Cannot recovery HP m8200n Media Center Desktop with purchased System Recovery Discs [ Edited ]

[tolbyn]

I'm trying to fix this computer for a friend. It's a m8200n Media Center Desktop (product# GN551A). It's out of warranty. It had Windows Vista Home Premium loaded. I was unable to use the System Recovery that was on the hard drive, so I purchased System Recovery Discs for this model. The BID number on the PC is 74NAV3PRA2 and the BID on the discs is 74NAV3PRA1. I was told by HP support that the last number being different doesn't matter and that these are the correct discs for this model.

When disc loads, it says "Windows is loading files" and there's a gray progress bar along the bottom. After a minute or so, it finishes loading and then comes up with a window that says "Error - This PC is not supported by the System Recovery Discs. You will not be able to continue to recover this system with these discs."

I can only click the "OK" button and then the computer restarts. After a few tries, the disc did load properly once. I tried performing the system recovery, which seemed to happen fairly quick (only about 5 minutes) and then it said recovery was complete. The only button I could press was "Finish". The computer restarted and didn't load the OS. I tried the disc again and ever since then it's been back to the "Error - This PC is not supported..." screen.

The HP tech support told me to go to the manufacturer menu and delete the partitions and wipe all the sectors, which I did. Then they told me to try loading the Recovery Disc again. I still get the same message.

At boot-up, it says to press F10 for System Recovery. If I keep pressing it while the Recovery Disc is loading, it will take me to a screen that says:

     Edit Windows boot options for: Windows Setup

     Path: \windows\system32\boot\winload.exe

     /DETECTHAL /MININT /REDIRECT RDIMAGEOFFEST=8192 RDIMAGELENTH=3161088 RDPATH=multi(0)disk(0)cdrom(0)\sources\boot.wim\

At the bottom of the screen, I can hit ENTER to submit or ESC to cancel. If I hit enter, the disc tries to load again with the same error message. If I hit ESC, I got into the "Windows Boot Manager" where the only option is to select Windows Setup [EMS Enabled].

I'm at a loss here. I REALLY don't want to send this in to HP to fix since I'm sure it'll be costly. I'm wondering if it'll be easier to just buy/borrow someones Windows Vista Disc and re-install it manually since they already have a license for it. Any ideas on how I can get this computer back up and running? Thanks in advance!

Message Edited by tolbyn on 08-01-2009 07:59 PM

[DemoGuy1957]

Not sure where the BID Number is located on the computer case, but I'm almost at my ends on restoring the same computer.

I've check my BIOS, did F5 and any other test the suggested. HDD is showing up in the BIOS. After all this, and all day Saturday searching the web for ideas, The last line says REPLACE THE HARD DRIVE.

I never knew that the system restore disk was to be made (burned) from the hard drive, and I can't locate a set from their web sight.

Any chance I could buy your set? Seeing they didn't work for you, maybe they will work for me.

I'm not going to buy a hard drive untill I know I can restore it. Dha!!!

What a shame and waste of a nice computer.

Note: You stated System Recovery, press F10, mine says, F11. Typo?

Back on my pavilion 513n, but not giving up yet on the m8200n.

Kevin

PayPal?   

[DemoGuy1957]

Thank's to Mike OB I've order the recovery disc's for my M8200N computer. Just under $14 with shipping.

Here's the link mike gave me on another post:

According to hp.com you should be able to order recovery disks for your HP Product

 (http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=2093&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=3548185)

So I'm off to hunt down a HDD before the disc get here.

Kevin

[mtu619]

Hey did you ever have any luck recovering you HP m8200n?  I am having the same exact problem that you had. 

[Johnson]

ive been having same problem told me i have to get the motherboard retattooed by hp or best buy place like that i went to best buy had no idea what i was talking about mine been lke it for a few months now

what i did reinstalled a store bought copy of vista works fine lost all my hp crap now im running windows 7 still no problems

[m_williams0187]

Did you get the 32 bit or the 64 bit verison of windows 7 because my hard drive was wiped clean and i am looking to get windows 7 because I dont have my restore disk?

[Johnson]

it came with both 32 and 64 im running 64 because i have 8 mb of ram. so far so good

[calebmwarr]

I'm having a similar problem with my dv6812nr. ive gone through the same things, and the ordered discs do not work, same message. will a new copy of windows (i will go to Windows 7 if i have to buy it, Vista is nothing but problems) fix the issue? HP wants $298 to install a new OS. the computer was only a little over 600 new.