Windows will not install on new HDD for HP Pavillion Elite m9510f

[jfmasson]

I have an HP Pavilion Elite m9510f operating with Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit SP-1 and with a Seagate Barracuda 7200.11, 750 Gb hard disk.

The HDD broke down a few weeks ago and is unsaveable.

I bought at new Seagate 1Tb hard disk to replace the 750 Gb and used the HP Recovery disks supplied by HP to wipe the new disk clean and reinstall Windows on it.

I can run all 3 recovery disks without issue, the computer goes through it's paces to reinstall Windows and all of a sudden, the computer stops and I get the message "Windows setup could not configure Windows to run on this computer's hardware".

What is up with that?  I am using a brand new HDD with the recovery disks supplied by HP.

does the replacement HDD need to be 750 Gb like the original?

Any help would be appreciated  

[Danjen]

Go into the bios and see if the bios sees it as a 1 TB drive. Is there any way the drive wasn't new? Could someone have opened the box? Could linux be installed on it?  Download the manufacturer's drive certification iso image and make a bootable CD.  Use it to test the drive and then use it to erase the drive.  Then try to install.

[jfmasson]

BIOS does recognize the new 1 Tb HDD.

In the recovery options, I chose the "wipe/clean/purge the disk totally and start fresh" option so I do not believe LINUX could be hiding in there.

I remain at a loss. 

Should I just be purchasing a copy of Windows 7 home premium and install that?  The recovery disks up to date have been as useful as a hole in the head...

Please advise 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The same error happened to me to with a set of HP factory restore disks for an HP Business desktop.

No need to buy W7.

Make your own disk...

If you can read the 25 character Microsoft windows 7 product key, you can download plain Windows 7 ISO files to burn to a DVD for the version of windows that came installed on your PC, and that is listed on the Microsoft COA sticker on your PC's case.

Burn the ISO using the Burn as ISO option on your DVD burning program and burn at the slowest possible speed your program will allow. This will create a bootable DVD.

Use the 25 character product key on the PC to activate the installation.

The key will activate either a 32 or 64 bit installation.

Then go to the PC's support and driver page to install the drivers you need.

Link to the W7 ISO file downloads is below.

http://www.mydigitallife.info/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/

Paul

[CherylG · Accepted solution]

Probably an issue with the hdd being the newer AF type. Windows 7 with SP1 should work better than Vista...but your Vista key won't work with the ISO download linked above.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Yikes...I didn't see that you needed Vista. I only saw where you were mentioning buying W7...

Here are the instructions to make a Vista disk. More complicated, but doable.

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 install the drivers from your PC's support and driver page.

Paul

[jfmasson]

in deed, my new HDD is advanced format 4K according to Seagate. Since I am starting from scratch with my 2008 HP disks, I do not have access to hotfixs until Windows is installed and Windows refuses to install. Chicken and egg scenario.
W7 will take care of it.
Thanks

[callupchuck]

I'm curious about this process. Did you also have to call to activate, as it states on that page? I often find myself at a customer's location, and not carrying their specific OS re-install disc.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

I never went through to activate. I just used the product key to test the install.

My understanding is you use the automated phone activation if activation fails.

I have had to do that in the past.

You don't need anything off the install disk to activate.

When you enter a product key and go to activate it and activation fails, you then get a bunch of boxes with numbers and letters in them.  I forgot how many.  I think like 6 boxes with 6 numbers and letters each?

Anyway, you call MS at the number listed on the window that opens. You then are asked how many PC's is this installation installed on, and you say 1, of course.

Then the automated voice tells you to start speaking the characters or pressing phone keys to enter the characters in the boxes.

When you are done, the voice then gives you numbers and letters to enter in a row of blank boxes and when you are done, the product is activated.

I haven't done it too many times so this was just from what I recalled happening.

Hope this helps.

Paul

[callupchuck]

Awesome. Thanks for the info and teaching this old dog some new tricks. Kudos!!!