HPSF restore point system

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Last week I checked out a Windows 7 laptop with many problems

Whether or not this is a problem yet I do not know but I noticed in System Restore that there was a HPSF restore point System on Sep 6: at this time I suspect that HPSF is for HP Support Assistant.
— The fact that it was designated as a System restore point I interpret that to mean a system image backup.
— I asked the owner whether or not she is backing up her system and she isn’t aware of it
— They do have an external hard drive but haven’t used it in a “long time” because they didn’t understand it when they first tried it
— I will be checking out their computer again next week and she will bring the external hard drive in so I can see what’s on it

But in the meantime, is it possible a system image is being created on their hard drive?
If so how do I find out where it is?
— All they have is a 500 GB hard drive. Here is the Disk Management screenshot
41772-Disk-Management

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

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I finally found something that has me concerned on whether or not “is it possible a system image is being created on their hard drive?”

Can I backup to an internal drive?
http://ask-leo.com/can_i_backup_to_an_internal_drive.html

The opening possibility begins with: Backing up to the same drive. Before I discuss your scenario, let’s look at the scenario that makes the most knowledgeable techies cringe: backing up to the same drive.

I’m not a “knowledgeable techie” but I did cringe because to me it doesn’t make sense to back up to an internal hard: in this case the one and only hard drive in her computer.
— So next week I’ll look for C:Backups or who knows what else.

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

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1- System Restore points are never images. I suspect the System Restore point was made when an update was made to the HP Support Assistant so the Restore Point was given that Label

2. No you can’t make a backup image to the same drive you are backing up. You can backup to a different internal drive.

Jerry

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Jerry: Can you backup on :E if the HDD is partitioned as :C, :D, :E ?

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Jerry: Can you backup on :E if the HDD is partitioned as :C, :D, :E ?

Yes you can. Obviously, that’s no use if the HDD fails, but if the boot partition gets corrupted, it could save you. Better than nothing! Try Treesize (free) to see where space is being used.

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Thanks Jerry: your explanation definitely makes sense

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

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Philomel,

Bad idea 42088-HeadBang to backup to the same physical device! If it fails you lose your backup also! My advice is to always backup to an external drive that can be stored somewhere safe and be unaffected by anything that happens to the computer itself. HTH :cheers:

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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What RG said. In fact, many imaging products won’t allow it.

Jerry

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I got to work on my friend’s Windows 7 laptop today and here is a summary of what happened

On checking out restoring to factory condition
— Pressing F11 at startup just flashes right by within a split second and the computer boots into Windows
— Trying Recovery Manager, it reports: Your computer does not have a recovery partition

They have a Maxtor Peripherals PTE One Touch II 300 GB external hard drive
— It’s only been used once
— Images 9/3/2010 > Folder 2010-09-03 > Backup.tib file 9/3/2010
— Next time I’ll look into deleting it but is there a location on the internal hard drive that includes a file associated with that Backup.tib file 9/3/2010 that could be deleted also?
— I was tempted to see what it consisted of but the hard drive was replaced in July 2014

The computer has a 500GB hard drive but the Maxtor is 300GB
— They were told it would be ok but I think the minimum size of an external hard drive for system image backups should be the size of the internal hard drive itself
— Personally I would consider a hard drive larger than the internal hard drive itself to allow for at least a couple of system image backups as well as separately saving data
— Since the computers internal hard drive is 500GB, I would consider at least a 750 GB external hard drive.
— Does that make sense?

On creating a system image backup:
I tried the Windows 7 built in Backup and Restore utility and it reported: It could take up to 220 GB of disk space
— In checking the Maxtor external drive it only has 240 GB of free space so I didn’t create the system image backup
— However I did start to create the Windows 7 system image backup and then cancelled it once I knew it would follow through System (System) & C: (System) partitions and did not include the two RAW partitions.

I did not delete the 2 RAW partitions
— Naturally I’ll be interested in expanding the C drive to absorb those 2 empty partitions if possible
— I’ll consider using the Partition Wizard Mini-Tool Free Edition as has been recommended
— However it isn’t my computer and my experience in doing that is limited to zilch
Also is it possible to do that within the Disk Management system?
— Delete the 2 RAW drives and expand the C drive to claim the space from those 2 deleted partitions?
I know it will be a challenge for me anyway but I’m willing to try what should be done

Although it wasn’t reserved, Windows 10 had all the KB’s installed so it could be installed but I uninstalled all of and hid them when they returned, as I don’t think it’s a good idea to be installing Windows 10 with the 2 corrupted RAW partitions.
— Both RAW partitions D & E report
— The Volume does not contain a recognized file system. Please make sure that all required file system drivers are loaded and that the volume is not corrupted

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

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Just a thought, something must have put those 2 Raw partitions there…..
:cheers:

🍻

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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Hi David, I found out the computer was seriously infected and a new hard drive was installed in July 2014. It doesn’t give me an answer on how those RAW partitions came into the picture but that’s all I know right now.

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

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So all is well? :cheers:

🍻

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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“So all is well?” Yes all is well and it astounds me why in the world I didn’t include that.
As far as the subject of this thread, HPSF restore point system it isn’t an issue as Jerry aptly addressed it in post #3. Plus along with RG addressed my concern about the possibility of a system backup on the same drive helped me realize that it is not the case. So this thread is solved.

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

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