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Please look at your post and see ALL the info you left out. Even though this is the Vista Forum it is only an ASSumption that your OS is Vista and no mention of SP level or 32 bit or 64 bit or basic, home, pro, or ultimate and we don't even know your computer's speck, manufacturer nor model.
Regarding the question about using your brother's friend's disk, if it is retail or upgrade, or different version - NO! If it is OEM and same version the answer is maybe.
because the old one was bad. It died. Windows wouldn't even load anymore. We installed the new one. Well my brother did. The problem is that it shows as 48.8 GB when it should actually be a 500 GB hard drive. It is a Seagate Baracuda 7200 RPM. Another problem we are facing is my brother had to take the computer back to factory settings. The HP invent screen comes up and does nothing and then when you ctrl alt delete it takes you to the desktop but a box is up and it stops at 36%. Is there anyway around this? Or anyway for it to notice the hard drive and get it back to factory settings?
I have a another question my brother's friend has a Windows disk could we use his Windows disk to install Windows with our OEM license? Thank you.

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