Trying to install XP from the recovery partition

[Dino7878]

Hi and thank you for taking the time to help! 

I am working on a Compaq Presario SR1500nx

I am trying to install windows XP from the Image located on the recovery drive.

The Recovery Drive is marked         PRESARIO_RP(H

I wonder if I have being trying to run the wrong file?  I have started the Winnt32.exe file from the H:\i386 folder and had it start the install process.  I enter the COA number of the holographic sticker and sometimes it gets to the Coping files part of the install.  At that point it would seem it is working.  When the computer reboots I get the error;    

File\$win_nt$.~BT\system32\biosinfo.inf could not be loaded  Error code 14 

The error comes just after the computer completes it’s POST test on boot. 

The install process appears to be installing Windows alone, from a window that appears to be all Microsoft.  Is there another file that I should be using that would also install all the software and programs that were preinstalled at purchase?

If winnt32.exe, is indeed the correct file for me to use then anyone know the meaning of the above error and how to correct it?  I attempted to access the winnt32.exe file from a live, bootable, BartPE CD.  I also installed a retail copy of XP from a CD onto the C: and then tried to activate the Factory Image from the H:\i386\winnnt32.exe.  I have already used the Retail Copy on more than 1 Computer and do not want to make too big a habit of it!  I really want to use the install and COA that came with the computer.

Would love any and all help and suggestions!  

[lasvegaswireman]

Please refer to this document on System Recovery (Windows XP) for the sr1500nx. If the Recovery partition has been damaged or corrupted... you may need to order a Recovery Disc set from ComputerSurgeons.com

Frank

[Dino7878]

The C: Has been formatted so there is no responce to pressing F10 on boot up and there is no working OS.  Can I activate the recovery console on The H: Drive from BartPE or windows 98, 2000 retail XP?

[lasvegaswireman]

You might be able to set the H:\ drive as the active and bootable partition. No guarantees though.

Frank

[Dino7878]

I checked the BIOS and the boot menu only allows me to assign by physical drive and not the logical drive letter.  Again, the H:\ Drive is a partition on the same physical drive as the C:\ Drive.  The C:\ Drive has been formatted and is not bootable!  I have loaded a couple other OS’s on the C drive including Win98, 2000, and XP from retail disc’s I have but still cant activate the reinstall program.   

Can anyone confirm that the H:\i386\winnt32.exe is the correct file to use to reactivate a factory install?  Or should I be looking for another file? 

I have to believe there is a easy way to launch a clean install from the H:\ partition!  That is what it is there for!   If they would have included the CD I would have been done 4 days ago! 

[lasvegaswireman]

H:\i386\winnt32.exe is not the file needed to reactivate the factory install. The computer needs to boot into the H: partition to start the recovery process. Please order the recovery discs as previously suggested and the system will be restored in a matter of an hout or two from the time the recovery disc is inserted.

Frank