HELP! I may need recovery disks for pavilion d4790y...+ i think i screwed up....

[ciaroman23]

I have been having problems with my desktop for a while now, thought it could be a fan, virus, hard drive or ram as in my previous post... the computer would either freeze/crash or not shutdown, requiring a hard shut down. when trying to reboot/restart computer, it would beep several times until i let it sit for a few minutes, then everything was back to normal (found out that could've been a BIOS error after all of this happened)...

 Now I have NOT touched or replaced any components on my computer at all. Nothing! Now I was debating on upgrading OS and RAM, but have not decided if it was worth it on this older machine. So I have not done any modifications or change of software. the only change i made to it was not renewing norton and going with vast(free).

Just the other day, it suddenly wouldn't boot Win Vista 32 at all. My monitor at startup (before config utility pops up) had straight colored lines going vertical across the screen. I immediately thought "virus" or "fan is not blown/graphics card is screwed/wrong driver downloaded"... I did get it into safe mode with networking with no problem with the monitor (no lines), and tried to rollback driver, as well as download from nividia the updated one. Nothing seemed to work except safe mode(s), system config, boot setup, CTRL I (can't remember what menu that is), & system restore/repair/diagnose screen. I tried all of the restart drivers config thing, change boot patterns (hard disk only), all of it. When going to boot screen (any dos screen at startup), no lines whatsoever... I tried to system restore, didn't do a thing... i tried the diagnostic check, everything fine on all hardware..., system repair did nothing...

So I take the side casing off to check the components inside to see if any wiring was loose, fans not working/dirty, etc... everything OK there besides fan a little dirty. Cleaned them off, same thing still happening. Here comes the fun part...

Now I have backed up all of my files and "backup" on my external hard drive(s)... i thought i had made recovery disks or it had came with it when i purchased it... I changed the RAID0 settings by deleting the old setup, and turned it  back to non raid disks. Then I created a new RAID0... I guess you know where this is going...

It now says insert cd to boot... Now it doesn't do anything but let me into system settings and change the boot preference...

I have no recovery disks or I can't find what happened to them if I do have them... the external drives with backup (to USB) will not work... I've kind of searched hp online to no avail, and I've seen some online, but that seems pretty shady,especially with the OS deal...

I don't want to buy another desktop if I can help it, but I need to know if there is anything I can do?   

Thanks

.   

[old_geekster]

Ciaroman23, welcome to the forum.

Whenever I see these symptoms, I immediately think "failing power supply unit" (PSU). A failing PSU will cause these symptoms and many others.  It is my opinion that it booted into Safe Mode because only necessary components are started using less power.

Here is a guide that will help you troubleshoot the PSU:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=bph06788

Please click "Accept as Solution" if your problem is solved.

[ciaroman23]

Could be could be... Especially on the original problem. Had a lot of thimgs plugged into same powerstrip (alot lol). But now i cant even go into anything after resetting raid partitions. Original was raid0, and i deleted that and created no raid0 with max/default space (same as previously deleted) but bios, boot, and raid config. I cant get to safe mode or startup repair no matter me hitting f8, even tho i am using usb keyboard/mouse and not originals.
My biggest problem right now is at least getting back into safe mode or start original settings with vista booting up since i backed up everything on ext hard drive. I wouldnt think resetting raid would delete OS, especially since internal hds are 250 a piece, raid0 says i have 460gb or close to it, & i would assume that the 40gb left would be OS & drivers.

But like i said, now my main issue is restoring OS or at least get me to F8 screen. If not, find a recovery disk to get me back up with genuine OS for cheap

[ciaroman23]

Sorry sloppy. Only have stoop ipod touch at home right now... Typing on touch screen is a b*t@h

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

If it is a hardware issue (PS etc), then you will have to decide what to do about that after you have exhausted the software options.

Unfortunately when you deleted the RAID setup, I believe the boot sector has become so messed up, that it is irrepairable.

