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HP PCs - Performing a System Recovery (Windows 10)

Issue with HP Recovery Manager

Get started

Types of system recovery

Perform system recovery

Disable secure boot

Important Information:
Recovery whenOur Privacy
Windows 10 Statement has
does not start been updated. To review our current Privacy Statement and to understand how HP Inc. collects and
correctly

Things you should do after performing a recovery

uses information, please click here.

This document is for HP and Compaq computers that came with Windows 10 installed.

Learn how to reinstall or restore an HP computer with Windows 10 to an earlier state. Also, learn how to perform a system recovery using HP
Recovery Manager.

  NOTE:

Beginning in 2018, Recovery Manager does not come preinstalled on computers with Windows 10. If your computer does not have Recovery
Manager, go to HP PCs - Resetting Your Computer (Windows 10) for more information.

For Business computers: The recovery options might no longer be viable as the image might have been replaced. To confirm, contact your
company's IT department or your local IT service.

Before you start the system recovery, review the following list:

Back up all personal files and read all caution statements before performing a system recovery. Failure to backup your files results in the loss
of files and information that you do not want to lose.

For instructions to backup and save your files, see Backing Up Your Files (Windows 10, 8).

The complete recovery process can take 4 to 6 hours or more to complete. For best results, the computer should not be connected to the
Internet. The computer restarts several times during the process. Do not turn off the power or interrupt the recovery process until the
prompt to log in to Windows displays.

Following the recovery process, you should take steps to make sure your computer is secure. For more information, see the section Things
you should do after performing a recovery in this document.

Video overview

Issue with HP Recovery Manager

After installing or updating Windows 10, HP Recovery Manager does not work and an error might occur.

Specifically, a Can’t open file: X:\sources\Recovery\tools\HP\Rita-tool\ message is displayed if you attempt to open HP Recovery Manager using
either of the following methods:

Pressing the F11 key, clicking Troubleshoot, and then selecting HP Recovery Manager

OR

Searching for and selecting HP Recovery Manager, and then clicking Windows Recovery Environment

To resolve the issue, download and install one of the following HP software updates.

If you are not sure which download is needed for your computer, please return to the top of the page and enter your serial number or product name
in the search bar to be directed to the appropriate product page.

  NOTE:

When you click the link, the file downloads using your Internet browser download capabilities.

For notebook computers, download HP Recovery Manager Update SP 74123

For desktop computers, download HP Recovery Manager Update SP 74124

For business notebook or desktop computers, download HP Recovery Manager Update 74138

Get started
Use the Windows 10 search box to search for HP Recovery Manager and click to open it. Depending on the model of your computer and its
configuration, your Recovery Manager screen might vary. Not all options are available on all models and configurations.

If HP Recovery Manager opens and one or both of the following options are the only ones available, you can restore your system with the Microsoft
push-button reset.

Select one of the options and follow the on-screen instructions for the Microsoft reset. For detailed instructions see HP PCs - Resetting Your
Computer (Windows 10).

Standard options for recovery manager display according to the system resources and configuration of your computer system. Yours might
vary from the examples in this document.

Types of system recovery

Your computer might have three types of System Recovery available, or it might have only two. Use the recovery type that resolves your issue
without making more changes than necessary.

System Recovery: This option reformats the system drive (usually C:), reinstalls the original operating system, and reinstalls all the original
hardware drivers and software.

  WARNING:

If the size of the OS partition (usually C:) was reduced below a minimum size requirement, other user-created partitions are removed
and stored data is destroyed.

Factory Reset: Factory Reset reformats the entire hard drive, reinstalls the original operating system, and reinstalls all the original hardware
drivers and software. This option also recreates the required Recovery partition (usually D:) and reinstalls the required software. The factory
reset recreates the required Recover Partition (usually D:) and all other required partitions.

The Factory Reset option returns all of the computer's software to the condition it was in at the time of purchase. All user changes or
additions are removed.

Perform system recovery

To return the computer to a previous state, system recovery to accomplish such things as:

Reformat the system drive

Reinstall the original operating system

Reinstall original hardware drivers and software

To perform a recovery on your computer with Windows 10 using one of the following methods:

Recovery when Windows opens correctly

Recovery when Windows does not open correctly

Recovery using recovery media, such as discs or a USB flash drive

Back up all personal files and read all caution statements before performing a system recovery.

