new HD install - WinXP Pro upgrade

[billpritjr]

Compaq is giving me the run around with getting Recovery CD's for my about-to-die OEM hard drive.

I am planning on installing a Seagate Barracuda 7200.

In the event I upgrade to Windows XP Pro, can I just install that into my new HD and of course I will worry about all the "after market" crap at a later time (the stuff my Compaq came with)

thoughts?

[bailey]

that system uses a hidden partition for some of the bios stuff and replaceing the drive without that information it probly won't even boot up.
I am not a pro with compaq but have many stories about this problem.
look for more post on the subject.

[glc]

Please don't start a new thread on the same issue, it loses continuity.

If you can catch it before the drive goes, you can "clone" the drive with the Seagate software.

Can Compaq tell you how to create your own recovery CD's from the restore partition?