Reinstalling Operating System

[Squirt59]

My hard Drive died on the computer.  I bought another hard drive to use the computer as a spare.   However, the operating system needs to be installed on it and unfortunately I don't have the recovery disk or the OS disk.  Is there anything I can do to reinstall on the computer.  I would buy a new disk but I'm not sure that the fan on the computer is working either.  

When I turned the computer on one morning it said that the hard drive failed.    I took it to Staples and they pretty much said the computer was shot.  I bought a new one that day.  The one I am typing on now.  

We purchased a new hard drive to see if we could work on it ourselves.  The hard drive checked out as okay but now it's asking to reinstall an operating system which unfortunaley I never made a recovery disk for.  

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@Squirt59

What you need to restore the original laptop is something known as HP Recovery Media.

HP Recovery Media is a set of DVDs and a CD, or USB stick, that will erase the hard drive (removing all data, settings, and applications, reinstall the original OS, drivers, and some HP Utilities. In some cases, you may be able to order a USB stick instead of disks. You have to order these from HP; they can not be downloaded.

You can look online for Recovery Media starting with the linked paged: http://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers

Once there, input your Product name or number. On your Software and Drivers Download page, select your Operating System and and Version. Click "Update". If HP Recovery Media is available for your machine, down near the bottom of the page, you will see an entry for Order Recovery Media-CD/DVD/USB. Click the "+" symbol to expand that entry and click on Order Media for details.

Or, if you prefer, you can do the same by contacting HP Customer Service:

If you live in the US or Canada, contact information is on this page: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/phone-assist.html#section1

If you live elsewhere, contact information is on this page: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/ww-contact-us.html

NOTE: After you get through, stay on the line until you are finally able to talk to some one -- it can take a while!

If you have trouble finding a phone number, then try: 1 (800) 474-6836

However ... I believe that HP no longer provides Recovery Media for the DV6s -- so, a couple of other sites you can check are: http://www.computersurgeons.com/ and http://www.restoredisks.com/

Good Luck

[Squirt59]

Thanks for your help.  I was able to find the recovery disk, I think, from one of the websites you provided.  I just have to check my model #.  I'll keep you updated.  Thanks for your help. 

[Squirt59]

Thanks.  They actually do have the discs for it.  It's $45.  The other two places didn't have it.  I attempted to order it and when it got to the payment page it froze so I don't think it went through.  I may just call them directly.  Now let me just ask you, I installed a new Hard drive into the computer because the other one stopped working.  These discs would put everything on this?  

[Squirt59]

ok.  So I ordered it from HP.  Will let y ou know if it works.  Thanks for your help

[Squirt59]

Just wanted to let you know we used the recovery disks and it works great.   Thanks for your help