Restore disk problem with Win98 0n HP Pavilion

[Spooger]

I recently decided to return my HP computer to original configuration to reset the partitioning (Partition Magic). I used FDISK to erase and re-format the hard drive so I only had a C drive again. When I tried using the restore disk to reload, it seemed to load Windows but the OS won't boot- just goes to the HP screen then a black screen with a flashing cursor. Tried several times with same result- I'm baffled. ( I tried HP tech support but all they did was send an e-mail telling me how to use the restore disk. I had used it before and it seemed to work OK then.)

[61Dynamic]

I don't know how old your PC is, but I had very similar problems with my old HP. The way I was able to fix it was to format the hard drive in my XP pc, put it back in the HP, reformat agian, then restore the OS. Don't ask why. It just is. :x

[Lem6687]

Well you sorta pointed out your problem in the title...HP pavilion.....The HP and Compaq line of computers are about the worst line of computers ever......maybe even worse than Packard Bell....

But back to your question....61 kind of hit in on the spot....I dont kno about 98 cd's but i know on XP i always had to reformat from the cd or else i would get an error....This is the only way i would go about doing it.

[61Dynamic]

Ack! Fon't even remind me of Packard Bell! :shock: HP is bad enough..

Anyhow, I should mention that I formated it in NTFS in XP. Don't know if it'll make a diff, but I thought I should mention it. I should also mention that at one point my recovery disk just stopped working. No scratches, hardware is still in it's original condition... It just went bad. :? That's just the one item in a HUGE list of problems my little HP has given me.

Hope the reformat works.

[apeter]

old packard bell computer, cdrom burnt out, replaced cdrom, recovery floppy won't detect new drive, have to boot to cdrom, which won't let me recover to oem state, will just install win95 bare (no, it's not the gaming rig!), office 97 upgrade won't work cause the files on pac bell cd are encrypted and i can't install word97 that came w/comp. here's the soluction...temporarily prirate msworks off of other packard bell (you guys hate me now right?)actually just copy the msworks folder from that comp to this comp. then it detects the msworks and installs office 97. then i delete the copied folder. i don't consider it illegal since office is only on that comp. and at one time i could just pop in the cd and upgrade to office 97.
***that is the trouble with recory discs...they don't!***

[Javelin3o4]

On some of the old compaq/hp systems mainly compaq's they had a system sav partition and if that was deleted you sometimes had to order a new restore cd set of the MFG. I havnet seen that too much with HP though, although HP's great idea on their desktops now is not to even give restore disks, they just pile the restore software on a hidden partition on your harddrive and if you need to restore you hit F10 when the HP splash screen comes on @ startup and that loads the software, sucks if your harddrive fails though cause then you have to send the harddrive or pc to hp for reimaging.

[61Dynamic]

Exactly. My Aunt & Uncle had an HP with no restore disk and the HD crashed. Luckfully they got it at Costco becase it crashed after the waranty was up, and they took it back.

[Alucard]

hehe, I have never had a single problem with an HP (I guess maybe cause I take care of my comp :D ) I have never really had problems with a computer before the cheap piece of junk I made had its cheap-@$$ mobo go and break itself for no reason!!!! IT JUST MAKES ME SO ANGRY!!! I bought the mobo cause I wanted to get my system online fast cause I wanted to test out my 2 new HD's and memory and Oh boy so it worked fine the first day....turn it off and then the mouse and keyboard dont work...I plug in USB mouse and keyboard they work next day they dont then the system just freezes while loading XP....piece of crap and I still cant afford a new mobo

[61Dynamic]

(I guess maybe cause I take care of my comp  :D  )

What? You think we play soccer with our machines?

:)

[tuxedojericho]

Yes HP & ComCrap both majorly suck... Tho, they are not worse than Packard Hell.. Even an old 80286 computer is better than PB.

I currently have 1 HP & 1 comcrap, just because friends got newer machines, and give the others to me, since I was the one that kept them alive as long as I could.. Hey, I'm not gonna bitch about 2 free computers that I can use to put 98 SE on, and use for a small game network. I'd use XP but I dont feel like tring to run on THOST 400 mhz boxes..

Course, not bitching cause I am going to raid the Comcrap for the quantum bigfoot 13GB hd to go with my 2 20 GB's in this machine.. god I love RAID arrays