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Installing A Operating System

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by jamcin3 Dec 17, 2001 last reply Mar 21, 2002

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I have a Hewlett Packard Vectra VL desktop with a Pentium 3 processor and whenever I try to install a operating system in it it get's to a certain point and then it locks up. I've tried to install Windows 2000 and it get's to the start up screen and stops. I've installed Windows 98 and it gets to installing plug and play devices and it stops. I've even tried to istall in Windows ME and it gets to the desktop then it stops. What could be the problem? How can I get a operating system on this computer?. I was told that Hewlett Packard has perprioties that will not allow an operating system to be installed in it unless it's the one that came on the CD with the computer when it was bought. The computer was gave to me and there is no CD with it. So how would I get an operating system on it if this is true? By the way just for info sake each time I've tried to install in one of these operating systems I HAVE done a FDISK and Formatted the drive to make it a clean start. Thanks Mike

14 replies

by thechas Dec 17, 2001

Have you tried restarting setup without clearing the drive. Windows does hang up from time to time during install.

Have you checked HP's web site for information, or FAQs on this problem?

There may be a BIOS upgrade, driver, or patch file to get around the problem.

On the assumption that there is some sort of OEM lock on the system, try to see if you can order a replacement CD from HP.

I know that some Compaq laptops do have a feature that requires you to either know a special code, or use their restore CD. So it is possible that you do need a specific CD from HP to set-up the system.

by jamcin3 Mar 21, 2002

The question was auto-closed by TechRepublic

by ojmj Dec 17, 2001

I went to the Hewlett Packard site

http://www.hewlettpackard.com/

and ran through the menus. I finally found a (download information) page where I couldn't go deeper because I didn't know the model of your computer. Try following this path,and see if you can find your download. (Be sure to remove any blank spaces.)

http://productfinder.support.hp.com/tps/ProductFinder?h_returntext=Return+to+Drivers+and+Downloads+Search&h_returnurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hp.com%2Fsupport%2Fsoftware&h_tool=software&h_query=Vectra+VL&Submit.x=10&Submit.y=10

Good luck on this. Hopefully you will be able to find an FAQ link in there somewhere that will help you further.

O.J.

by ojmj Dec 17, 2001

P.S. I also followed the path that led to Customer Care. I plugged in the "Vectra VL" and asked about "operating system." It had the same result. Can't go further without the VL series.

by jamcin3 Mar 21, 2002

The question was auto-closed by TechRepublic

by alan Dec 17, 2001

If none of the above answers helps, try pulling out all the PCI cards except the video card. I have had the exact same problem with a different computer that turned out to be a bad NIC. As soon as I pulled it out Windows installed fine.

by jamcin3 Mar 21, 2002

The question was auto-closed by TechRepublic

by pggoodwin Dec 17, 2001

Answer #3 is the way to go.

by jamcin3 Mar 21, 2002

The question was auto-closed by TechRepublic

by @lberto Dec 18, 2001

Sometimes mainboards and Windows don't work together as they should when performing new installations.
I would go to the BIOS setup and disable Plug and Play option, then remove all the aditional cards, such as NIC, sound cards, modem and so on, for operative reasons only leave the Video Card.
Try to install Windows on it and do not attemp to install video drivers or anything fancy yet.
Once the installation is completed, then Enable Plug & Play on your Bios, restart it and start pulling thecards one at the time.
It should work then.

Good luck,
@lberto
alberto@pancarib.com