New O.S!!!!!!

[trystate0312]

my friend gave me a computer that he wasnt using. the thing is that it had no hd. so i bought one and i also bought the win xp os, for it but it wont let me put it. its a hp pavilion 533w, and i know that they require a recovery partition. but i dont have it and i dont want to spend more money on the recovery cd. is there a way i can do this? the only way it works and reads the cd its if i unplug my hd aNd then i plug it right away but then after is saves all the info, it asks to be restarted, so when i do. it starts the whole process again and i dont get nowhere./

[PC TECH250]

It sounds more like a hardware detection failure do to a specific code on the primary's mbr.
When the bios doesn't see that the system then stalls. HP is a proprietary setup where the
service on their systems has to be performed by their service center as a rule. Their own HP
software has to go on first. See if your friend still has the original software disk.

[BluesMan1]

Partition Magic could be your friend. If you have it use it to do the partitions on your HD and make sure to look at your default settings in the BIOS to use either a boot disk or your XP Cd.

Good luck

[Blitzkreig75]

[QUOTE=PC TECH250]....HP is a proprietary setup where the
service on their systems has to be performed by their service center as a rule. Their own HP
software has to go on first......[QUOTE=PC TECH250]
Not nessicarily. I wiped a HDD on a HP910e and did a fresh install of XP and it went fine. Naturally, I had to wipe out the recovery console as well, but the install is still running today WITHOUT any HP proprietary software installed. However, I used the disk already in there.

You need to check the boot sequence in BIOS and assure the hard drive is being detected,(aAs PCTECH said, it sounds like your hard drive is not being detected properly, but I doubt ti has anything to do with any HP software). Perhaps you need an HP replacement part, one from HP themselves,(I've heard that some older "out of the box" computers were very proprietary, requireing OEM replacement parts, I know Dells wre like that).

[PC TECH250]

A hardware problem if not mandatory HP board drivers could also be a factor. Usually new
model HPs are far more flexible to swap outs of drives. But if you have a local HP dealer in
your area give them a call for assistance to see what they advise. The bios's own program
might also have to be updated at the HP support site if no hardware problem has come up.
If you have a multimeter handy check the battery on the board as well to see it's strength.
Generally you should see 2.7-2.8volts. On older systems that is an item to check.

[elroy]

I agree with Blitzkreig75 this is an issue of hardware detection. You need to connect the drive correctly, jumper the drive correctly, make sure the bios recognizes the drive, partition and format the drive then install Windows. You need to set the bios to "boot from cd". Then it should boot from the Windows cd and start the installation.

[PC TECH250]

The problem here probably has more to do with HP's own partitioning and formatting types
of software for the drive to be ready for the OS to be installed. When booting up with an XP
disk you would choose the "save existing" option to preserve HP's information stored on the
drive's boot sector. Entering the model number at the HP support site here at:
http://h20180.www2.hp.com/apps/Nav?h...&lang=en&cc=us
should provide the necessary information and drivers needed. This is also their troubleshoot
support site's main link.