I hate friends of friends with computers....

[David Maynard]

hehe.......same here. TPM got lucky too. I have an HP here on the bench that
has a similiar problem and it will not accept anything except the HP restore
disks. I have tried to install everything (W98, ME(what was on it), 2000 and
XP Home and Pro) and it keeps telling me to insert the HP restore disk#1
about 1/4 of the way through install. The owner has lost the
disks........screwed.

That's strange and I can't think of how it could know to ask for an HP
restore disk unless something was left on the hard drive.

What file(s) does it say it's looking for?

 

[spodosaurus]

That's strange and I can't think of how it could know to ask for an HP
restore disk unless something was left on the hard drive.

Call an exorcist...

What file(s) does it say it's looking for?

--
spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

 

[Ed Cregger]

That's strange and I can't think of how it could know to ask for an HP
restore disk unless something was left on the hard drive.

What file(s) does it say it's looking for?

Chances are, the info calling for the HP OS is lodged securely in the MBR
(master boot record).

If you have a copy of Partition Magic, I "think" there is a function in that
program that allows you to generate a new MBR, without the reference to HP.

Ed Cregger

 

[Pepper von Evil]

Chances are, the info calling for the HP OS is lodged securely in the MBR
(master boot record).

If you have a copy of Partition Magic, I "think" there is a function in
that program that allows you to generate a new MBR, without the reference
to HP.

Ed Cregger

If that's the case would going in the the Windows XP repair console and
doing a fixmbr (I think that's the command) get rid of the HP OS thing?

Just a thought.

Pepper

 

[Ed Medlin]

That's strange and I can't think of how it could know to ask for an HP
restore disk unless something was left on the hard drive.

What file(s) does it say it's looking for?

It just starts the install and then asks for restore disk #1. I don't have a
clue. I think Spod is right on........an exorcist might be in order. The
only thing I can think of would be some sort of bios protection. Other than
that, I can't think of anything.

Ed

 

[Ed Medlin]

Chances are, the info calling for the HP OS is lodged securely in the MBR
(master boot record).

If you have a copy of Partition Magic, I "think" there is a function in
that program that allows you to generate a new MBR, without the reference
to HP.

Ed Cregger

I do. I did format with it, but didn't notice anything to do with the MBR. I
will take a closer look. Thanks.

Ed

 

[Ed Medlin]

If that's the case would going in the the Windows XP repair console and
doing a fixmbr (I think that's the command) get rid of the HP OS thing?

Just a thought.

Pepper

Tried that in dos when trying to install ME. I will try a different HDD and
see if there is anything that changes. It is an older system anyway and the
owner was just going to network it with a new build I am doing for him for
the kids.

Ed

 

[spodosaurus]

I do. I did format with it, but didn't notice anything to do with the MBR. I
will take a closer look. Thanks.

Ed

There are several programs that will totally wipe a drive. Not military
level wipe, but enough to make sure that drive is as clean as you need
it to be. I use either the manufacturer's overwriting utility or the
Wipe program available from bootdisk.com.

Cheers,

Ari


--
spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

 

[ToolPackinMama]

It just starts the install and then asks for restore disk #1. I don't have a
clue. I think Spod is right on........an exorcist might be in order. The
only thing I can think of would be some sort of bios protection. Other than
that, I can't think of anything.

If the motherboard is tattooed... I just recently learned about the
tattooing business - don't know the details.

http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid80_gci1060034,00.html

 

[David Maynard]

It just starts the install and then asks for restore disk #1. I don't have a
clue. I think Spod is right on........an exorcist might be in order. The
only thing I can think of would be some sort of bios protection. Other than
that, I can't think of anything.

Ed

Well, I was assuming you wiped all partitions and the MBR but if not then
that should take care of it because I wouldn't think there is anything a
normal XP CD should be looking for in the BIOS. Could be wrong but I just
never heard of a BIOS install hook like that.

 

[David Maynard]

If the motherboard is tattooed... I just recently learned about the
tattooing business - don't know the details.

http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid80_gci1060034,00.html

Well, yeah, but that's to prevent the manufacturer's restore CD from being
used on another computer and it's that CD which does the tattoo check. A
normal retail XP CD shouldn't look nor should it be locked into, or out of,
any particular motherboard.

It's also a relatively new thing that Win98 and Me shouldn't even know
about, much less follow.

 

[PWY]

Well, yeah, but that's to prevent the manufacturer's restore CD from being
used on another computer and it's that CD which does the tattoo check. A
normal retail XP CD shouldn't look nor should it be locked into, or out
of, any particular motherboard.

It's also a relatively new thing that Win98 and Me shouldn't even know
about, much less follow.

Just wondering, Could H.P.'s hidden partition (where they install the
operating system) have anything to do with this problem ?

 

[David Maynard]

Just wondering, Could H.P.'s hidden partition (where they install the
operating system) have anything to do with this problem ?

I suppose its possible (haven't put a lot of thought into it) but I doubt it.

 

[ToolPackinMama]

Perhaps resetting the CMOS might help.

 

[Ed Medlin]

Well, I was assuming you wiped all partitions and the MBR but if not then
that should take care of it because I wouldn't think there is anything a
normal XP CD should be looking for in the BIOS. Could be wrong but I just
never heard of a BIOS install hook like that.

Bad HDD or something hidden on it. A different HDD worked..........thanks.

Ed

 

[David Maynard]

Bad HDD or something hidden on it. A different HDD worked..........thanks.

Ed

Interesting. Do a full surface zero write wipe on the other one.

 

[spodosaurus]

Interesting. Do a full surface zero write wipe on the other one.

I suggested that as well, and he disregarded it.

--
spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

 

[David Maynard]

I suggested that as well, and he disregarded it.

Well, its easy enough for one to think they've done it when not, especially
if there's a hidden partition.

 

[spodosaurus]

Well, its easy enough for one to think they've done it when not,
especially if there's a hidden partition.

Yep, that's why I (and you) suggested zero filling the drive I've
seen this sort of thing before.

--
spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

 

[Ed Medlin]

Interesting. Do a full surface zero write wipe on the other one.

Yea.....going to do that. I formatted through dos and Partition Magic. I
can't see why anything would be there. Got me.

Ed