I have a Compaq SR5223 computer, basically a cheap retail PC, need help reformatting drive

radlin

I have this old computer I am trying to fix for a friend. Using the F11 function key for a system restore will not work anymore, as it will stop at 2% or 3% and never finish after sitting there even 5 hours.  And once it did complete, but never would boot up as it was always missing some file.

So what I want to do is totally just reformat the hard drive with Windows XP.  It originally had Vista on it, but when I put in a Windows XP CD and boot it up after setting it so it only boots from the CD... it just comes up with an error telling me its an invalid restore CD or something like that.

I have also tried replacing the hard drive with a known working hard drive with XP already installed on it, knowing I'd have to reinstall some drivers and stuff.  But that also didn't workm as it just keep restarting the boot up process over and over and over.

Is there any way to just get this computer to forget what it wants installed, and get XP on it?

 

Any help would be much appreciated. thanks!

 

 

 

CleffyII

All system components come down to the motherboard.  Chances are this is a proprietary motherboard that only recognizes HP/Compaq installed devices.  Ultimately it means if the system restore function doesn't work, your boned on trying to fix it without replacing the motherboard or letting HP's customer support handle it.

I am pretty sure on this particular system there is a Vista OS image imprinted on a hidden partition on the HDD.  It somehow was corrupted and is no longer usable.

hobo9766

Find out what board its got and try ans see through google if a hacked BIOS is out there.

maskedweasel

Originally posted by CleffyII


All system components come down to the motherboard.  Chances are this is a proprietary motherboard that only recognizes HP/Compaq installed devices.  Ultimately it means if the system restore function doesn't work, your boned on trying to fix it without replacing the motherboard or letting HP's customer support handle it.
I am pretty sure on this particular system there is a Vista OS image imprinted on a hidden partition on the HDD.  It somehow was corrupted and is no longer usable.

 

Check their website, you may get lucky, sometimes they post drivers and an updated BIOS for the MOBO.  If you're talking about downgrading from Vista to XP you better make sure that XP drivers are posted on the website and that the components will work with XP or else you'll be SOL.

Also Cleffy is right, those cheapies and.. actually most new big name retail PCs keep a hidden partition with the OS on it, and they'll even have you make your own restore CDs from it.  At this point it looks like you're pretty screwed at doing that, so if you don't have a restore CD you'll need to order one, OR you can buy a new vista OS if XP doesn't work.

Another option is to switch out the MOBO, then you'll really have to reformat the whole hard drive.

Tyres100

You can get the other known good HD working with XP only if you disable things or uninstall them from the device manager. Also uninstall the system drivers and then shutdown take the HD off place it on this old PC and it will work, it will recognize the new hardware and install drivers from XP for that old PC. You may need install drivers for the mobo once it gets to desktop. Good luck.