Recovering an HP IQ506 TouchSmart

[sgmfus]

My TouchSmart IQ506 hard drive (HD) (a Seagate 500GB, 7200 SATA) crashed - completely - 14 days ago. I attempted to pull any data off of the HD using an Apricorn drive wire appliance, but the HD would not respond, which was a disappointment. Anyway, I purchased a replacement HD - a WD Caviar Green - 500 GB SATA. I also requested recovery disks from HP using the model number and serial number of my TouchSmart PC. HP sent me the disks - 3 each (part number 467538-ZH1) plus one supplemental disk (part number 499724-ZH1). I installed the new HD and began the recovery process by inserting disk number 1 into the DVD/CD player. The process for recovery began as expected going through each disk as requested by the on-screen instructions. The recovery process began with the notice of "Reformatting the Windows partition of your hard drive", with a status bar indicating progress, which lasted through the supplemental disk and disks 1 and 2 and partially through disk number 3 - reaching 100% complete. Then "Reinstalling original content" began - also with the status bar below. This, too, accomplished 100% complete - doing it two times. I was then instructed to click a "Finish" button to continue the process, which I clicked on.

The computer then restarts, displays a "Windows is loading files" message with status bar. A Smartnet.cmd window appears indicating several commands being made with each being noted as "success". A graphic of  FOLDER-TO-FOLDER file exchange then appears and runs for several minutes. A new background appears with a logo  appearing in the right bottom of the screen "Flex Build 2.0 Hp Restricted". The computer then restarts again.

The computer then restarts again, displays the "Windows is loading files" message again with status bar. A Smartnet.cmd window appears again indicating several commands being made with each being noted as "success". Same graphic of  FOLDER-TO-FOLDER file exchange appears again and runs for several minutes. A gray-colored background appears with an hour glass, and then the computer restarts again.

The computer then restarts again, displays the "Windows is loading files" message again with status bar. The message of "Please wait while Windows sets up your computer..." on a black screen. The computer then restarts again.

After restarting, messages appear regarding status, which are; Installing Windows; copying files; expanding files; installing features, installing updates; and finally "Completing installation..."  At the bottom of the window is a status bar separated into 2 parts numbered 1 and 2. The portion marked 1 is totally completed; the portion marked 2 appears to be progressing up to about 65% of its process - and then does not go any further than that. Screen flashes briefly with the appearance of a cmd window - then disappears. A few moments after the same flashing occurs. Finally a status screen appears indicating "Windows setup  could not configure Windows to run on this computer" with an OK button, which I then click. The computer restarts.

After restarting, the message of "Windows could not complete the installation.  To install Windows on this computer, restart the installation."  I ran the installation 2 more times - each resulted in the same actions.

I also ran the diagnostics program on all systems. There was no indicated problems noted anywhere. I also used the Microsoft repair tool - software access provided through the recovery disk list of options - which also could not resolve the issue.

Anyone have any idea what's going on? Could the recovery disks sent to me from HD be the issue? No hardware change have been made to the computer except for the new HD.  HELP! 

[CherylG]

Is the replacement hdd one of the newer Advanced Format drives? Does it have AF stamped on it anywhere?

[CherylG]

We see problems reported often when using Recovery Disks with AF hdds. Usually the suggestion is to return the hdd and get a non AF. Before resorting to that I would try WD Alignment Tool, may work for you. Download and install it, then use the Media Builder to burn a bootable cd to boot the TouchSmart.

http://support.wdc.com/product/downloadsw.asp?sid=128&sfaccountid=&sfassetid=