Fresh Copy of Windows, HP SATA DRIVE?!

Hey guys! I'm planning to get the HP dv9000t but knowing that most online retailers, or reatail stores at that, overload the computers with bloatware, I want to know how to reinstall windows onto my HP dv9000t.

Why am I asking this?

HP's laptops are using the SATA drive technology, which I've heard has some problems with Windows.

So, question is, how do I install Windows on a SATA drive?

 

Let me rephrase my question, does the HP dv9000z guide work for the HP dv9000t?

Its a bit simpler, no?

Well the 9000t is intel while the 9000z is AMD, that could cause problems.

 

Reformatting the hard drive is exactly the same on both the t and z versions.

The CPU brand has nothing to do with the hard drive and OS.

 

I have seen a couple of people mention on these forums that the newer models didnt need to go through any of the SATA issues experienced before. In any case try booting wih the XP CD, it should let you know whether you will have SATA issues(it wont recognise the HDD) or not(installation will proceed).

 

On that booting with the XP CD... YMMV...

On a dv8000t (sata) I had it would "boot" from the CD, allow the selection, the deletion, the formating of the hd... Creation of new partitions, etc... Start copying files and then about 3/4 the way thru the install, it would 'ask" for the SATA drivers again- refusing to read from A drive again (known problem with XP, fixed in Vista I've heard) and the installer would crap out...

Leaving you with a newly formated hard disc with no OS on it.

NOTE: At the first part of the install, pressed F6 to install the needed SATA drivers off a USB floppy drive.

May have been the install CD I was using.... Used a HP provided "OS Install" disc... and it installed smooth as silk..

$10 OS install disc that "was" an option (OS ONLY- NO Bloatware), now replaced by the $18 (Coscto) or $19 (HP) System Recovery DVD (Bloatware city)

MFG's have alot of nerve, first they ship systems with NO disc's.... Now they're now not even giving you the "option" to purchase the OS disc that should have come with the system in the first place.


"Recovery" DVD, partition is a good idea for "tech" support issues so far as confirming there is a HARDWARE problem... but is "lacking" as it can't be used it to do a "fresh" install of the OS...


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The dv9000z series has a nVidia chipset that doesn't require additional SATA drivers to get started. Intel chipsets do, which means plugging in a USB floppy drive with the correct drivers loaded on the disc or integrating the drivers into an updated WinXP install DVD, though HP may have already integrated that driver for you on their newer discs. Short answer: the AMD/nVidia machine is easier to deal with.

I used the plain HP WinXP MCE DVD from my dv8000z to reinstall my dv9000z.

 

That little tidbit of info needs to be put into a faq (if it's not already-)


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I would try and get a Vista OS when it comes out, they are offering free upgrades. I think they stop offering the $10 disk because Vista is coming out and they offering free upgrades (why give and pay for two OS licenses?). I don't think they are trying to force bloatware on you.

 

Oh yeah they try to push bloatware on you. Those companies pay HP to do it, and that's why (1) they make so much and (2) why these computers are sometimes so cheap. My last HP (over 18 months ago) was repaired three times during it's lifetime. Each time it came back with a factory install of XP with all the bloatware. HP recently changed the OS CD option to allow only an installation of the OS+bloatware. They used to send you just the OS, but that has changed since forums like these have helped so many users just get rid of all the crap that is pre-installed on these PCs.

 

The margins on computers are razor thin. I was reading the legal documents of AMD which alleged that Intel uses this fact to throw money at them if they just use their processors. Plus they are under pressure to produce numbers for Wall Street. They could get tempted to strike deals with adware companies, I see it coming.

I just don't know what they are running in the background, rootkits, adware, or spyware. That is why I like clean install, we are under enough surveillance as it is.

I had a Toshiba and it didn't a i386 directory or OS install disk when I bought it. It looks like HP is making a better attempt. If you are buying a computer, it is a important buying decision for me. If people complain enough, then it will be standard practice.

 

well, I recently purchased a Compaq C306US - one of the cheapest notebooks out there. Of course, it came loaded with bloatware. I figured getting rid of all this would be as easy as putting in my winXP disc, formatting and re-installing a fresh copy.

i was shocked to see that the HDD was not recognized - it is the new SATA HDD. so I'm sitting here now, wondering what the heck to do... I installed Partition Magic on it too, and that didn't work to make new partitions.

***update.

After 3 hours of googling various articles/forums I came accross some useful info.

1) go here: http://www.nliteos.com/

various people mentioned this site, and the nLite program (it's a beauty).

2) you will have to make an ISO of you winXP cd, and with this program you can slipstream SP2 as well as add the SATA drivers for your mobo so the hard drive can be recognized. I got my drivers from Compaq's website... (SP2 does NOT contain the SATA drivers).

this worked for me - so far, as i am currently partitioning the HDD, and about to install a fresh copy of XP sp2.

