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    Is it easy to format and reinstall XP on HP notebooks?

    Discussion in 'HP' started by Tar1, Jul 13, 2006.

  1. Tar1

    Tar1 Newbie

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    Is it easy or difficult to format and do a clean install of Windows XP on HP notebooks? e.g. HP nx7400 or HP nc8430.
     
    Tar1, Jul 13, 2006
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  2. Tiger-Heli

    Tiger-Heli Notebook Evangelist

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    There are two threads stickied at the top of the forum on how to do it on other HP's.
     
    Tiger-Heli, Jul 13, 2006
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  3. SuperKungFu

    SuperKungFu Notebook Consultant

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    Just one weird thing is that when u do format, you need a lot of drivers. I never encounter this problem before when i format a desktop. But these HP laptops are totally useless once its format. It needs the driver for almost everything. It is standard with desktop to download video and sound drivers, but for HP laptops, you need a chipset, wireless card, touchpad, keyboard, network, storage...etc.
     
    SuperKungFu, Jul 13, 2006
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  4. domoMAFIA

    domoMAFIA Notebook Geek

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    but most of the drivers are probably on the HP already, so if you save all of them you'll be good to go.

    imo, its a little more involved than a desktop reformat but still just as easy as long as you have all the drivers you need!
     
    domoMAFIA, Jul 14, 2006
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  5. Xichekolas

    Xichekolas Newbie

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    Short answer... no...

    Just make sure you back up the drivers before you format. The stickies in this forum explain how.
     
    Xichekolas, Jul 14, 2006
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  6. Tiger-Heli

    Tiger-Heli Notebook Evangelist

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    I don't know what desktops you have formatted - I typically need motherboard chipset, video, audio, USB ports, NIC, etc. drivers for my desktops. I would need wireless cards (and touchpads) if it had them.

    I didn't know the laptop had a keyboard driver apart from the touchpad.

    Thing that seems odd to me is that you have to disable SATA support in the BIOS, but I've never had a SATA system before.
     
    Tiger-Heli, Jul 15, 2006
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