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Question

New hard drive, No OS installation disk. HELP

by Oct 27, 2012 12:59PM PDT

I'm trying to fix a laptop for a friend of mine. Between both of us, neither of us have any OS installation disks. It's a new hard drive with nothing on it and when I turn it on it just says enter the boot CD, press any key, etc.

I'm almost positive I need to install an operating system on this computer for it to be fixed. But without one, how do I fix it?

Thanks in advance.

Discussion is locked

6 Posts
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Answer
Well
by Oct 27, 2012 1:20PM PDT

Well, you have two options the way I see it.

#1: Go out and buy a copy of Windows

#2: Download a copy of Linux

I suppose you can buy downloadable copies of Windows now, so that's a variation on the first option open to you as well, if you don't have a problem burning an image to disc.

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Hm
by Saige_S Oct 27, 2012 2:16PM PDT

I figured this was my only option. After spending an entire day on google these are the only two options I think I'm left with.

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Answer
You can usually get SW incl the OS from the PC mfg ...
by Oct 27, 2012 11:23PM PDT

did you contact them ? It's usually about $20 and it sets up the PC with software 'as purchased'.

VAPCMD

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That depends
by Jimmy Greystone Oct 28, 2012 12:44AM PDT

That depends on the age of the unit in question, which the OP didn't give us. If it was from the XP era, the odds that the manufacturer still will provide such media are not good.

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Agree.....still worth looking. No mention of the mfg, the
by VAPCMD Oct 28, 2012 4:43AM PDT

system age or model number to go by.

Just one more reason to remind folks they're likely to get better response if they provide the mfg, series, model # and OS when they post such questions. Too often they forget "SERIES" making it much harder to find reference data to provide meaningful advice.

VAPCMD

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Answer
In a nutshell
by Oct 28, 2012 12:27AM PDT

Buy some retail version of the OS. Check the laptop maker's offer of replacement OS discs(restore/recovery). Some websites offer for OEM type PCs restore/recovery discs(legal, yes) for small cost vs. buying full retail.

If you buy retail version, even DIY type(generic) it still needs the maker's supplied drivers provided for the OS that was released with laptop. If not and you get a newer OS(later version) there may not be such direct support. I suggest this because you gave no clues as to what laptop and OS we're dealing with. Plus, why are we replacing the laptop drive to begin with. If not damaged, replacement HD may have OS that copies from old to new drive.

tada ------Willy Happy

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