Recover without affecting your files using HP Recovery Manager

Recovery using HP Recovery Manager

System recovery using HP supplied recovery media

Create recovery media

Factory reset using media you created

System recovery using media you created

Disable secure boot

It might be necessary to disable secure boot in the BIOS in order to start the computer using recovery media (USB Drives or CD/DVD). Follow these
steps to disable Secure Boot in the BIOS.

  NOTE:

Use the following procedure only when you cannot select the recovery media from the Boot Option Menu or when you are using an external
optical drive. If you are able to boot from the Recovery media or not, it is very important to reverse the changes made in the BIOS, this
means you need to load the BIOS default settings. Otherwise this may cause instability in the system when making updates recommended by
HP.

Use one of the following methods to open the Computer Setup Utility:

Turn on the computer and immediately press the F10 key repeatedly, about once every second, until the Computer Setup Utility opens.

Turn on the computer and immediately press the Escape key repeatedly, about once every second, until the Startup menu opens. Then press
F10.

Choose menu screens by pressing the left or right arrow keys. Use the up or down arrow keys to move through the list of items on the menu screen.
Press the Enter key to select an item and open a submenu. Then use the left and right arrow keys to modify the settings. Press the F10 key to save
the changes and exit from a submenu, or press the Esc key to exit from a submenu without saving the changes.

Notebooks

Desktops

Recovery when Windows 10 does not start correctly

If Windows 10 does not open correctly, perform the following steps to recover the computer:

  NOTE:

If the recovery partition on the hard disk drive is not functioning correctly, this method does not work and an error message displays. If an
error message indicates that System Recovery cannot be run from the startup screen, a set of recovery discs or a recovery USB flash drive is
needed to perform a system recovery. Follow the instructions listed in one of the following sections, depending on the recovery media
available: Recovery using HP supplied recovery media or Factory reset using media you created.

1. Turn off the computer.

2. Disconnect all connected devices and cables such as Personal Media Drives, USB drives, printers, and faxes. Remove media from internal
drives, and remove any recently added internal hardware.

Do not disconnect the monitor, keyboard, mouse, or power cord.

3. Turn on the computer and repeatedly press the F11 key about once every second until the Choose and option screen is displayed, and then
continue.

4. On the Choose an Option screen, click Troubleshoot.

5. On the Troubleshoot screen, click Recovery Manager.

6. Under Help, click System Recovery.

7. When Recovery Manager prompts you to back up your files, select a backup option:

  NOTE:

Depending on the version of Windows, the following screens might appear slightly different.

Follow the instructions to backup your files and recover the system.

If you have already backed up personal files or you do not want to back up personal files, select Recover without backing up your
files, and then click Next. Continue to the next step.

If you want to back up your personal files, follow these steps to create a backup.

8. The Welcome to HP Recovery Manager screen is displayed. Read the on-screen information, and then disconnect any connected devices and
cables, such as Personal Media Drives, USB drives, printers, and faxes.

9. Remove media from internal drives, and remove any recently added internal hardware.

Do not disconnect the monitor, keyboard, mouse, or power cord.

10. Click Next to continue.

HP Recovery Manager prepares the computer for recovery.

  NOTE:

This process can take as long as 30 to 45 minutes. Do not interrupt HP Recovery Manager during the recovery process.

11. When recovery preparation is complete, click Continue to proceed to the installation phase of the recovery process. The computer restarts
several times during the recovery. This is normal. Do not close, shut down, or disconnect the computer while HP Recovery runs.

12. Recovery Manager reformats the Windows partition and reinstalls the original software.

13. After the system recovery is complete, click Finish to restart the computer. Complete the setup screens and wait until the computer finishes
the setup.

14. Once the setup is complete, turn off the computer, reconnect all devices and cables, and then turn on the computer.

15. Before using the computer, update and protect your computer by reinstalling any virus and security software that was installed before the
system recovery.

16. Reinstall any software programs that were added after purchasing the computer, as well as any files that were backed up.

Things you should do after performing a recovery

After a recovery, the computer is more vulnerable to security risks because it does not contain the most recent updates. For information on
updating and securing your computer, see HP PCs - Things You Should Do When Setting Up Your PC (Windows 10).

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