Pavilion a6200n won't take recovery, BIOS update after HDD format

[masscomp]

Long story short, a verified healthy OEM HP Pavilion won't accept verified recovery media instlal or BIOS update.

Working on a badly infected/corrupted HP Pavilion a6200n (GN556AA). Machine had black screen/blinking cursor of death.

Formatted HDD using DBAN DoD Short/3-pass. Ordered DVD recovery set from HP - verified with HP that the media is correct based on serial number. When booting to recovery DVD, message reads: "this pc is not supported by the system recovery discs you will not be able to continue to recover this system with these discs." I attempted to update the BIOS - current BIOS is version 5.17 (5.27 is available). BIOS update fails stating system doesn't meet minimum requirements for this update. HW is original configuration (no aftermarket video card or anything.) Machine takes a successful windows install from another OEM Windows Vista (64 bit) installer, but I want to use the license from this box - OS is Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit- CoA on the case. HP wants $50 to talk beyond verifying that the media is correct. I refuse. Thinking about buying a Vista HP DVD from ebay, but before I do that, any ideas?

[Hanspuppa]

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masscomp wrote: Long story short, a verified healthy OEM HP Pavilion won't accept verified recovery media instlal or BIOS update. Working on a badly infected/corrupted HP Pavilion a6200n (GN556AA). Machine had black screen/blinking cursor of death. Formatted HDD using DBAN DoD Short/3-pass. Ordered DVD recovery set from HP - verified with HP that the media is correct based on serial number. When booting to recovery DVD, message reads: "this pc is not supported by the system recovery discs you will not be able to continue to recover this system with these discs." I attempted to update the BIOS - current BIOS is version 5.17 (5.27 is available). BIOS update fails stating system doesn't meet minimum requirements for this update. HW is original configuration (no aftermarket video card or anything.) Machine takes a successful windows install from another OEM Windows Vista (64 bit) installer, but I want to use the license from this box - OS is Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit- CoA on the case. HP wants $50 to talk beyond verifying that the media is correct. I refuse. Thinking about buying a Vista HP DVD from ebay, but before I do that, any ideas?

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Hello masscomp. Can you advise if you made any changes to the D: partition on the hard drive? This is the HP Recovery Restore partition.

If you made no changes and the data is not corrupted you may be able to recover from the D: partition.

When the system boots, and you see the HP Logo, immediately start tapping the F-11 key and see if the HP Recovery Restore Utility will start. If it does, just let it restore the software.

There have been quite a few issues with the HP Recovery Restore Disk ordered from HP.

[masscomp]

Hello Hanspuppa - I formatted the entire hard drive, so the recovery partition was also erased.

[Hanspuppa]

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masscomp wrote: Hello Hanspuppa - I formatted the entire hard drive, so the recovery partition was also erased.

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Hello masscomp. Any HP Recovery Restore software would not work on another HP system. These HP Recovery Restore disk sets are tied to the original system they were created for.

The only option would be to try an locate a Retail version of the operating system that has never been installed, with a proper valid Porduct Key.

Ant operating system you might purchase from eBay would most likely aready have been installed, even of it came with a Product Key, so it would not pass activation, since it would have already been activated.

[masscomp]

@hanspuppa: I don't think you thoroughly read my OP.

I ordered the recovery disc set from HP. When I recevied the set and it failed to install, so I contacted HP. I gave HP the serial numbers of the PC and the discs I received. HP stated that these were the correct discs for this system.

I have a valid Vista product key. With generic installation media, I would use this product key on the COA which I OWN. If I had Vista HPx86 installation media, I would use it and activate it under the product key on the case. I just don't have that particular flavor of Vista installation media.

This is yet another extremely frusturating experience with HP/Compaq products. Why would they sell me incompatible installation media and not support it? Poor business. Perhaps this lack of attention to management detail is why HP is getting out of the PC business altogether. Actually, getting out of the PC business is the only responsible thing for HP to do (if they can't adequately support their products).

[Hanspuppa]

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masscomp wrote:@hanspuppa: I don't think you thoroughly read my OP. I ordered the recovery disc set from HP. When I recevied the set and it failed to install, so I contacted HP. I gave HP the serial numbers of the PC and the discs I received. HP stated that these were the correct discs for this system. I have a valid Vista product key. With generic installation media, I would use this product key on the COA which I OWN. If I had Vista HPx86 installation media, I would use it and activate it under the product key on the case. I just don't have that particular flavor of Vista installation media. This is yet another extremely frusturating experience with HP/Compaq products. Why would they sell me incompatible installation media and not support it? Poor business. Perhaps this lack of attention to management detail is why HP is getting out of the PC business altogether. Actually, getting out of the PC business is the only responsible thing for HP to do (if they can't adequately support their products).

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@masscomp, Sorry you feel I didn't read and understand your post properly. You are probably correct.

I should have just let your post go unanswered by me, since apparently I don't know how to correct the issue you seem to have.

There may be some other Members here that can read and understand your post correctly and suggest a solution, that will work for you.

I apologize for taking up your time, since I failed to read and understand your post.

[RLWOOD]

I am having the exact same issue.  Ordered recovery disks for my PC and getting the same message as you.  Did you find a solution?

[masscomp]

Never found a solution, but I did find a suitable workaround. I installed Ubuntu and the computer now runs better than it ever did with Windows. Installation was easy - downloaded the latest installer (.iso), burned to CD, booted to CD, and I was up and running in less than 30 minutes. No driver issues with this hardware. Thanks for nothing, HP.

[ZueZuesPetals]

Received recovery discs from HP..cost about $13..followed instructions and a message states it is not for my PC. After trying a few times..another message ....under windows boot manager..windows/sysytem32/winload.exe...application is missing or corrupt.Btw..I got malware and ended up starting a recovery from the drive but it never re- installed  windows..not sure whats going on. I think this PC is 5 yrs old but I really have only USED it about 6months total. Its been in storage.Any help is greatly appreciated.Thx.

[avangart]

Could someone answer this question more clearly please