RakaDisciple

Hello all, I have yet another issue to discuss briefly hopefully. I have an HP Pavillion 6646c and heres the fun part, I want to format the hard drive but don't have the recovery disks for it. I hope you have a better response than "Now you know how it feels to want" because I already heard that alot as a kid and I would like to catch a break.

Doby

You could go to HP and order a set of recovery disks if they are still available

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph07143&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&product=57649&dlc=en&lang=en

If you read step 1, on some models you can create a set of disks but I don't think thats a option with your model.

If after following step 2 and the disks are no longer available from hp I am afraid you would have to purchase a windows retail disk and install the operating system. Then you would have to go to the hp website and download all the drivers.

hope this helps, its all I got

RakaDisciple

WOW I totally spaced out at first here. I didn't mention the fun fact that I got the computer fully loaded... with viruses and spyware galore!!! To the point where some how erasing the cookies and temp internet files made windows stop working completely. SO if your answer starts with "Go into the start menu" then save your time since I cant do anything at all. It starts windows and instead of a desktop I get a fatal error msg about explorer. Btw I have windows 98 installed on there if it matters which I think it does since i read something about xp not needing disks... NEWAY!!!

Plz help

Oh and no they dont have any available. They quit making them

hwm54112

Check Ebay for win98 disks. May be able to get it cheap

RakaDisciple

I think I actually figured out a better way that doesnt involve the disks but im not sure it will work. I made a 98 startup disk from another computer. I am using that to format the drive but the actual making of the disk has given me a number of problems.

pt121984

You can get Win98 OEM for under $90 now as well as XP Home. If I remember correctly, Win 98 OEM will boot from the CD drive and install that way as well as XP. I would make sure you don't have a boot sector virus as well before you do anything.

Patrick

dai

if you format the drive have you an operating system disk to reinstall the operating system

RakaDisciple

Here's one of the other things I wasn't sure about. Would I be able to instead install 2000 after I format it or would I need a 98 disk, because I have to have 2k on this computer or its a deal breaker. I may need to have 98 THEN 2000 but I'd need a 98 disk then.

dai

as long as it is not an upgrade disk,if it is you will need a previous version to verify the install

RakaDisciple

So I am otherwise good togo when I get this thing wrapped up? cool. Hey okay I have a different question that has a risen in the last day or two. I have been trying to make a startup disk but it doesn;t seem to want to work. I first made one using my 98 computer. That didn't work out. Something about a write error. Right so then I try to make it using boot disk.com Everythig seemed to go smooth until I put it in the coputer im trying to Startup. I keep getting this "File is either missing or corrupt: COMMAND.COM" and IDK why. I looked n the help file and it says I should be able to format the drive after partitioning it. IDK if I should have to do that either tho since I dont want whats on the drive. Either way it says I CAN do it if I set my mind to it. But like I said I keep getting the Command.com thing missing and it wot read my floppy right if I try to use any peice of the disk by prompting. In summation, if you know the meaning of these enigmatic words then please confide in me the truth of them.

Doby

Use a new formatted floppy, make sure it is not write protected with the tabs on the bottom sides

hwm54112

Are you just copying files to the startup disk or formatting it first as a system disk?

RakaDisciple

First of all Im not a total nooblet. I know if the disk is write protect. I have tried both to use the device mngr to make the startup disk and a program off of the internet. Both of which give me this same result. I'll try another disk tho.

THX

Doby

My apologies RakaDisciple, but we have to cover all the bases, sometimes we don't know a posters experience

RakaDisciple

Its all cool. I didnt mean to offend or seem ungrateful.

linderman

if all you are trying to do is re-format your Win 98 drive


then here is an easy option

http://www.download.com/Super-Fdisk/...-10287081.html



if you have a Windows 2000 install CD, everything can be taken care of off that CD disk ??????

Win 2000 is FAR better than win98


what is your goal????


Are you familiar with setting up partitions and formatting the drive from within FDISK utiltiy / if not we can dig you up a Fdisk guide? Fdisk is more difficult than just using the win 2000 CD for SURE


BTW: if you had alot of virus & spyware problems then I highly suggest you wipe the drive before you begin any clean install

use killdisk for wiping
http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm

RakaDisciple

hello first of all. Second of all I have made progress in the last literally ten minutes that you dont know of yet. I have made anew startup disk and formatted the drive c. Also I figured out that something mysterious is wrong with my 2000 cd or my computer itself. It wount seem to read the disk. the green light on the cd rom thing will blink but never do anything. I waited a long time. I also now see that the computer goes no further than this prompt screen. I hope I didn't mess something up. LOL. All im getting now is a screen saying microsoft (R) windows 98
(C)copyright microsoft corp 1981-1998
and then the little cursor thing with the :/>_
I think you know the one. I may have been wrong in not setting up partitions first? but I said to myself hey, I dont want anything thats on here anyway right? whats there to partition. I hope that wasnt my wrong doing or if it was Then I hope theres a quick fix for it. Ill await further instruction...

dai

check the 2000 cd in another computer to make sure it is bootable
with fdisk check what it see as partitions on the drive and that you have an active one

RakaDisciple

Fdisk is showing me this
Fixed Disk Drive Status
Disk DRV MBytes Free Usage
1 19594 100%
C: 19594

Im not yet sure what to make of this but its what it says If I use Fdisk /status. Ill post in a bit to see if my 2000 works on a dif cpu.

RakaDisciple

Well for whatever reason, my disk is what doesn't work. I'm midly upset, but thats only because... Well nvm Im Furious. But none of that is your problem. Come to think of it none of this is your problem but thank you for all the help. So anyway if u know where to go from this lame prompt screen then please share.

Sincerely
TheDisciple