How to perform factory hard restore without windows 98 disc

Most laptops come with a "recovery" disc or feature which allows you to restore the laptop to its original factory condition. This will often include erasing everything on the hard drive (HDD) and reinstalling the original operating system and included software. In most cases anything you've saved to the HDD will be lost unless you make a backup first.

Another option is to use a Windows installation disc. When the disc is inserted (or if you boot from the disc) you will have the option of reinstalling Windows. You will be warned that all data on the HDD will be lost in the process. If you choose to continue Windows will reformat the HDD and perform a clean installation.

Choosing the option to reinstall Windows from a Windows disc may require an active internet connection or you may need to provide drivers in order for certain laptop hardware to perform correctly or be recognized by Windows. It is also important to choose a version of Windows which your laptop is capable of running.

Oh dear! You need a boot disk to get to your stuff or another pc to interrigate the faulty hard drive and get your data off.
I would say that you have a hard drive error to contend with.

Hi kevin_yomama,

This issue may occur due to any Software or Hardware changes in the Computer. Restoring the Computer to an earlier date when the Computer was working correctly should fix the issue. However, it is required to restore the Computer in the Safe Mode.

Please restart the Computer, press and hold the F8 key to access the Safe Mode. Once you are there in Safe Mode, please click All Programs, Accessores, System Tools and System Restore. This will open the System Restore window, there, please select a date when the Computer was working correctly. Performing the System Restore to an earlier date should fix the issue.

If the issue still perists even after performing the System Restore in the Computer, you will need to perform the System Recovery in the Computer. Your Computer is shipped with a recovery partition which is present in the hidden part of the Hard Drive. You can use the Recovery Partition to re-install the Operating System in the Computer. Performing the System Recovery using the Recovery Partition will erase all the User Data in the Computer.

To access the Recovery Partition, please restart the Computer, press and hold the F10 Key. This will boot the Computer to an Edit Boot Options screen, please press the Enter Key there. This will launch the VAIO Recovery Center. Please select the "Restore C: Drive" option at the VAIO Recovery Center to perform the System Recovery. Performing the System Recovery will re-install the pre-installed Operating System, Drivers and Applications to restore the Computer to the factory settings.

Good Luck!

Please let me know if you have any further questions or require any further assistance.

Thank you for using FixYa.

you can recover deleted files from computer hard drive with data recovery program

If you're trying to restore the Computer to factory settings, then you can use the VAIO Recovery Center that is shipped with the Computer.

NOTES:

• If the operating system will not start and no other troubleshooting can be performed, a recovery of the (C:) drive can be performed by starting the computer and pressing the F10 key.
• A recovery can also be performed using Recovery Discs.

1. Click the Start button, then click Help and Support . NOTE: If the Help and Support link is not available on the Start menu, re-enable the link in the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window.
   
2. In the Windows Help and Support window, click Backup & Recovery .
3. Under Backup & Recovery , under VAIO Recovery Center , click Launch VAIO Recovery Center .
4. In the VAIO Recovery Center window, under Choose a program , click to select the desired option:
   • Windows Backup and Restore
   • VAIO Hardware Diagnostics
   • Reinstall Programs or Drivers
   • Restore C: Drive
   • Restore Complete System
   • Create Recovery Discs
   • Wipe and Erase Data
   NOTES:
   
   • It is strongly recommended that recovery discs be created to help restore files if the operating system will not start. Recovery discs are bootable and can be used to perform a recovery on a properly functioning hard drive.
   • The Windows Backup and Restore option opens the Backup and Restore Center provided with the Windows Vista® operating system. This provides the ability to save information from the hard drive, such as personal data files, and restore previously backed up data.
   • Computer problems related to hardware can be diagnosed using the VAIO Hardware Diagnostics option.
   • One or more drivers or factory-installed applications may be reinstalled with the Reinstall Programs or Drivers option.
   • The entire (C:) drive can be restored to its original, factory-installed condition by selecting Restore C: Drive .
   • Choosing Restore Complete System will restore the entire (C:) drive, while removing or restoring the Recovery Drive partition. Modifying the size of the hard drive partitions is also an option with this type of recovery. This option requires you to insert Recovery DVDs created using the Create Recovery Discs option.
   • To remove all data from the hard drive, including the operating system, all programs and personal data, choose the Wipe and Erase Data option. This option is provided for the convenience of advanced users who want to install a different operating system, and who want to ensure all data has been removed from the hard drive first. All other users are strongly urged to avoid selecting this option.

The VGN-FW370J/H Computer is shipped with Recovery Partition which is present in the hidden partition of the Hard Drive.

If you do not have the Recovery Discs and the VAIO Recovery Center is not working, a recovery of the (C:) drive can be performed by accessing the Recovery Partition.

(If the Recovery Partition is not accessible by pressing the F10 Key while restarting the Computer, the only option is to purchase the Recovery Discs and perform the System Recovery.)

Please follow the below steps to access the Recovery Partition and restore the Computer to the factory default.

Note: Restoring the Computer to the factory settings will erase all the Data on the Hard Drive and restore it to the factory condition.

