Laptops Recovery Instructions & Keys

Every time I had to recover a customer’s laptop to it's factory pre-installed software, I had to search Internet to find for the recovery combination keys to start the recovery process  In this article you can find instructions from many internet locations and manufacturers to do this. I will try to keep this article updated.

Notebook Recovery – Restore keys

Acer
1. Power on the machine
2. At the ACER BIOS post screen, hold down "Alt"  + "F10" key simultaneously to start Acer eRecovery
If the above combination doesn’t work press "F10" Key only OR  "Ctrl" + "F" keys together.
3. Once eRecovery has loaded, click "Restore to Factory Default Settings"
4. Click "OK" to continue
5. The eRecovery process will update all the data on the C: drive and restore a fully functional factory image
6. Once eRecovery finishes, press "OK" to reboot your computer.

Asus
Tap on "F9" when Asus logo appears. For details, follow link below:

Notebook PC: http://support.asus.com/Search/KDetail.aspx?SLanguage=en&no=1775&t=1
Eee PC products: http://support.asus.com/Search/KDetail.aspx?SLanguage=en&no=1718&t=1 

Dell
Here are the recovery instructions from Dell.
1. Reboot, and press simultaneously "Ctrl" + "F11" (or SHIFT + F8 )at the Dell logo.
2. The Dell™ PC Restore (or the "Dell Backup and Recovery") will come up.
3. Select "Restore" or use the Tab key to highlight it and press Enter.
4. If you wish to continue, click "Confirm", or use the Tab key to highlight it and press Enter.
5. When the utility is finished, click "Finish", or use the Tab key to highlight it and press Enter.

EI Systems
To start the recovery, power ON your computer and then press the "F10" key. Tap F10 repeatedly until you see "Starting System Recovery"
* If the above combination doesn’t work  try pressing "Alt" + "F10" together.

Fujitsu

1. Turn on your Fujitsu Lifebook and press "F12" when the Fujitsu logo appears.
* If the above doesn't work press "Alt" + "F11" together
2. Highlight "Recovery and Utility" with your arrow keys and press "Enter".
3. Select a new keyboard layout on the first screen that appears, if your preferred keyboard is not already selected.
4. Select  "Next" > Select "Use recovery tools…" and "Next" on the "Operating System" dialog screen.
5. Click "Recovery and Utility" on the "System Recovery Options" screen.
6. Click the "Recovery" tab and click "Restoring the Factory Image (only C:\drive) and follow the on-screen instructions to restore your Fujitsu Lifebook.

Using a recovery CD.
http://www.fujitsu.com/sg/products/pc/support/drivers/recovery_process.html

HP/Compaq
1. Turn on your computer &  repeatedly press "F10" (or "F11") at the HP logo until the recovery screen appears.
Notice: At latest HP models you have to press the "Esc" key first and then press  "F10" (or "F11")
2. When the recovery screen appears, press "Next" and then "Yes" to perform a non-destructive recovery.
3. To perform a destructive recovery, click "Advanced" and then "Yes".
4. After the recovery is finished, the laptop will reboot

IBM Lenovo Idea

In Windows, double-click the OneKey Recovery icon to start Lenovo OneKey Recovery system.

If your system cannot start, press the NOVO button (either a small button or pinhole with a backwards arrow icon next to it resembing an upside down U). If you cannot find the NOVO button, click here.

If the NOVO Key not working, try F2 or Fn+F2 keys to enter in Setup menu or F12 or Fn+F12 to launch the Boot options menu.

IBM Thinkpad
Press the "Blue button" ("Access ThinkPad" or "Access IBM") or press the "F11" Key after power up.

To access pre-boot service partition to recover your software:
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail.page?LegacyDocID=MIGR-4UFUYK
To get a Product Recovery CD or DVD:
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail.page?LegacyDocID=MIGR-4M7HWZ

IVIEW Megatron

1. Power off the Megatron laptop.
2. Next to the power button is a Lock switch. Make sure that switch is set to Unlock Position.
3. Power On the laptop while rapidly pressing the ESC key on the keyboard.
4. When the boot menu key appear, use it to select the boot device or to Enter the BIOS setup.

Gateway
Here are the Gateway Recovery Instructions.
1. Reboot, and press "F11" or the "R" key to start the recovery process.
2. Select either "Full System Restore – Destructive" or "Full System Restore – With Backup" *
3. Click "Next", and then click "Yes" to confirm the recovery process.
4. Wait for the computer to finish the restore process. When it is done, click "Reboot" to reboot the computer.

Notice*: Full System Restore With Backup preserves data in the "My Documents" folder, but requires 4 GB of disk space.

MSI
Power On your computer and when the MSI logo appears, press the "F3" key for a few seconds to start the Recovery Program.

Packard Bell
Power On your computer and when the Packard Bell logo appears, press the "F11" key for a few seconds to start the Recovery Process.

Samsung
Power On your computer and press the F4 key to start the Recovery program (Factory Reset). Press the F2 key to enter in BIOS Setup or the F10 key to choose the Boot Device.

Toshiba laptop recovery
1. Reboot, and press "F8"
2. Choose the "Repair your computer" option.
* If the above doesn't work try to press and hold the zero (0) key while powering up your computer
http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/PMA500339010_web.pdf

Satellite instructions: http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/pma500208010_web.pdf

Sony Vaio
In older models of Vaio laptops, press the F10 key at startup (e.g. at 'Sony Vaio') logo to access the VAIO Recovery Center.

In newer models of Sony Vaio laptops that supports UEFI, press the “ASSIST” key on your laptop, while the laptop is Powered-OFF.

Using Vaio Recovery Center
http://www.sony-asia.com/support/subtype/othernotices/439991