Tweaks: Make more then one set of Recovery Discs on HPs

129 thoughts on “Tweaks: Make more then one set of Recovery Discs on HPs”

1. Yes, you can definitely make a 2nd (or 3rd) set of Recovery discs for Win7 on HP. There are in fact two different filenames to disable, depending on your version of Win7 and and model of HP.

   Just follow the HP discussion link at:

   http://en.kioskea.net/forum/affich-48305-recovery-disk-for-a-specific-hp-pavilion#p690375

2. have hp envy m6 and nothing work for now — i have delete RMCStatus.bin but don t find rebecca.dat

3. seems to work well still in 2013. machine dm1-4055sg / win7 32bit. i had to rename RMCStatus.bin only on drive D:

4. I bought a Sleekbook with Windows 8. Do not like windows 8 and want to install Windows 7. First want to have 2 sets of Recovery Disks. Try every thing to make the second set but nothing seems to work. Please help.

5. i have HP DV4 2112TU laptop and this system doesn’t contain any of file mentioned in this blog to be deleted. any one any other option for creating 2nd set of recovery disk?

6. I have dv6 7010tx. What to do to make second set of recovery disk??

7. Thanks a lot Kathy, u make my day!
   Wordk for me rename d:\hpdrcu.prc and c:\ProgramData\Hewlett-Packard\recovery\hpdrcu.prc to another name, now ask me again the DVD’s.
   I’ve a HP TouchSmart tm2 without optical drive, i’ll attach one USB.

8. I have a Pavilion g6 w/ Win 7. I’m working from the Command Prompt – no access to Safe Mode due to BSOD “Video driver failed to initalize” . The only file I’m finding is the original Rebecca.exe. Using “dir /s / a *.prc ” or whatever to see hidden files. The computer’s HD is intact – I really want MY data off this before attempting any repair.

   Any help would be most appreciated.

   Thanks

9. it is now over 4 years later and this is one of the most useful bits of information I have ever searched for…didn’t work first for me but after reading a bit further on and thinking a bit it worked perfect.

   On my Dv9000 (Dv9335nr)..I can only speak to this model as it is the one I needed to find this info for…you may have to look for hpdrcu.prc instead or RMCStatus.bin AND rebecca.dat, despite which on on your system finding them would be the same.

   On Vista
   1. Open RUN command WIN+R (WIN refers to the Window key on keyboard to left of spacebar)
   2. Type “Control Folder” a single space between the 2 words and without the quotes then press ENTER.
   3. Click on the VIEW tab
   4. Make sure the Radio button (little circle button) next to “Show hidden files and folders” is selected
   5. Under that UNcheck the box next to “Hide protected operating system files”
   6. now press WIN+D to minimize all windows and the f3 to open the search window.
   7. click “Advanced Search” next to NAME: type “HPCD.sys” and make sure you check the box to search Non-indexed, hidden, and system files is checked then press enter.
   8. Right click result and “Open file location” and delete or rename the file.
   9. That was all I needed to do, I would still do a manual search for the same file on you C: which will be in the SMINST folder, and since many have not been able to find HPCD.sys on the C: using the above method and since this folder is found in varying locations just do a regular search for SMINST (it is not hidden), then open folder and seek the file and get rid of it.

10. Had to do the manual search for c:\windows\sminst\hpcd.sys but renamed the file, and it worked. Did the regular search for the D:\ hpcd.sys, and found it right away.

    Using Windows Vista 32b

11. It worked when I renamed these 2 on the HP Mini.
    c:\ProgramData\Hewlett-Packard\recovery\hpdrcu.prc
    d:\hpdrcu.prc

12. back again and still no luck…this is really getting on my fucking wick now :@

    HP Pavilion G6 Notebook PC

    cant find hpcd.sys/sminst/hpdrcu.prc/RMCStatus.bin

    since i got this new..i have never made up recovery discs as of yet…just wondering…is the reason i cant get anywhere here is that i aint made my discs yet ?

13. Just got a new (refurb) Envy 700-027c with Windows 8.1. Some of the files mentioned above don’t exist, but I made it work.
    I renamed hpdrcu.prc in C:\ProgramData\Hewlett-Packard\Recovery\ and also on the Recovery Media D:\ drive and this seems (creating second recovery flash drive now) to have reset the recovery media counter.

14. Compaq Cq 42
    how to wright 2nd set recovery disc
    cant find hpcd.sys/sminst/hpdrcu.prc/RMCStatus.bin
    please help me

15. 1) Delete the file RMCStatus.bin (hidden) from two places:
    C:\Program Files(x86)\Hewlett-Packard\Recovery Manager\
    The root of a drive D:\ (RECOVERY partition)
    2) Remove Rebecca.dat ( hidden) from:
    C:\Windows\System32\
    cant show

16. I have a HP tx2000 with a skewed fingerprint recognition thingy (it doesn’t recognize a fingerprint at all), and my fake password in order to scan my fingerprint is long since forgotten. how do i get into my computer?

