Windows 7 recovery

I have a HP Pavilion Elite m9515y. It came with Vista 32-bit. I upgraded to Windows 7 32-bit. I no longer have the upgrade cd nor can i find the disks that came with my computer. I am getting ready to do a totaly system restore to the factory settings. How do i go about doing this recovery with the disks?

My goal is to do the system restore back to Vista..then purchase the Windows7 upgrade again and then add 8G of RAM to speed up performance on my computer. I am in the process of backing all my data up now but I cant figure out how to the restore to factory settings without the disks.

chefkeiferAsked:
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LeeTutorConnect With a Mentor retiredCommented:
Hmmm, good point, cantoris.  I somehow overlooked the fact that the questioner was going from 32bit to 64bit, which does require a clean install.  However, it is possible to do a clean install with an upgrade CD/DVD, as detailed on this page:

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/10/27/clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media-and-product-key-on-formatted-or-empty-blank-hard-drive/
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ccnsCommented:
wouldnt it be easier to purchase windows 7  CD not an upgrade and install fresh rather than an upgrade, and then once installed goto the hp support website and find the drivers etc that would be missing...
also make sure if you are upgrading to win7 you get 64 if you would like to support 8gb ram.
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chefkeiferAuthor Commented:
definitly going to do the 64-bit..one of the reason for doing this..the reason for doing the upgrade is because it was cheaper..
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LeeTutorretiredCommented:
I went to the HP support site and found this page, which you might find useful if your upgrade of Vista to Windows 7 left the Pc Help and Tools and Recovery Disk Creation items on your Start Menu:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00882383&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3867599
Creating the Recovery Disc Set in Windows Vista

Otherwise, you could order recovery disks from HP, as described on this page:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph07143&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=3867599
HP and Compaq Desktop PCs: Looking for Recovery Discs?
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chefkeiferAuthor Commented:
LeeTutor:
I tried looking for the PC Help and Tools and i must have uninstalled it along with the Recovery Manager which i was looking for as well. I really dont remember doing that.

Is there a way to download that software. i have looked and cant seem to find it anywhere
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LeeTutorretiredCommented:
I really doubt that it is available for download anywhere; I was just hoping that the upgrade to Windows 7 didn't destroy it on your Start Menu, but it probably did.  Have you looked at the page for ordering recovery disks that was my second link?
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ccnsCommented:
in the long run it works out to be cheaper as you are not spending hours of your time rebuilding only to have to upgrade after that.
imo i would get a fresh install. thats all i will say :)
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cantorisConnect With a Mentor Commented:
Your machine came with 32bit Vista.
You want to end up with a 64bit OS to use your 8GB.

There is no upgrade path from a 32bit OS to a 64bit one.
Therefore you can't do any form of restore and upgrade, only a clean install of Windows 7 64bit.

Whether you can buy an upgrade licence for a 64bit OS based on your 32bit original and then do a clean install, just showing it the old CD at some point, I don't know.
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LeeTutorConnect With a Mentor retiredCommented:
chefkeifer, any feedback?
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