Thanks...

 

I just purchased a dv9000z laptop fully loaded from Best Buy. I was surprised to see that NO CDs where included. There is a utility on the system to create the recovery CDs, but not the software installation CDs (Sonic, etc). I contacted HP support to ask them how I am supposed to install this software after reinstalling a new OS. They told me that it was not supported and only the OS that shipped with it would be supported (until Vista Upgrade comes out I suppose). I told them I didn't care if it was supported or not, I just needed to do it and I wanted to install the software that was packaged with it afterwards. Again they told me the same thing, you can only recover the OS / applications through the recovery system, so if you perform a clean install your out of luck.

I find this absolutely rediculous, any knowledgable computer professional is going to want to perform a clean install and get rid of all that bloatware that they put on it. I can't beleive they can get away with this, not only shoving bloatware down your throat, but not even allowing you to get rid of it. I can see a class action law suite looming here.

Anyway I am absolutely thrilled with the laptop itself, the build quality is tremendous. My only complaints are the latch is a bit sloppy and the layout of the keyboard makes it difficult to hit the right shift key (I'll get used to it). But a dual core laptop with 2GB RAM, dual 80GB 5400 SATA drives, dual layer DVD with LS and 17" screen for $900...you can't beat that!

Note: There is a folder called C:\SWSetup that appears to have all the software installation files, but you will need to burn it to DVD or copy to external drive. And there is no garantee that all the software will be installable, you may not have the product keys necessary and it may only be part of the installation files needed for recovery.

Anyway if your looking to buy one and reinstall Windows....good luck!

(I was able to install the final version of Vista without needing to load 3rd party drivers for the SATA drive)

 

I ordered my dv9000t in September: The $10 OS-only disk was not available to me, nor is the free Vista upgrade. Theory shot

 

I don't know if the DV series is simialr to the NC8430, but here's how to install SATA drivers inside of Windows and avoid the F6 method.

1.Go into the Bios and disable "native SATA"
2. go to device manager > IDE/ATAPI controllers > primary IDE > properties > update driver
3. say no to windows update
4. choose "install from specific"
5. choose "don't search I will choose"
6. choose "HAVE DISK" (if you don't see exactly this option, you are in the wrong place)
7. point Windows to the C:/SWsetup/HDD folder or wherever your SATA drivers are
8. choose "install"
9. restart, but before it restarts go into the bios and enable "native SATA", then restart again.

 

how to make your own XP SP2 CD here.

As long as you have a current copy of XP running, you should be able to make your own install CD. I have found no difference between the XP hologram CD and this method. Of course you'll still need your original CD key. If you run into online activation troubles, just call the number and activate by phone.

Works for XP Home or Pro, just modify your step 7 selection accordingly.

 

djspl - Forgive my ignorance - but am I to understand that when you load the SATA drivers, as you described, from within Windows from one hard-drive, then those drivers are 'loaded' on the mobo and a new SATA drive will be properly recognized? I'm not challenging your info - I just don't understand. I thought any drivers loaded thru Windows were on the hdd - and a new hdd wouldn't be recognized? Thanks!

 

He's saying instead of creating a install CD with the needed SATA hd drivers slipstreamed in, or using a external floppy to point the XP installer to during the first part of an XP install if the drivers are not slipstreamed in, to disable the way to drive is accessed in the BIOS, changing it from SATA to IDE (I think).... Install the OS, get it up and running, then install the needed SATA drivers (to the hard disc/OS), then shut-down the computer, reboot, go into the BIOS, re-enable the way the drive is accessed in the BIOS from IDE to SATA, and upon reboot of the OS it should use the correct drivers. (be accessing the drive via SATA.)


Three choices:

1: Use external floppy, Press F6 at start of XP install.
2: Slipstream the needed SATA drivers in. Install...
3: Or disable SATA in BIOS, install OS, SATA drivers, then re-enable SATA in the BIOS.


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yes, disable native SATA and the drive will operate in some sort of legacy mode. Install Windows, install the SATA driver, shut down, restart, go into Bios and enable native SATA and restart again.

The only computer I have seen with a "disable native SATA" is my HP NC8430, so check your Bios for the option. Usually I use the F6/floppy disk method.

 

djspl and WANA - Thank-you for your responses. I just used Nero to burn my first (test only) slip-streamed XP CD - but I have one more question to bother you with: Where do the SATA drivers go on the XP Cd - in I386/? or as a folder on the 'root' of the CD? Any special configuration or anything for the files - or just use the HDD/SATA from the C:\swsetup folder? Slip-streaming was much easier than I thought it would be - after downloading IsoBuster that is. Again - Thank-you very much!