Can't reformat Harddrive

newwave19 · 02-09-2009, 06:07 PM

My brother was trying to use the Recovery Discs he made when bought his laptop, but in the middle of using the first disc it stopped saying a file was missing, so it looks like the disc is corrupt (i've tried backing it up, but with no success). Proble is, he's brought it to me now cos he's stuck for what to do, as it won't boot from a standard XP installation disc either.

I've tried a few things (some which i've read on hear that won't work, pity i hadn't read them first). I had removed the harddrive and put it in another laptop i had (different manufacturer), installed XP, and it started to load, but the got BSOD and restarted.....i was however able to load it up in safe mode with no issues.

I had read that it could be issues with the RAM, so i tried replaceing it, and made no difference.

The problem now is, that the screen won't even load up anymore.

its a Compaq Presario v6000, which originally came with XP installed on it. I've made sure that the settings in the Bios are set for the CD to boot first, but no matter what i try it won't. I remember when installing XP on my own HP laptop i had to change a setting, but the problem here is, the BIOS version is that old, it doesn't have the option to change much else.

If anyone could give any advice, i'd be grateful.

**TriggerFinger** · 02-09-2009, 06:28 PM

Before going any further check in the link below if your V6000 is covered...

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...77&lc=en&cc=us

Btw, have you tried restoring from recovery partition (if you have not formatted the whole drive yet)?

**simpswr** · 02-09-2009, 06:44 PM

and welcome to the Forum

First thing I would do is run diagnostics on the drive:

Hard Drive Diagnostic Utilities

Edit: Sorry Shan . . I started this post and took a call in the middle . . your post was not there.

newwave19 · 02-10-2009, 01:05 AM

@TriggerFinger.
Unfortunately its not covered under this, but it looks like i am experiencing one of the problems though. I was tempted to reformat the whole drive, but that would only be as a last resort.....the problem with using the recover partition is that on boot up it you're meant to press F10 but it does nothing, then F11 asks for the original back up discs. As for starting it from windows, with only booting into safe mode, the screen resolution is crap, and i can't see the bottom half of the window to know what i'm doing. I did try to crate a booting BIOS updating cd, but was unsuccessful.

@simpswr.
i did do a harddrive check (although not with that software) and i came back fine, plus it loads perfectly in my other laptop. When i get home from work tonight, i'll try the link above and see if there is any difference.

Thanks helping guys

**TriggerFinger** · 02-10-2009, 10:11 AM

The original recovery CD could be ordered from HP. The price is affordable (the last time I checked it is not more than $20). Here's the link for the recovery CD order page (scroll down the page a bit)...

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...&swEnvOID=1093

As for the screen, try an external monitor.

@Rich... sorry sir, I must have typed my reply faster this time. No problems here...

**simpswr** · 02-10-2009, 10:23 AM

I gotta remember to refresh when I take a break form posting!!!

02-09-2009, 06:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
newwave19 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 4 OS: XP SP	Can't reformat Harddrive My brother was trying to use the Recovery Discs he made when bought his laptop, but in the middle of using the first disc it stopped saying a file was missing, so it looks like the disc is corrupt (i've tried backing it up, but with no success). Proble is, he's brought it to me now cos he's stuck for what to do, as it won't boot from a standard XP installation disc either. I've tried a few things (some which i've read on hear that won't work, pity i hadn't read them first). I had removed the harddrive and put it in another laptop i had (different manufacturer), installed XP, and it started to load, but the got BSOD and restarted.....i was however able to load it up in safe mode with no issues. I had read that it could be issues with the RAM, so i tried replaceing it, and made no difference. The problem now is, that the screen won't even load up anymore. its a Compaq Presario v6000, which originally came with XP installed on it. I've made sure that the settings in the Bios are set for the CD to boot first, but no matter what i try it won't. I remember when installing XP on my own HP laptop i had to change a setting, but the problem here is, the BIOS version is that old, it doesn't have the option to change much else. If anyone could give any advice, i'd be grateful.

02-09-2009, 06:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,851 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Can't reformat Harddrive Before going any further check in the link below if your V6000 is covered... http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...77&lc=en&cc=us Btw, have you tried restoring from recovery partition (if you have not formatted the whole drive yet)? __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

02-09-2009, 06:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,327 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Can't reformat Harddrive and welcome to the Forum First thing I would do is run diagnostics on the drive: Hard Drive Diagnostic Utilities Edit: Sorry Shan . . I started this post and took a call in the middle . . your post was not there. __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow? Last edited by simpswr; 02-09-2009 at 07:07 PM.

02-10-2009, 01:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
newwave19 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 4 OS: XP SP	Re: Can't reformat Harddrive @TriggerFinger. Unfortunately its not covered under this, but it looks like i am experiencing one of the problems though. I was tempted to reformat the whole drive, but that would only be as a last resort.....the problem with using the recover partition is that on boot up it you're meant to press F10 but it does nothing, then F11 asks for the original back up discs. As for starting it from windows, with only booting into safe mode, the screen resolution is crap, and i can't see the bottom half of the window to know what i'm doing. I did try to crate a booting BIOS updating cd, but was unsuccessful. @simpswr. i did do a harddrive check (although not with that software) and i came back fine, plus it loads perfectly in my other laptop. When i get home from work tonight, i'll try the link above and see if there is any difference. Thanks helping guys

02-10-2009, 10:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,851 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Can't reformat Harddrive The original recovery CD could be ordered from HP. The price is affordable (the last time I checked it is not more than $20). Here's the link for the recovery CD order page (scroll down the page a bit)... http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...&swEnvOID=1093 As for the screen, try an external monitor. @Rich... sorry sir, I must have typed my reply faster this time. No problems here... __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

02-10-2009, 10:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,327 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Can't reformat Harddrive I gotta remember to refresh when I take a break form posting!!! __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?