17. I have a Hewlett Packard Pavilion Slimline S5310f, running Windows 7 Home Premium and was able to make multiple ‘Factory Recovery’ Disc sets. (I only needed to locate TWO files!)

    from C drive locate the file hpdrcu.prc, and rename it hpdrcu.prc.bak ( I located mine at: C:\HP\ProgramData\Hewlett-Packard\Recovery\hpdrcu.prc )

    then,

    from the D drive locate the file: hpdrcu.prc, and rename it hpdrcu.prc.bak ( Mine was located at: D:\hpdrcu.prc )

    I only had to change these TWO files, and after changing them and rebooting, was able to use the HP Factory Recovery to create my 3-disc Factory Recovery DVDs.

    Even tho I went to Folder Options and made it show invisible files, Search DID NOT show me these files, I had to dig for them!

    Hope this helps anyone that has a HP s5310f Slimline PC running Windows 7 Home Premium.

    Also, to make a 2nd or 3rd set, just follow the above again and again.

18. For Pavilion G6 running Windows 8:

    Close Recovery Manager window.
    Check Windows Explorer for drive letter of RECOVERY partition (usually D:\)
    Open elevated command prompt
    Type the following commands, hit enter after each line:
    D:
    attrib -s -h
    ren RMCStatus.bin RMCStatus.bak
    exit

    Now rerun Recovery Manger and you should be good to go.

19. Tried this on a HP pavillion DV 6700…..
    Made one set of DVDs then after deleting the two files specified, was able to create a second set onto dual layer disks.

    It’s all a nonsense really, because once the first set are created, unlimited copies can be made using NERO or similar software, so what’s the point HP ? Seriously What is the point

20. Hi
    I have a Compaq CQ71-410ED but can’t find any of these files or make any solution as yet.
    Also I cannot open the recovery drive to delete or search even with HIDDEN FOLDERS SHOW
    Is my system a little newer? Am I missing something?
    I can find CdCreatorDump.txt and RecoverymgrDump.txt
    Just loads of stuff I don’t understand
    PLEASE HELP as I really want to make a recovery disc set and fit a new bigger HDD as this HDD is on the way out

21. The following (revised from an earlier comment by “-Uluchi”) worked perfectly for me on an HP Pavilion dv7 laptop (purchased mid-2012) running Windows 7 Home Premium.

    1. Under the “Tools” menu after opening a folder, select Folder Options/View, check the “Show hidden files, folders, or drives” option and uncheck the “Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)” option.
    2. Using the “.bak” extension (as in “RMCStatus.bin.bak”), rename the files “RMCStatus.bin” (hidden files) located in two places:
    – C:\ Program Files(x86)\Hewlett-Packard\Recovery Manager\
    – The root of a drive D:\ (the “RECOVERY” partition)
    3. Using the “.bak” extension, rename “Rebecca.dat” (hidden file) located in:
    – C:\Windows\System32\
    4. Undo step 1 above (hide hidden files.., hide protected files, etc) and create your recovery discs.

    I do not recommend deleting such files. By using the “.bak” extension, the files can be easily restored to their original condition later (if something goes wrong) by simply removing that extension. Note that Hewlet Packard recommends DVD+R (notice the “+” symbol) media for recovery discs.

22. I tried this on a HP Slimline S3120N with Vista Home Premium 32 bit
    Only found the hpcd.sys on the D: drive, renamed and it created the discs fine afterwards.
    One point I had just recovered this from the repair partition before trying this, so it may have still been clean.

23. don t work on hp 2436ef windows8.1

24. D:\>attrib -s -h

    D:\>ren RMCStatus.bin RMCStatus.bak
    Le fichier spécifié est introuvable.

    that s mean: file don t found !

25. HPE-140f (June 2016)
    found hpdrcu.prc
    on the recover partition D: (hidden)
    in C:\program data\hewlett-packard\recovery\

    renamed both with a .bak on the end

    Recovery worked

26. I have created a recovery file and cannot start it? Can anyone help? It’s on HP Recovery d:

27. Hey! Windows 7 home premium 64 bit. I did have to manually remove hpcd.sys. It was hiding. I also took out history.log and master.log. I am not entirely sure where the magic was, but I am creating recovery discs. Thank you so much! R

28. I was entirely pleased to have been granted another set of recovery discs. But. Where there was Windows 7 home premium, there is now windows vista home premium. Microsoft, is more evil than my ex-girlfriend. And that is an extremely dark compliment?

    Any comments? R

29. @ Steve jones, the point here is probably NOT those who has the recovery disc set (usually 3-4 DVD’s), rather the ones who doesn’t. Like those who has purchased a used/refurbished computer and these weren’t included (already created by original owner). Or one who has misplaced/lost their originals.

    Yes, one can create UNLIMITED copies of those made, ImgBurn (free) can make ISO’s out of burned CD/DVD’s and burn to one’s heart’s content. Although it’s good to have two sets, one stored away from location of computer in case of loss, theft or fire, more than that is excessive & a waste of good DVD’s. Unless someone else has the same exact model computer, then an extra set could be burned with the saved ISO’s.

    Fortunately, MSI didn’t impose a one set limit, yet I know HP does & likely Dell as well.

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