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Hard Drive Error (99 Views)
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Cologma54 Student
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Cologma54
Posts: 1
Registered: ‎02-21-2012
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Hard Drive Error

‎02-21-2012 12:04 PM

I have a HP Desktop (KP334AA-A3A) that was given to me.  The O/S is Windows Vista.  Unfortunately, I was not given the restore disk.  My question - I've looked online and Amazon has a Vista restore disk for $5.  Is it worth it to purchase?  2nd question - can I update to Windows 7 w/out restoring Vista first?

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Paul_Tikkanen
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Registered: ‎07-13-2010
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Re: Hard Drive Error

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‎02-21-2012 12:24 PM - edited ‎02-21-2012 12:29 PM

Hi:

 

The product number you posted indicates you have a HP Pavilion a6430.sc Desktop PC.

 

It originally shipped with Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit.

 

The link to the support and driver page for this PC is at the link below.

 

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&os=228&product=3718931&query=KP334AA&s...=&

 

You must get a recovery disk set made specifically for that PC.  A recovery disk set from another PC will not work.

 

A recovery disk set consists of more than one disk, so if you see only one recovery disk for $5, that isn't going to work.

 

To answer your second question...if Windows Vista is currently installed on the hard drive and for whatever reason, it isn't booting up, you can purchase a Windows 7 upgrade program and should be able to upgrade to Windows 7. The upgrade disk is just looking to see if a qualifying operating system is installed before proceeding to load. It does not necessarily need to be functional.

 

If the hard drive is blank, in order to install windows 7, you would need the full version --OEM or retail.

 

The hardware installed in the PC indicates you can install either the 32 or 64 bit version of windows 7.

 

Paul

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