Reformatting

[netzebra]

Hi guys.
I am trying to re-format my hard drive. I have an expired windows vista on my laptop now what i want to do is to remove it then install windows XP. but when I reboot my laptop with windows XP disk I keep getting the following message.

" Set up did not find any hard disk drives installed in your computer.
Make sure any hard disk drives are powered on and properly connected to your computer, and that any disk-related hardware configuration is correct. This may involve running a manufacturer-supplied diagnistic or set up program.

Set up can not continue. To quit set up press F3"


and after that I cant go any further
can some body please or tell me what i need to do please?
thank you

[shadowpr]

Is it a sata hard drive?

Does bios see the drive?

If so, you will probably have to install the sata drivers before you can install xp.

Might also want to zero fill the drive before you do anything else.

[netzebra]

ok
How do I do that? any reading will do...or step by step guidance

[pam123]

First what is the make and model of your laptop?
Are there any manufacturer's instructions for switching to XP (What do you mean by "expired" Vista ?)?
Does the laptop have a restore partition and are you booting with the optical drive first in the boot order?

[shadowpr]

Whoops. Completely read over the laptop part. Sorry.

[netzebra]

First what is the make and model of your laptop?

The make is: COMPACT

Are there any manufacturer's instructions for switching to XP (What do you mean by "expired" Vista ?)?

I DONT HAVE MANUFACTURE'S INSTRUCTIONS, MAYBE IS SOME WHERE IF I CHECK DOCUMENT.

Does the laptop have a restore partition and are you booting with the optical drive first in the boot order?

NOT SURE ABOUT THE LAST QUESTION... I HAVE INSERTED MY XP CD AND RUN IT.
PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

[pam123]

Turn the laptop over and look for the part and serial numbers.
Compaq support will be able to tell the model from that .

Can you get the laptop running at all?
If so a program like Belarc system adviser may get you the information you need for us to help.

What do you mean by "expired"?

[not important]

I don't think XP will install over Vista. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[pam123]

Originally Posted by not important I don't think XP will install over Vista. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

No it won't.
Which is why he needs to do a clean install.

[Negeva]

Could it be this laptop has a SATA hard-drive and that's why XP's set-up cannot see it?

[pam123]

No he needs to put his optical drive first in the boot order and to do that he has to get into the bios ( If whoever it was could install Vista on the laptop then non-recognition of an SATA hard drive is rather far down the list of possible problems.).
If his laptop has a restore partition ( which will reformat and reinstall XP, if it wasn't wiped when Vista was install ) he needs to use that.

We need to know what laptop he's got before we can tell him what to do.

[glc]

Yes, exact model PLEASE. What OS did it COME with?

[netzebra]

The laptop model is " Compaq" as for previous operating system... no idea
It is a second hand Laptop you see.

[pam123]

Originally Posted by netzebra The laptop model is " Compaq" as for previous operating system... no idea It is a second hand Laptop you see.

OK, we're going to assume you've got a laptop that, initially, ran XP and that you've got a beta of Vista, now expired, on it.

Further assumption, once you install XP there will be drivers.

Now, go over the laptop and find the serial number if you can, if not we're going to be guessing about what happens next.

It's not fatal but it will make you tear your hair out while we go through it so if you can get any more information on the laptop it would be a good idea.

[glc]

"Compaq" is the manufacturer, not the model. There should be a tag on the bottom with model, serial number, etc. and there should also be a CoA for what version of Windows was originally installed! Turn it over and start looking and reading, please.

[netzebra]

That is exactly what hapenned,
The lat top had windows vista then expired that is why i thought of re-formating my harddrive.
Ok as you requested.

Product: Presario C500
S/n: CND731027S
P/n: GH961EA#ABU

Service tag: C550EM
Product key: (edited by admin)

anythin else you need please let me know
thanks

[glc]

Don't EVER put your exact product key in a forum!

Now, what exact version of Windows is that key for, please? That is the only way to figure out what OS it *CAME* with..................

[kilgoretrout]

According to this:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/p...&cc=us&lang=en

your laptop almost certainly came with vista. If your attempting to install winxp on a laptop that originally came with vista, expect problems, some of which may be insurmountable.

[pam123]

And while we're at this, go email HP/Compaq support with that information.

[glc]

If it came with Vista, I don't see how it could have "expired". Unless someone destroyed the recovery partition, you can put the thing back to factory state very easily:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...cname=bph07145

[netzebra]

Ok I wil try and read then see what hapens.
OK the key provided is for windows vista basic ( that came with the laptop). Now that need to be upgraded that is why there is all these problems.

[mattaggie]

21 posts here and I still have no idea what exactly he is trying to do.