answer pertaining to this problem as for as the "tools" or "maintenance", etc, options. Sorry, I'm not getting this.

What kind of computer is this?

HP Pavillion a1723w. I think I know what happened but I don't know if it can be fixed. When the message comes up for a "backup", the D drive/Recovery is the default setting to hold the backup. The choices were back up to D or to a CD-RW. Since I'm not familiar I hit the "backup" and it backed up but to the D drive. Stupid me. Now I don't know what should or shouldn't be in the recovery. I know it says to be very carefull
whenever you're in the D/Recovery. So I don't know if I should open it and se what's in there or what. Sorry for being so "dumb" about this.

You can open your D: drive and delete the following folder:

WindowsImageBackup

The above folder is the Complete PC backup folder.

You can make a back up on a CD....click CD-RW when asked and insert a CD. Be sure to date it.

I hit computer and properties and it shows the D drive but I can't open it or don't know how. This comes up with no options.
Recovery Partition
WARNING
This area of your harddrive or partition contains files used for your PC recovery.
Do not delete or alter these files.
Any changes to this partition could prevent any recovery later.

That's what it says. I would like to get into it to see if WindowsImageBackup is in there.

I tried this too. I went to BackUp Settings and Configuration. I hit Backup Now. This comes up...Backup now to (D)recovery or DVD-RW-CD. I hit CD. This comes up:
BackUp Files
There is more than 1 disk on your computer. The disk that Windows is installed on will always be included in the backup. You cannot include the disk that you are saving the backup on.
Your backups are being saved to: HP© System, total size 226 GB, used space 26 GB. Recovery(D):total size 26.6 BG, used space 26 GB. It gives the choice of picking one or both. I didn't select any. Here's the last message: You have not selected all of the disks that are on your computer. The files on the disks you did not select will not be included in the backup

Whew! Does this make any sense? Sorry and thanks for working with me.

It sounds to me as if Windows Backup gives you the option of saving to:
1) Your C: drive (the current Windows drive) - this will help you, but if the partition dies you won't be able to recovery
2) Your D: drive (the restore partition for your HP computer) - this is likely full with the HP restore information already. In the even that you want to use it, I'd suggest backing up the Restore Partition to another place first. That way you'll be able to restore your system with HP's tools in the event of a system disaster (more to follow on this)
3) You can backup by attaching a USB drive and send the backups there
4) You can backup to CD/DVD using the writer that's built into most systems.

BUT, you really should consider making a copy of the recovery disks that your computer lets you make. Then you've got everything that you need to restore the computer to factory state. Alternatively, you can order recovery disks from HP - they cost about $20 (shipping included) and arrive in about 4 or 5 days.

Finally, backing up to external media will enable you to recover from almost any crash that may affect the system - so it's worthwhile to invest in it for your peace of mind.

I went to backup settings and configurations and chose C and made a backup disc. I guess it worked, it said it was complete. So if I want I can go in and put a check in front of D and make a backup disc of it?

It should work

Thanks. I'm still trying to find some info on how to free up some space in the D/Recovery.

Does that folder I told you about exist?

Grinler...I never did see anything to prompt me open the D/recovery. I hit D and then OPEN and it only warns me not to delete or make any changes in the Recovery Disk. I never have actually seen what's in D because I never have found a way to get into it to see.

Hmm..not exactly sure I know what this D: drive is. Not that familiar with recovery partitions. Usama, are these NTFS formatted drives or a different filesystem?

Grinler, on my XP.... the recovery partition is named 'Presario_RP (D:) It is a Fat32.
(C:)---> is NTFS

DVD-RW Drive (E:) is the drive that should be used for backups to a DVD or CD. Unless, socom 004 wants to make a new partition for Vista's backups.

Jacee...the D/recovery is partitioned for recovery. There's a message on the screen that said the system backup had not been run. I went to backup(I haven't done this before)and the default setting was backup to D. There was a "backup to CD-DVD" choice also, but not knowing any better(sorry), I hit backup and it backed up on the D until it ran out of space. Now a message keeps popping up saying I am runnuing out of space on D.

Yes, your recovery back up partition is "limited" to recover the original OS files.

Doesn't HP provide a method to "backup" or create a copy of this recovery data to either a DVD or a set of CD's?

socom 004

Click on the control panel, then click on the "Backup and Restore Center" icon.

This is my laptop using Vista. I have no partitions on this computer, so as you can see I back up files to a DVD.
My complete back up and restore is on drive (E:), which is an external harddrive.

Sorry for the delay in answering - but I borked my networking during the last posts that I made - and it took until now to reconnect (but I saved my post in Notepad).

Generally the HP recovery partitions are accessible if you start fiddling with the permissions and ownership of the files. I wouldn't suggest it until one has a copy of the recovery CD's in their posession. I'd try the backup CD's that were made to see if they'll access the partition (without actually running the entire restore routine).

Since the D: partition only contains 6+ gB - I'd expect to find it of limited use for a backup.

Socom004 should be able to use Disk Management to see what actual file system is in use (I'm away from home, so I can't check any HP's right away). I suspect that the permissions are limited to the "System" and that's why he can't access them.

To access Disk Managment, just click on the Start Button and type "diskmgmt.msc" (without the quotes) and press Enter.

Backing up the D: drive would also be a good idea. Having the ability to restore the drive to it's factory state would be essential if the restore routine requires access to it from the recovery CD's (that's the reason I suggested the test earlier). Chances are that it will work without problem - but taking that chance is up to the user.

Ah,

here you go - the "Getting Started" manual for that PC, in pdf format is h e r e.

Page 25 of this "Troubleshooting and Maintenance Guide" explains how to do the one-time creation of "recovery Disks" that will enable one to "restore" their PC to the "factory fresh" condition it was when it was first set up out of the box.

Note that they even mention that once these disks are created, you can delete the recovery image and use that space for your system.


Enjoy.

Thanks. I just made a Recovery Disc for the D drive/recovery.

Ain't it great when a plan comes together?

OK, now, does it matter if the D partition/recovery is running low on disc space? There's only 2 MB left on it.

Not really.

Now that you've backed up the recovery capability from that small partition,

you could completely delete everything in it and use the space.

I won't delete it but it's good to know that I can ignore the little message that keeps popping up about low disk space.

I suspect that if you at least delete that "backup" file that you added to that partition the message will stop, too.

That backup file is the one I can't get to. When I choose to open D/recovery to look for the file it won't let me open it. It just has another warning that says don't change or delete any files from D.

HP describes "How to Remove the Recovery Partition" h e r e.

Hope that helps.