Cant restore HP Pavilion ze4400

jharper06 · 05-15-2008, 04:08 PM

Im not a computer wiz so be patient with me. I have a HP Pavillion that was loaded down with a bunch of crap and wanted to reformat it and start over. I couldnt find my restore cds so i just used a plain copy of Windows XP. Everything worked beautifully and the computer worked fine. Then I found the HP Quickrestore cds and for dome dumb reason tried to start over again with them. I put the first disk in and started the restore but the laptop just powered off at about 20% complete. I powered it back on and the same thing keeps happening but at different points. So I tried to put the XP cd back in and it keeps doing the same thing. I even tried pressing the reset button on the bottom of the laptop, removed the battery and AC power and let it sit for a bit. Please help me, Im going crazy here.

**Terrister** · 05-15-2008, 05:30 PM

Try clearing the hard drive with the program below and try the restore again.

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

zeppo1 · 05-26-2008, 10:45 AM

I basically did the same thing (with the same model computer) as the previous poster.

My problem is:
When I try to use Darik's Boot and Nuke, the laptop shuts down completely while trying to wipe the drive. The same thing happened when I try to use the System Restore disks, the whole computer would shut down after I inserted Disk 3.

I tried some different configurations, but it still shuts down. Note that it does start to wipe the drive (I get to the blue screen where it says "time remaining" with other info) It just never finishes.

Any ideas on what might me causing this and if it can be helped? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

**TriggerFinger** · 05-26-2008, 10:59 AM

it is best if you can start a new thread re. your problem... but here are some points to consider:

have you tried another hard drive (just for testing purposes)?
it could also be overheating, have you checked the vents and the heatsink?

zeppo1 · 05-28-2008, 08:53 AM

THANK YOU SO MUCH

It was the fan/heatsink! After I cleaned it out - it worked! I thought my laptop was doomed!

I would have never guessed it was an overheating problem. (I think I'm a lot more clever with computers than I actually am.) Much karma to you for your help!

05-15-2008, 04:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
jharper06 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1 OS: xp	Cant restore HP Pavilion ze4400 Im not a computer wiz so be patient with me. I have a HP Pavillion that was loaded down with a bunch of crap and wanted to reformat it and start over. I couldnt find my restore cds so i just used a plain copy of Windows XP. Everything worked beautifully and the computer worked fine. Then I found the HP Quickrestore cds and for dome dumb reason tried to start over again with them. I put the first disk in and started the restore but the laptop just powered off at about 20% complete. I powered it back on and the same thing keeps happening but at different points. So I tried to put the XP cd back in and it keeps doing the same thing. I even tried pressing the reset button on the bottom of the laptop, removed the battery and AC power and let it sit for a bit. Please help me, Im going crazy here. Last edited by jharper06; 05-15-2008 at 04:10 PM.

05-15-2008, 05:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,081 OS: Xp	Re: Cant restore HP Pavilion ze4400 Try clearing the hard drive with the program below and try the restore again. http://dban.sourceforge.net/ __________________

05-26-2008, 10:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
zeppo1 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3 OS: winXP	Re: Cant restore HP Pavilion ze4400 I basically did the same thing (with the same model computer) as the previous poster. My problem is: When I try to use Darik's Boot and Nuke, the laptop shuts down completely while trying to wipe the drive. The same thing happened when I try to use the System Restore disks, the whole computer would shut down after I inserted Disk 3. I tried some different configurations, but it still shuts down. Note that it does start to wipe the drive (I get to the blue screen where it says "time remaining" with other info) It just never finishes. Any ideas on what might me causing this and if it can be helped? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

05-26-2008, 10:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,159 OS: Windows 7 Beta, Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Cant restore HP Pavilion ze4400 it is best if you can start a new thread re. your problem... but here are some points to consider: have you tried another hard drive (just for testing purposes)? it could also be overheating, have you checked the vents and the heatsink? __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Everest HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE Last edited by TriggerFinger; 05-26-2008 at 11:00 AM.

05-28-2008, 08:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
zeppo1 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3 OS: winXP	Re: Cant restore HP Pavilion ze4400 THANK YOU SO MUCH It was the fan/heatsink! After I cleaned it out - it worked! I thought my laptop was doomed! I would have never guessed it was an overheating problem. (I think I'm a lot more clever with computers than I actually am.) Much karma to you for your help!