Operating system disks

[Adensnap]

i am going to put a new hardrive into my hp pavillion a6683w and i was wondering where do i get the disks to reinstall my operating system? 

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

You can read this link below on how to order recovery disks for your PC.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph07143&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en

If they are no longer available from HP, you can get them from this vendor.

http://www.computersurgeons.com/productdetails.aspx?ID=14620

If you're up to a slight but rewarding challenge you can make your own if you can read your 25 character Vista product key on the PC.

If you can read your 25 character MS product key, you can make your own Windows Vista installation disk. Just download the 3 files you need at the link below, and read all of the instructions to create a bootable DVD installation disk using imageburn.

Disregard the part of the text under the first screen shot about "extract the files to the Vista folder."

The files were already extracted to that folder when you ran the X14.exe file by reading the text on top of the first screen shot.

The other thing I noticed is on the 4th screen shot, where it shows Developer ID Microsoft Corporation. I had to type Microsoft Corporation in myself, and then the other codes automatically populated.

When I went to compile the ISO file, ImageBurn gave a message that about a WIM file and ISO, and if I wanted to burn it in a different format.

I selected No, make the ISO file.

It was not that hard to do. I burned both the 64 bit disk and the 32 bit disk in case I ever need them.

I tested both of them an my hp dc7100 CMT desktop PC, they worked perfectly.

When you enter the product key, it knows what version of Vista you have.

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/w/microsoft_os/3317.2-3-microsoft-windows-v....

After you successfully install vista, you can then visit your PC's support and driver page and install the drivers you need.

Paul