HP 6000z clean install--a cautionary tale...

OK, the subject is slightly dramatic: I did not damage my computer in anyway, but did waste time due to wrong information received from various HP sales & technical support people. I hope that this post is useful to any of you considering this process too.

Background: just received my new 6000z system yesterday; for more on my particular system, see
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=1579405#post1579405

Like many of you, I would love to have a clean install of windows, no bloatware, nor any extra recovery partition.

When I ordered my system over the phone, I asked the saleswoman if the recovery DVD that you can make will allow you to do a reinstall and only install the OS and drivers. I was told that yes, that was the case.

So, soon after I received my laptop, I followed the advice to create recovery disks. The program soon mentioned that I would need 3 normal DVDs for this process (or 2 DVD-DLs or something like 15 CDs).

Hmm, that sure seemed like a lot more disks than a Windows installation plus drivers should take, so I called HP tech support. The tech told me that unfortunately the recovery disks that will be made will still include all the bloatware, which is why they are wasting DVDs. So, the saleswoman was wrong. But the tech did say that there should be an option during reinstallation in which you can enter an advanced mode and only install the OS and avoid all the bloatware.

Unfortunately, when I did the reinstallation process (selecting the F option, which first reformats the hard drive), I never saw any such advanced option that would allow me to install just the components that I desire. There was only something like an OK (or Next?) button, and then the process was fully automatic. It also took forever (almost 2 hours?). When finally done, I saw that it rebuilt the system exactly according to factory state (e.g. with the recorvery partition restored--I had earlier deleted it; they have a dedicated program which does this and works pretty well--and all the bloatware).

Did I miss something? Or is this tech too also wrong (i.e. the recovery DVDs always force the full factory state back on you)?

If the recovery DVDs are so rigid, it looks like I would have to try the painful reinstall process as described in guides like these:
HP/Compaq Reinstallation Guides
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=73377

dv6000t, what is the difference btw a clean install
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=77714

HP Pavilion 6095ea XP Re-install
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=79902

HP dv8000t Reinstallation Guide
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=62357

The 6000z, by the way, really is a beautiful piece of hardware--hats off to HP's engineers for doing a bang up job--much better in real life than in pictures. Just wish the MBA swine in charge would allow their engineers to make getting a clean system easier.

The only problem that I have seen so far with my particular laptop is that the saleslady, when I ordered the system over the phone, took down the processor type as the TL-50 when I wanted the TL-52 (same 1.6 GHZ speed, but twice the cache). Yeah, HP sent me an email with the TL-50 listed and I should have caught it but I didn't. Wonder if I can mail the unit back to them and have it upgraded or not--anyone have any experience with this?

 

Fred Langa wrote a piece on how to do a non-destructive total rebuild of XP. I thought of this article because the feature is buried pretty deep in the reinstall process, so thought it might be applicable to your situation, too. Hope it helps, here's the link:

http://www.informationweek.com/windows/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=189400897

 

There is no advanced option in the HP recovery disc. The only option other than destructive is to do a non destructive recovery which still beings the laptop back to factory state with all the bloatware except your files are not deleted.

Now, since you have a dv6000z, you dont need to follow those guides sicne the SATA driver issue is with Intel based systems which are missing the necessary drivers. All you would have to do is get a clean Win XP disc and install normally and then install all the drivers from SWSetup folder or download from HP's support site.

 

So I have a v3000z which I'd like to clean install. I'm gathering that the best way to do it is to get the drivers and do a full reformat? What happens to the quickplay?

 

Yeah, just use your Win XP disc and do a clean re-install. As for Quickplay, just leave exactly 1GB of unpartitioned space when you reinstall Windows. Then using the Quickplay installation files located in the SWSetup(C:/) folder. There are 2 folders containing the installation files for Quickplay - one to install it within Windows and the other installs the directplay feature. Install the Quicklaunch buttons software as well as it will allow you to use the extrenal quickplay button. That should be all you will need to do.

Ofcourse before doing any of this, burn the restore discs and create a backup of thge SWSetup folder.

 

Miner, I also have the v3000z and would like to do the clean re-install. However, my system shipped with Home edition and I have XP pro upgrade CD. Unfortunately my system would not enablle an upgrade and I figure i should just get rid of the bloat-ware. Will I be able to use the XP pro upgrade to do the clean re-install ( full reformat and using SWSetup(C:/) folder to re-install drivers), or do I need to get full version XP pro?

I've done reformats before with Windows 2000 but nothing as complex as the guides suggested in other posts. I'd really appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks.

 

Since you have a Upgrade CD you will need a Windows XP/2000/98 media in order to do a clean upgrade. The HP restore discs might not work for this. So, if you can find/borrow one then doing a clean(full reformat) upgrade shouldnt be a problem. Also make sure your Pro upgrade CD has SP2 without which you might run into some compatibility issues with newer hardware.

 

Miner, thanks for the response. My upgrade has SP2. Could you please explain what you mean by "Windows XP/2000/98 media...The HP restore discs might not work for this."

What I had intended to do was to burn SWSetup(C:/) folder onto DVD, saving a copy on my network. Given the existence of Home edition on my harddrive, I thought I could use my Pro SP2 disc to instal XP Pro by reformating my HD, saving the quickplay partition. Once XP Pro is installed, I would upload all neccesary drivers from SWSetup folder.

Is this the process you were suggesting? Or are you suggesting I borrow and load Windows XP/2000/98 first onto my HD (leaving the quickplay partition), ignoring all missing drivers and etc and then using this as a platform to run my SP2 XP Pro upgrade CD then taking care of all drivers ?

Thanks,

 

Since you have an upgrade version of XP Pro, it needs an upgrade path - meaning it needs an older verion of Windows for it to install on a system. You already have XP Home so, it might work. If it doesnt then you will need to have a disc for proof - during Pro install, it should ask for the disk(2000,XP...).

The rest of the installation process is similar. All you need to have is an older version of Windows(either already installed or have the installation disc for it)

 

super, will give it a shot and let you all know how it goes. I have to wait a couple of days. I had the misfortune of getting a laptop with a bum HD (found out when ujpdates failed one day into ownership) so HP is shipping a replacement. thanks

 

I apologize if I'm duplicating anything here, but... if I were to do the reinstallation, would I have to go to one of those sketchy resellers to get a Windows disc? I have Media Center Edition, which isn't sold except from OEMs, and HP isn't nice enough to consider offering a Windows installation disc.

Thanks.

 

Yes, you will need a clean MCE disk if you want to do a fresh reinstall without the extra bloatware.

MCE OEM's are available from mroe reputable resellers like Newegg. No need to go to any shady resellers other than if you want it ultra cheap...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832116049