Can't change boot order

settings and disable the hard drive as a boot option, then try again, (by the way you will be required to press a key on the keyboard during boot to boot from the cd - did you miss this perhaps?)
If you still can't boot from the cd then there is either a problem with the cd drive or perhaps if you are using a copied installation cd it wasn't done properly and is not bootable

Mainly because the BIOS operates in an unfamiliar way.

Go into the BIOS and use the cursor keys to slide across the top menu until you get to 'boot menu'. There should be an option to change the boot menu: with the cursor keys, click down until the option is highlighted. THEN press the 'Enter' key.

You'll then (hopefully) see a second list, containing entries for your hard drive, optical drive, any other hard drive, usb drives, maybe even a floppy drive. Navigate to the entry you want to change and hit the Enter key again.

This will highlight your optical drive which you then 'slide' up to the top of the list.

You should then find an option on the top menu-bar at the right hand side, for 'Save & Exit'. This will return your system to boot-up.

You should count yourself lucky that you find the BIOS confusing! - Some of the Peers here started out soooo long ago, the BIOS screen ran all the way through their computing day! ;)

anything make sure that you create a Recovery CD/DVD and check this out.

Check this part out "to save both the original factory software image that came with your HP computer and your software image that includes your customizations and data."

HP provides free data and system file protection for its business desktops, notebooks, and workstations. With HP Backup & Recovery Manager, you can quickly recover and get back to work when information is accidentally deleted or your operating system is corrupted.

Help your company protect against potentially disastrous data loss. HP Backup & Recovery Manager helps protect the data and system state of your HP computer by taking scheduled snapshots, which can be stored in a protected area on the primary hard drive, a secondary hard drive, a network drive, or on external optical media. Create Recovery Discs (CDs or DVDs) based on the software image shipped from the factory or yoursoftware image that includes your customizations and data. System backup and disaster recovery is now simpler and more powerful for all users, regardless of connectivity.

Easy to run, easy to restore

HP Backup and Recovery Manager is quick and user-friendly. To run, simply go to All Programs > HP Backup & Recovery > HP Backup and Recovery Manager.

With HP Backup & Recovery Manager, file restoration is easy. To recover a deleted file, simply use the Restore Wizard. For a full system restoration, press the F11 key during bootup and then select "Recover PC" from the menu.

Recovery Discs enable disaster recovery

HP Backup and Recovery Manager saves your computer's software image on Recovery Discs (CDs or DVDs). You have the flexibility to save both the original factory software image that came with your HP computer and your software image that includes your customizations and data. These Recovery Discs enable full recovery of your computer should a critical hardware failure occur.

Since HP now provides this simple tool to create your own Recovery Discs, HP commercial PCs that include HP Backup and Recovery Manager will not include factory restore CDs. HP Backup & Recovery Manager is preloaded on new HP commercial desktops, workstations, notebooks, and tablet PCs introduced starting March 2006.

Safeguard your system files and critical data
HP Backup & Recovery Manager provides the following features and benefits:

Feature
Benefit

Create Recovery Discs
Software backup in case of critical hardware failure

Backup individual files and folders
Helps protect your critical data, quickly

Backup open or locked application files (such as .pst files)
Backup Microsoft? Outlook files without exiting the application

Backup data to hidden partition on the user's local hard drive*
Enables fast and convenient recovery from accidental file deletion or system corruption

Backup data to a secondary hard drive, CD-R, DVD-R, flash media or network drive (recommended)
Enables user flexibility and choice

Scheduled backups and restore point snapshots
Automate the protection of your system

Create system recovery points
Captures changes made to your system ? applications, data and settings

Number of snapshots limited only by available storage space
Provides ability to roll back to a known good state or recover individual documents/files from a long history

One button restore in pre-OS environment
Restore your system even when the operating system fails to load

Wizard backup and restore interfaces
Simple interface for all users

Advanced backup and restore interfaces
Added control for advanced users

OK, so I used the recovery thingy but now it asks for the administrator password. Is there a default password? Shouldn't it be blank when I recovered the whole system? Now I can't get anywhere...and it still doesn't recognize the CD at startup. The computer belonged to a person who's not working for us anymore...

Any suggestions?

I haven't yet managed to sort this out. The situation now is this: I have an HP notebook with a freshly recovered installation of Windows XP. I'm not in possession of the administrator's password and the CD drive doesn't get recognized at startup...

Is there any way to advance in this matter other than calling HP?

... It's as if all the recovery does is replace the registry. All the subsequent programs need to be reinstalled, but the folders, individual program settings and data are still accessable. Heck, the last time I encountered it, it even saved the customization settings in Outlook so that all we had to do was import everything from the backup PST file. Bammm!!! Up and running.

Maybe they've spent too much money on technical support after a customer "recovered".

that the PC is not doing a factory restore. If you do a full factory restore it should take it back to when it was purchased, unless the restore image has been modified. There should be no password.

For a full system restoration, press the F11 key during bootup and then select "Recover PC" from the menu.