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    Reformat my HP Pavilion dv8000t -- how?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by MDesigner, Jun 16, 2006.

  1. MDesigner

    MDesigner Notebook Consultant

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    I just ordered this sucker today, and want to be prepared for when it arrives. What is the best way to reformat/reinstall WinXP Media Center on this thing? With Dell, it was just as simple as booting the XP CD, deleting the partition, formatting it, then installing Windows..and then installing all the proper drivers. Is it the same deal with HP?
     
    MDesigner, Jun 16, 2006
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  2. heyu

    heyu Notebook Consultant

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    it should be, or close to it,

    ****

    there will be intructions in the instruction manual....

    if you read them :)
     
    heyu, Jun 16, 2006
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  3. Tim

    Tim Notebook Virtuoso

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    It should be close to the same thing. Did you order the Windows Disks and Drivers? I am not sure if HP still includes them free of charge. If your laptop doesn't come with them just give HP a call.

    I would recommend burning all your anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall software onto a CD so you don't have to access the internet unprotected.

    If you have any more question just post them as I am starting to prepare for the reformating process as well. :p
    Tim
     
    Tim, Jun 16, 2006
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  4. MDesigner

    MDesigner Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for the tips. I'll let you know how it works out once I get the laptop!
     
    MDesigner, Jun 16, 2006
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  5. vassil_98

    vassil_98 Notebook Deity

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    Be careful with the SATA drives. There were a few threads about it in the HP forum. You need to disable SATA support in BIOS before reinstall or use nlite to sliptstream the SATA drivers.
    Timu24, you won't have SATA problems :)
     
    vassil_98, Jun 17, 2006
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  6. Amol

    Amol APH! NBR Reviewer

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    I don't really know if this is the case with the dv5000s/8000s that you order from HP, but when I got mine from Costco, it had a big phat 11.8GB recovery partition. If you want space, you might consider deleting it,after burning yourself a nice set of 5 discs :p Mine was a preconfigured version, so yours can potentially be different.
     
    Amol, Jun 17, 2006
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  7. vassil_98

    vassil_98 Notebook Deity

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    No, it will be the same as yours zoXan. HP now offers recovery disks in exchange for 10 bucks; the recovery partition is free and compulsory :).
     
    vassil_98, Jun 17, 2006
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  8. MDesigner

    MDesigner Notebook Consultant

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    OK, I slipstreamed the SATA drivers onto my own disc.. I'm ready to roll!

    I'm at the WinXP setup screen where you create/delete partitions. As it stands now (as HP set it up), I've got:

    C: partition, 80GB (main install)
    D: partition, 14GB (HP_RECOVERY) (i was told I can safely trash this)
    F: partition, 1GB (QuickPlay partition, I believe.. I'll leave this alone)

    So my plan is to wipe out that second 14GB parition and just have a main 95GB partition, and leave the QuickPlay partition alone. Is this correct?

    PS: I already backed up the C:\swsetup folder to DVDs, so that's safe..just in case.
     
    MDesigner, Jun 26, 2006
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