HP Recovery CD-Lost Partition - cant reload

[jimhannon]

I have a HP 743g and had major problems, viruses and spyware. The MBR was corrupted, so I couldn't use the restore option on the "D" partition. I am unable to restore the computer with the CD disk, when I try to boot using the restore disk I get an error, and the computer will not boot into windows, where the restore option is located.
I formatted and loaded Win200 Pro, but that is not what I want. Is there a way to use the Restore Disk that came with the computer to do a restore? I can always use Win2000 disk I have to format and load, but I would like to have some of the software and the operating system "WinXP Home" that it came with. I've checked the HP website, but came up with no help if you can't use the restore option inside of windows.
Any Ideas?

Jim

[glc]

Contact HP. You are going to have to get a full set of media and I don't know what their policy is. All the factory-supplied restore disk does is point to the restore partition.

[jimhannon]

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping that was my last resort, it seems that I might be there at this point. I'll give them a call.

thanks again

[rjfvillarosa]

Jim can you post a report on what you get as I had this problem with a customers machine. After loads of faffing about I got it running again, I went to the HP site to see what else I could do and I checked out if I could download my customers copy of XP from the hard drive partition and it said that I would need 17 cd's????????

[jimhannon]

I called HP and after talking to them, they are sending me what they call a recovery disk or disks. It is all the original software for the computer. It can be used as many times as needed for that particular machine. The cost is $20.00.

thanks all for the replies

[rjfvillarosa]

Please let me know how the disc's work, because I will order a set for this customers machine. I know he will screw it up again because it is always full of the same porno spy crap where he is going to the south american porno sites.