I've always prided myself on being able to solve my own computer problems, but I've run up against one that has got me banging my head against the wall. I was hoping one of the many gurus here could help. I've just recently bought a new HP system. Don't ask me why I chose HP, I probably should have gone with a Dell, but I chose HP. Now I'm stuck with it. At any rate, the computer came loaded with a bunch of crap software that I didn't want and don't need. I hate all that stuff, and it was irritating me to no end. They often times don't make it easy to uninstall this stuff, so I figured, what the hell, I'll format the hard drive and install a fresh copy of Windows XP with the CD I've had for quite some time now. Problem is, after the initial format and copying of files by Windows XP, the computer reboots to continue the installation process and then it just sits there with a black screen. No warning, no options, nothing. Now I have no way of booting up, and the only method I have for installing an operating system is not working. I bought the machine from Fry's, and I got a 5 year warranty, but it is really more of a hardware failure warranty and doesn't cover any software issues (such as viruses, etc). I suppose I could call HP, but I was trying to avoid that if I could. I've never had a computer just totally fail to install a very wide spread operating system like this. Does anyone have any suggestions? I can't remember the exact details of the computer except that it is a dual core system with about 512 megs of RAM. If anyone needs the exact specs, I can look them up when I get home tonight and post them tomorrow. EDIT: I would post them tonight, BUT MY ****ING COMPUTER DOESN'T WORK.
Did it come with a recovery disk to restore to original factory specs? If so, try that. If that installs, it is probably not a hardware error.
HPs come with a recovery partition, a partition that was probably deleted during the installation of the fresh copy of XP... something that HP also fails to mention voids your warranty. When did you purchase the machine? Even though you purchased it through Fry's it also has a warranty from HP and you could maybe fib your way into them sending you a new hard drive.
I have had similar problems with new PC's. I had to slipstream SP2 into my XP CD for it to work correctly. I'd try that and I bet it works.
Are you using a legitimate copy of Windows XP or a downloaded/burned copy of it? I know from past experience that some of the copies being shared on the internet are far from stable images, so that may be your problem. If you are using a legit copy then you should try to install it from the start again. When you install it destroy all partitions then create a new partition and format it fully (not quick format) using NTFS.
You are going to have to burn you a new CD. Here is a website that has great directions on how to do the slipstream. http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asphttp://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp
It's a legit copy I bought when I was in the UT school system. And every time I've tried to install it was after a full NTFS format. It does the same thing. It looks as if the slipstream method will be my best bet. I'd really like to avoid trying to get HP to send me another hard drive, partly because I'm sure it will contain same crap on it that caused the original format.
For future reference with issues like these, to get rid of all the "extra crap" you should create a restore point, remove what you can via the control panel and then us run>msconfig to remove the startup processes. Either way, I stay away from HP/Compaq because their restore discs are crap and won't work without their restore partition.
I meant to question this. I find it difficult to believe that they can void your warranty by formatting the hard drive. That would seem to indicate that you can never use any OS on their machine other than what it ships with. That doesn't seem right/legal. Also, what happens if you upgrade your hard drive? I can't believe that you would void a warranty by popping the case either.
They look for anyway they can to get out of their stated warranties... Dell allows you to do a lot more to your PCs then any other maker without voiding the warranty, and they don't have a lame ass recovery partition. I rebuilt a girlfiends HP this past December and had the same exact issue as you. She had all of that HP crap on there plus spyware so I decided to format fresh and remove all that crap using a downloaded version of Home Edition with her valid Windows product key. Once I went to install XP I removed the recovery partition while I was at it and when I went to input her product key it didn't work (version history didn't match), so I tried her recovery disk which of course didn't work since I had deleted the partition. To make a long story short I used the downloaded/hacked XP Home version with the downloaded/hacked CD Key and then called MS to change the CD Key and activate it.
You can, but ONLY with their restore disks which puts all of that built in HP crap back on there to begin with... if you delete the restore partition you won't be able to use their restore disks so I guess you could use your own copy of XP and just leave the restore partition there when you install in case you want to restore back to the factory image at a later date.
Well, I have an HP nw8204 laptop and I just blew away the normal image and installed XP Pro. I have none of the issues with recovery partition or whatever. I've had this laptop about 3 months. Previous to that I had another HP laptop (my company is a HP Platinum partner) and I had no problem blowing away that image either. Not saying that there is not a problem with yours, but just saying I don't think there is anything in the BIOS that checks for a recovery partition. Because logically that would be the only thing that could prevent you from installing a fresh copy of Windows.
Just fyi... I'm the supervisor of student computer techs for the entire Marquette campus. Ask me, or anyone on my staff, and they'll tell you to stay the hell away from Dell. They're unreliable to no end. Like 3/4 of the comps we get to fix are Dells, and believe me, that's not just because Dells are all that our students have. I myself have an HP laptop. In fact, many of my staff have HPs. I've had it for almost three years. Very, very reliable, and no problems re-installing Windows the one time that I did it. The only things Dell has on HP, IMO, are the following: lower price, and a killer "accidental damage" warranty plan. You can pretty much smash a Dell with a sledgehammer, send it back to Dell with a note that says "it's broken," and they'll send you a new one, which is awesome. However, if you don't want the damn thing to break in the first place, stay with HP.
As Drexlerfan said, Dell does have a great damage return thing going on. I dropped my laptop on the floor. I wasnt a big drop, about a foot or two, and the casing cracked in like three different places. I only have the 1 year warranty that comes with the laptop. I called Dell and told them that when I plugged in the ac adapter to the laptop the case popped and cracked. I mailed it to them, and within a week I got it back good as new. Worked out well. That is the only time that I didnt have my laptop in the protective case I bought for it too
Interesting, at my university everyone has to purchase a laptop. They are Tangents, which everyone complians about, I've had like only one problem with it and that's it. But everyone calls for the university to switch to Dell laptops, interesting to hear their just as unreliable.
