Replaced my hard drive and lost my original discs - How do I install Vista and the needed drivers

[TRZ750]

I tried a Dell Vista SP1 32Bit dvd I had, but the new hard drive is not reconized and none of the driver disks I have work.  I am on a different laptop with Windows 10. I do not want to install Windows 10 as there are some software I have that works best in Vista. I plan to give this laptop, when repaired, to a low income family.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Looking at the specs for that model, I don't see why Vista can't find the hard drive.

The only suggestion I can offer if you are getting an error that you need to install a mass storage driver or whatnot, would be to try this...

I have zipped up and attached the sata drivers that would pertain to that model series below.

Unzip the folder and copy the file contents to a USB flash drive.

With the flash drive and Vista installation media in the PC, boot from the Vista installation media.

When you get to the installation step below, click on the Load Driver option (lower left icon), and browse to your USB flash drive with the storage controller drivers on it.

Open the x86 driver folder and if you check the box, it should only include the compatible driver.

Hopefully, Vista will then see the HDD, and continue with the installation process.

[TRZ750]

Like to try this, but I could not unzip the driver file. My trial has expired and I use zip so rarely I didn't want to purchase a copy.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Windows has a built in file unzip tool.

You right click on the file and select Extract All.

Otherwise use this free file utility.  This is not trial ware.

I have been using it for years.

https://www.7-zip.org/

[TRZ750]

Thanks I didn't know about the right click extract. I will try this solution tomorrow. 

Why is the box and arrow to the "delete"? This is a new hard drive with nothing - no partition. But I do get that window wanting a driver. I have a Dell driver disk that matches the Dell Vista disk I have, but no drivers there match.

Thanks again. I will tell you if this works.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

That is just a stock picture I found on the internet.

You want to click on the Load Driver icon on the lower left corner of the picture when you get to that step.

[TRZ750]

OK I was able to continue to extracting the files. But when that finished the PC shut off. When I restarted it I got this message:

I was able to try the Safe Mode, but had the same problem. Remember it is a HP laptop and I am using a Dell recovery disk.

Let me give you some more information. I am thinking my mother board is damaged. I was deleting files and some programs when the power coard pulled out. The battery was totally dead - so everything shut off during a delete operation. When I restarted the laptop it would not boot (the same as now). So using the BIOS checks the memory was OK but part way during the hard disk test there was a failure. So I ordered a new battery and hard disk (only cost $40). The original hard disk was a 250G and the new one is a 320G. Since this is a old laptop sshould I just give up and trash it? I was trying to do something nice for a low income family.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

I've used Dell disks on HP notebooks before.  Never had a problem.

You will just get some Dell logos in a couple of places you can delete and you will need to use the HP Vista product key to activate Windows.

So you were able to load the drivers after you extracted them, and the PC crashed?

Unfortunately, I don't know what else to suggest to you regarding the problem.

You can try this set of drivers I attached below, instead of the other ones I gave you, and see if that makes a difference.