Reformatted and now my HP doesn't work.

[zorasson3]

I have this HP i got my sis a long time ago and i have a little problem...

It doesn't boot the HD from the bios...or at least i dont THINK it does.

I formatted the HD to 1 partition (used to have 2, one called D: Rescue or Recover or something
I installed the new OS from my XP 8 in 1 cd like i always do, and now it won't boot.

HP 513g

someone help my sorry ass.

 

[powerMarkymark]

The D: Rescue or Recover partition was very important.

HP computers are proprietary and need that partition to restore a clean install.

Good luck.

 

[zorasson3]

hardware for hardware it has the same motherboard and processor as the one i yanked out of my dell. All that aside, this should not be an issue, and if it is, it's traceable to the motherboard, is it not?

 

[Amaroque]

You won't be able to use any HP recovery/restore tools now. However, you can still install a normal (non HP) version of WinXP on it.

 

[Amaroque]

Originally posted by: zorasson3
hardware for hardware it has the same motherboard and processor as the one i yanked out of my dell. All that aside, this should not be an issue, and if it is, it's traceable to the motherboard, is it not?

HP boards have a "watermark" in the BIOS code.

 

[zorasson3]

i tried installing the normal version, and the screen shows up with a little blip at the top left that blinks, like it's waiting for a cmd line or something...but there is no way to type anything.

 

[powerMarkymark]

You won't be able to install a regular version of any OS other than the original it came with, my first IBM, way back when, was the same.

 

[guidot]

also note, it has some kind of hardware codes in the BIOS or something, because if you add a non-HP cd/dvd drive to the mix, it usually won't boot, or if you get past that point, won't restore to factory partition.

 

[hopejr]

IIRC, HP's don't come with a Windows cd, because of the recovery partition. So as far as I can tell, you're pretty well screwed. I don't think HP support will help you because you deliberately formatted the hdd.
Also, the BIOS on the HP mobo's is different, as it has a way to boot straight into the recovery partition. I think if that partition isn't there, then you'll have no chance in hell in getting the thing to work (or even get past the POST).

 

[Amaroque]

Originally posted by: guidot
also note, it has some kind of hardware codes in the BIOS or something, because if you add a non-HP cd/dvd drive to the mix, it usually won't boot, or if you get past that point, won't restore to factory partition.

Not true. I've installed non HP optical drives in a number of HP machines w/o doing any hard BIOS mods.

FYI: It's a digital watermark in the BIOS code. You can erase this by flashing the BIOS.

Originally posted by: hopejr
IIRC, HP's don't come with a Windows cd, because of the recovery partition. So as far as I can tell, you're pretty well screwed. I don't think HP support will help you because you deliberately formatted the hdd.
Also, the BIOS on the HP mobo's is different, as it has a way to boot straight into the recovery partition. I think if that partition isn't there, then you'll have no chance in hell in getting the thing to work (or even get past the POST).

If you erase the "watermark" You can do whatever you please with the machine. But, don't expect anything from HP at that point.

 

[zorasson3]

Solved it. Replaced the mobo with the EXACT SAME from a compaq i found, but it's revision 1.02 not 1.01. Apparently this "watermark" is F'd if the entire machine is switched around, diff HD and everything. Also, the bios battery must be removed for around 10 secs to reset CMOS on it and bam...works ;-) thx all

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: zorasson3
Solved it. Replaced the mobo with the EXACT SAME from a compaq i found, but it's revision 1.02 not 1.01. Apparently this "watermark" is F'd if the entire machine is switched around, diff HD and everything. Also, the bios battery must be removed for around 10 secs to reset CMOS on it and bam...works ;-) thx all

it was ..

the bios battery must be removed for around 10 secs to reset CMOS on it