CQ5600Y recovery disks not working

[gutiosnake]

So I guess I should start off by saying I am new to this forum and definitely not as knowledgeable on computers as everyone else here. With that being said, I hope that you guys would be kind enough to assist me with my issue.

I have a pretty basic desktop computer (CQ5600Y) that broke down on me recently. I have owned it for just over a year. All I know is that I left my computer on for a few hours and when I come back to use it, it was responding very, very slowly. It took 5 minutes just for an icon on my desktop to highlight after I clicked it just once. As a result, I shut my computer off by holding the power button and then turned it back on.

When I turned it back on, it will show the Compaq start-up screen with the option for Setup, Boot Menu or System Recovery. I can get to Setup and Boot Menu, but not System Recovery. If I press nothing during this time, the computer will just turn into a black screen with a blinking cursor and the statement, "DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER" if there is no disc in the computer.

I ordered the System Recovery Discs from HP and followed the directions provided.  I also called HP to ensure that I was sent the correct disks, which I was.  I have set the priority boot device to be my cd/dvd drive.  When the disc is in and the only thing connected to my computer is my monitor, mouse and keyboard, my computer just goes through a looping process.  It goes to the Compaq setup screen, then it goes to a black screen with a "Windows is loading files" text at the bottom, and then it goes to a light blue gradient-type screen (like the windows screen wants to load) with an active mouse (arrow).  On this screen, a window flashes for 1/2 a second, and then it goes back to the Compaq start-up screen and the whole thing starts all over.

The directions say that I should be prompted to choose between System Recovery from disc or from hard drive, but I never get to his step.  All I get is a loop as described above.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

[DavidPK]

Hi,

I would definitely suggest running some diadnostics on the Hard Drive - the procedure is described in the document on the link below.

Testing The Hard Drive.

Post back with the results.

Regards,

DP-K

[gutiosnake]

So I pressed F9 during the Compaq startup screen and ran the Windows memory diagnostic.  This is what I received:

Windows failed to start.  A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.  To fix the problem:

1.  Insert your Windows installation disk and restart your computer.

2.  Choose your language settings, and then click "Next."

3.  Click "Repair your computer."

If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.

FIle: \boot\memtest.exe

Status: 0xc000000f

Info: The selected entry could not be loaded because the appication is missing or corrupt.

==============================

I also tried to press F10 during the Compaq start up screen.  When the BIOS setup screen showed up, there is no HDD present.  The 1st drive is blank.  The 2nd drive has the DVD drive.  When I go to the "Boot" tab and click on the HDD Group Boot Priority, it shows:

1. 

2. Disabled

============================

Anyways, back to the F9 scenario since it doesn't look like F10 will get me anywhere.  I inserted the windows disc, chose the appropriate language settings and selected to "Repair my computer."

It then took me to a box entitled "System Recovery Options."

It then gives me the options to select one of two things.  Either I can

"Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows.  Select an operation system to repair.  If your operating system isn't listed, click Load Drivers and then install drivers for your hard disks."

-- There is a white box underneath it that is empty except for 3 columns labeled Operating System, Partition Size and Location.  Again, there is nothing underneath these column headings.

The second option is to

"Restore your computer using a system image that you created earlier."

The two buttons I can press are "Load Drivers" or "Next>"

If I press "Load Drivers" it asks me to "Insert the installation media for the device and click OK to select the driver."  -- The problem with this is that I have no idea where this driver is located... do I download it from somewhere, is it on my computer still or on the recovery discs that HP sent me?

If I click "Next>" the computer attempts to Re-image my computer, but that it says that "Windows cannot find a system image on this computer.  It then tells me to attach the backup hard disk or insert the final DVD from a backup set and click Retry.  Alternatively, close this dialog for more options"

-- I tried inserting all the recovery discs and clicked retry, but again but the same message keeps popping up.

I am really stuck here!!!

[DavidPK]

Hi,

With reference to the guide on the link below, completely remove and then re-connect the Hard Drive.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01700809&tmp_task=useCategory&cc=us&dlc=en&lang...

When the Hard Drive has been re-connected and the covers etc are all back on, start tapping away at f11 as soon as you press the power button to see if this will launch Recovery Manager from the partition on the Hard Drive - if it does, follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Windows.

Regards,

DP-K

[gutiosnake]

I went ahead and opened up my computer.  I then disconnected and reconnected the two power and data connectors from the back of my hard drive.  I restarted my computer and tried to press F11 repeatedly during the bootup process to load the Recovery Manager, but I still get the same results.

I then removed the SATA connectors from the motherboard and reconnected them as well... no luck.

Should I try removing the cables from SATA 1 and 0 to the ports right below them?  Or is it mostly likely just a failed hard drive?

[nothelpless]

Did you get resolution on this yet? The description of your problem is EXACTLY how my HP Pavilion is behaving. The DVD drive spins on the the HP recovery discs but nothing happens.  Just got them from HP today.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[gutiosnake]

No, not resolved.  Hopefully the fact that you revived this will prompt someone to respond with some new advice though.  =)

[nothelpless]

Let's hope.  On my system the diagnostic is F9. Everything checks out OK, CPU, disk, dvd drive, memory. I can even get the system to boot using a Linux OS boot CD with some tools on it that allowed me to copy off all my files. But for some reason Windows will not load. I wonder if I need to wipe the disks with the Linux tools then try again? I read on another thread how someone believed the HP recovery disks were still trying to hit the local HD recovery image if it was there. It is definitely still there on my system. As I have all my files and I was planning a full wipe, I will try that today and let you know if it works.

[nothelpless]

I got it working.  I used a cd I created from http://www.sysresccd.org with some linux tools that allowed me to reformat all the drives on the HDD, effectively removing all Windows systems (and of course all the locally stored files, backing up your drive is highly recommended).  The recovery discs started working after that.  I think this confirms that the recovery discs start searching everywhere for windows system files during the boot process, including the HDD. In my case it found stuff on the HDD but not enough, so, it locked up. These discs are clearly entended for catastrophic failures but they work.

Good luck!