The OS and files are there, but they cannot be accessed by booting.

I did that once to a Dell 530s. I changed the BIOS storage settings from IDE to RAID one too many times, and once I was able to load the RAID drivers using a USB floppy disk to fix it, but I was foolish enough to trifle with it again, and that was that.

I had to reinstall the OS. Not a problem for me as I had a Dell OS reinstallation disk.

So...my recommendation for you is to bite the bullet on this one, and order a set of recovery disks from HP.

The info to do that can be found at the link below.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00707939&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&os=2093&product=336...=

If the info leads you to a dead end, at the very least, call HP at either 888-999-4747 or 800-474-6836, because HP will charge you half of what it will cost you at the link below.

You will need to provide the model # and serial number to the customer service rep.

If HP doesn't have the recovery disks, you can order them from this 3rd party vendor for $27 + shipping.

http://www.computersurgeons.com/productdetails.aspx?ID=390

Best Regards,

Paul

[ciaroman23]

Thanks so much again paul, as well as geekster. So Paul, u said u once did it from a usb floppy. I do have backups on my 2 usb external hard drives. Any idea if that would work? I tried but maybe im doing it wrong. I once recovered a crash on an external western digital external by removing it from its casing and inserting into a desktop. Got all of my files that way. I dont know if that would do any good or not, since i dont know i boot files are stored on a backup or not.
If thats a no go, then i will try hp support first. Oh yeah, my hp is cto and has vista ultimate. Think that may be a problem?
Thanks again

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Yes, I was able to do that once, but you also need an OS installation disk. You need the OS installation disk + a USB FDD, and the right drivers of course on the FDD.

You can't even use a recovery disk for that. It has to be an OS installation disk.

Yes having ultimate might be an issue. If you input your model number on that computer surgeons site, you get a bunch of options showing the recovery disks for different OS versions, but only one had the disks actually listed.

You will have to call HP and ask, or e-mail those computer surgeons guys and see if they have the recovery disk sets for Ultimate.

Paul

[ciaroman23]

Again much thanks Paul. Talked to HP, of course they didn't have them & tried to sell me another computer lol. I called the link you posted and they said it would be compatible with my PC... Reason I wanted that model and had it customized was to record my musical ideas & band material... it is/was a great PC at that time even though Vista is buggy as all heck. Was hoping to upgrade RAM, Hard Drive(s) and optical drives in the future... I do hope the disks i ordered will go well. If not, guess I will have to get another desktop, this time cheaper and maybe not  a HP... I feel as though I have been burned too many times by them. This desktop was wonky at first, then they said I ordered no warranty when I got a 3yr plan. I also I purchased a high end laptop as well in 2008, dv2700t CTO, to take on the road and record music ideas, keep track of bills or edit live material. Had nothing but problems from it... it would crash/blue screen constantly, & finally overheated due to faulty ventilation after 1 1/2 yrs. I also had 2yr warranty on that, and before that expired, they decided it wasnt covered under warranty after paying a good penny... local computer shop said the laptop is now a brick...

So yeah... not trying to bash HP, but feel a little disgruntled at the moment... I do know that messing with the raid was my fault, not theirs... and I now know to ALWAYS backup computer on disks first and foremost!!!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

The recovery disks should work fine.

I like Vista. Never had a problem with it. It's just a memory hog, and if you have at least 4 GB of memory in your PC, it should run just fine.

Plus I found this neat link and used most of these tweaks to get the best performance out of that OS, which I will share with you. These also helped a great deal.

http://www.winvistaclub.com/t1.html

Please post back, and let us know how your recovery operation went.

Best Regards,

Paul

[ciaroman23]

I will. Thanks for the link. Very inciteful stuff there, and a definite must read for me.

Just curious... which browser do you prefer? I use chrome a lot, but not sure if it slows system down more than firefox or IE. I do already use Ccleaner and glary utilities BTW.