My mother in-law was having problems with her computer so I went to her place to repair it. After finding several viruses on the computer I decided to fdisk everything off the HD and then use the debug command to clear the HD and clean out the cmos. Her computer is an HP 763M. While in fdisk I noticed that she had the NTFS partition and another partition called HP_RECOVERY under DOS. I fdisked both partitions with the thought of using my Microsoft PRO CD to boot and load her computer. She uses her computer for video editing and was having many issues with compatibility so I WANTED to see if Pro would help her. After completing the above steps I put my Pro CD in and tried to load windows. The computer would not boot. The only thing that happened was the computer starting beeping at an even pace every 3 seconds or so. I then tried to use my floppy disks to load DOS and still NOTHING. It appears as if the computer is not even attempting to boot. Knee deep in the smelly stuff and my mother in-law standing over my shoulder I’m thinking to my self what do I do now? She then told me that the computer didn’t come with a CD that it would just do a complete reload right off the hard drive. Would it really do that? Do manufacturers really not send a DISK? I build my own systems and my friends systems so I’m not up on what companies are doing. So now I have a computer that will not boot and no CD with a key number on it even if I did. Was just going to let her us it for a month anyways and then I’d get her the OEM Pro if she liked it. I’m guessing that since she booted and reloaded the computer, if need be, right off the HD that there was no boot sequence in the bios. Can’t get into the bios so what do I do now? Really lost on this one and the mother in-law rightfully thinks I’m an idiot now. Please save my wounded PRIDE!Wow! All that for a virus? Why not just use a shotgun?

Ok, first the BIOS. When you turn on the computer, is there any on-screen indicator telling you what key to hit to enter setup? If so, use it. That should get you into the bios. Since you used debug to clear it, you will most likely need the reset most of the settings manually. Go thru the setup screens and methodically fix it up. Date/Time, boot order, etc. If the machine is totally brain dead and you cannot enter the bios, you need to bring it to a repair shop where they can flash the bios for you.

Next the OS. You cannot use your copy of Windows to load on another machine. You need to get a legal copy of Windows. In the bios, make sure the CD is the first boot device, then put the CD in the drive and boot. Just follow the on-screen instructions about partitions, formatting and installation.

Good luck.