1. Restart the Computer, press and hold the F10 Key.
2. If and Edit Boot Options Screen appears, press the Enter Key.
3. This will launch the VAIO Recovery Center window.
4. In the VAIO Recovery Center window, please select the Restore C: Drive option.
5. Next to the "Restore C: Drive", please click the "Start" button.
6. Under Before Restore C: Drive , ensure the Skip option is selected, and click the Next button.
7. Under WARNING: This program deletes all files on the C: drive , click to select the I understand box.
8. Then, click the Start button.
9. After the bundled applications are installed, click the Finish button.
10. The computer will restart and the operating system setup wizard will begin. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup wizard.
11. This should restore the Computer to the factory defaults.

That sounds like a serious issue either with the operating system or the hard drive itself. The best place to start is to determine if your system came with a Windows installation disc. If so, you might be able to perform a repair installation that does not affect any of the programs or files already existing on the computer. If you don't have a Windows installation disc but have an Acer restore CD or a restore partition on the hard drive, there's a very good chance running that will wipe out everything on the hard drive and restore it to factory fresh condition. If that appears to be the only option, you may have to take the hard drive to a friend or repair facility that can backup your personal data to DVD before running the restore CD.

-=Zzedly=-

To delete everything on your hard drive and re-install all factory software: 1 If you can still run Windows: a Click Start, All Programs, Gateway Recovery Center, then click Gateway Recovery Center. The Gateway Recovery Center opens. b Click Recovery, then click Next. Your computer restarts. - OR - 2 If you cannot run Windows: a Turn on or restart your computer. b While the computer is starting up, repeatedly press F8 until the Recovery Options screen opens. If Windows starts to load instead, restart the computer and try again. 3 Press the arrow keys on your keyboard to select Repair Your Computer, then press ENTER. Gateway System Recovery starts, and the System Recovery Options dialog box opens. 4 Select a language and keyboard layout, then click Next. 5 Click the User name box to select a Windows user account, click in the Password box and type the user account’s password (if any), then click Next. The System Recovery Options menu opens. 6 Click Restore Application. The Welcome to Gateway System Recovery window opens. 7 Click Next. 8 To perform a recovery with data backup (recommended), click Recovery with automatic data backup, then click Next. Important Before your hard drive is recovered, your personal files will be automatically backed up to c:\backup. - OR - To perform a full factory recovery without data backup, click Full factory recovery, then click Next. Caution Continuing with the full factory recovery will delete everything on your hard drive. Make sure that you have backed up any important files you want to save. 9 Click Yes, then click Next. The Factory image recovery window opens, which shows you the progress of the system recovery. When recovery is finished, the Recovery is complete window opens. 10 Click Finish, then click Restart. Your computer restarts in its original factory condition. You still need to reinstall any software that was not pre-installed on your computer. If you selected Recovery with automatic data backup in Step 8, you can find your backed up files in c:\backup.

Hello,

I found these instructions for you on the Sony support site.



Solution
IMPORTANT:

• Before performing a recovery, go to the Sony® eSupport Web site at http://esupport.sony.com and check your model-specific support page. Look for software and driver updates or check for knowledge base solutions that may help you solve your computer's issue.
• This model does not require Recovery CDs. Recovery data is included on a special partition of the hard drive.
• Do not interrupt the power during the recovery process.
• Before performing a recovery, disconnect any external devices not supplied with the computer such as printers, network cables, cameras, or external storage devices, like hard drives or flash drives.
• Customers who purchased the Symantec® Norton Internet Security® 2007 software from the Sony Style® store with their computer must create a Norton Account to save their product key prior to a system recovery or the software cannot be reinstalled.

NOTES:

• If the operating system will not start and no other troubleshooting can be performed, a recovery of the (C:) drive can be performed by starting the computer and pressing the F8 key .
• A recovery can also be performed using Recovery Discs .

1. Click the Start button, then click Help and Support . NOTE: If the Help and Support link is not available on the Start menu, re-enable the link in the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window.
   
2. In the Windows Help and Support window, click Backup & Recovery .
3. Under Backup & Recovery , under VAIO Recovery Center , click Launch VAIO Recovery Center .
4. In the VAIO Recovery Center window, under Choose a program , click to select the desired option:
   
   • Windows Backup and Restore
   • VAIO Hardware Diagnostics
   • Reinstall Programs or Drivers
   • Restore C: Drive
   • Restore Complete System
   • Create Recovery Discs
   • Wipe and Erase Data
   
   NOTES:
   
   • It is strongly recommended that recovery discs be created to help restore files if the operating system will not start. Recovery discs are bootable and can be used to perform a recovery on a properly functioning hard drive.
   • The Windows Backup and Restore option opens the Backup and Restore Center provided with the Microsoft® Windows Vista™ operating system. This provides the ability to save information from the hard drive, such as personal data files, and restore previously backed up data.
   • Computer problems related to hardware can be diagnosed using the VAIO Hardware Diagnostics option.
   • One or more drivers or factory-installed applications may be reinstalled with the Reinstall Programs or Drivers option.
   • The entire (C:) drive can be restored to its original, factory-installed condition by selecting Restore C: Drive .
   • Choosing Restore Complete System will restore the entire (C:) drive, while removing or restoring the Recovery Drive partition. Modifying the size of the hard drive partitions is also an option with this type of recovery. This option requires you to insert Recovery DVDs created using the Create Recovery Discs option.
   • To remove all data from the hard drive, including the operating system, all programs and personal data, choose the Wipe and Erase Data option. This option is provided for the convenience of advanced users who want to install a different operating system, and who want to ensure all data has been removed from the hard drive first. All other users are strongly urged to avoid selecting this option.

Please update me on the same.
Regards
Sammy