Glory's Sun

Ok so we have this computer here.. the HDD is bad and a tech went to HP to see if it's under warranty. Of course it wasn't. So after they tried to charge me $400 for a 160gb IDE HDD and I told them they were looney. I just figured I'd buy a decent sized drive and reinstall the OS.

What I'm getting to is that after I told her she was looney, she responded with
Now I don't care about the cds.. I'm just wondering how the hell you tat a HDD

phukraut

Wow. $400 for a hard drive with a hidden partition on it? I haven't heard that phrase before but it seems you'd only need to write a partition table the recovery discs will recognize, and add the appropriate hidden partition that contains all the compressed data.

DEI37

Or, even at that, you'd still be cheaper to buy a copy of Windows, and install that on the new hard drive. Then, you're free of the OE garbage.

__________________
Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

Glory's Sun

I already have the full version of windows not that OEM crap. I was just curious as to how I could actually do it. So how do you get a partition that the cd's will actually recognize?

magictoy

The obvious question:

Have you gone to the computer manufacturer's website and looked for anything there?

While I speak from a great deal of ignorance about the subject, this looks like it explains the situation a little.

http://www2.geek.com/discus/messages...tml?1143232644

As a matter of interest, when I had a (non-HP) motherboard die, I experienced some problems with Windows installation, to the point that the store where I bought the mobo helped me with the install. They also accidentally left an HP OEM Windows CD in my computer. I offered it back to them (after I duped it) and the tech told me it would install XP Home on any computer, but it would copy a few drivers specific to HP onto my computer. He was right. I've used it a couple of times now, the only catch being that I have to activate XP with Microsoft. I just type in the number off the label that came on my computer, and all is well.

As far as I know, that doesn't constitute piracy, since the computer originally came with XP Home. Microsoft doesn't seem to mind, amazingly enough.

I don't know why this install CD doesn't look for a tattoo. As the article said, Vista apparently makes things even tougher.

cyrnel

Horse puckey. As already mentioned, even if you have problems with the restore cd's you can buy a fresh copy of win. That'd be the worst case. Home = $89. Pro=$150.

Next worst would be borrowing installer cd's (of the same home/pro/etc as your system's key.) If activation doesn't think your key is valid then you call the MS 800# and let them know it was a HD crash and you re-installed fresh. They'll fix you up with your key after getting basic info about the system.

Simpler will be if it just activates. Depends on your OEM version and the phase of moon.

Easiest will be if the restore works, though I prefer fresh installs to restore CD versions that include all the co-marketing mess.

Ask them to tatoo my ass.

__________________
There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

Glory's Sun

yeah I was just going to load a non OEM on it.. like I said.. just curious

cyrnel

OEM is okay, just not the OEM restore CD's. Your key is probably meant for the OEM version of XP and will be valid with same, if that matters to you.

__________________
There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

Glory's Sun

I'm not worried about the key on the machine.. I have a key on my windows packet

cyrnel

Ah, well then they're high. The only compatibility legwork might be in finding drivers for things not included with XP. Some box assemblers are great about providing recent versions online while others only support what's on the restore CD's. Sometimes it means opening up the box to ID the chipset, video, etc., then going to the actual hardware maker's site. Not much of an obstacle, especially if you've already grown out of the original drivers.

$400. Cripes, assholes.

__________________
There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

Glory's Sun

Yeah the drivers are the only thing that will give me any trouble I'm sure. Yeah I flipped on her when she said $400, then get this.. for 2 restore dvds.. guess how much.. $96 .. yup $96. What a load of crap.

I mean.. I hate Dell as much as HP but at least Dell will send you their media free of charge in most cases.

Jove

You could download the drivers on the hp website. Another option is using the reinstall windows xp cd and the application drivers cd that came with the computer when you purchased it from HP.

Or you could buy a 100 GB hard drive and Windows XP Pro (www.buycheapsoftware.com) and then attempt to find the drivers online for each hardware device. Either way, you might have to spend some money for your computer to work.

Glory's Sun

ok.. umm I already have windows. I have several copies some aren't on a computer currently. That's not an issue at all. Drivers won't be an issue.. my tech prolly knows how to tat a HDD. I didn't ask. I was just curious as to if you guys knew because I always ask people here first

Jinn

What the fuck is a hard drive tattoo? I'm really confused.

There's the master boot record, the partition table, and the rest of the hard drive. Is there something else? Do they draw pretty pictures on it, or what?

I can't find anything online, and the newest seems to say that it's not necessary when you're using a real OS.. ?

__________________
"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

Glory's Sun

That's what I'm saying. She said tattoo.. but then I knew she was looney because she wanted $400 for a fucking single IDE HDD.

cyrnel

guccilvr, it sounds like you're in the clear but just to stack more useless advice... I've had few to no problems installing OEM or retail windows on HP desktops or laptops. Of course, you have to use an OEM product ID to use an OEM key, but otherwise it's smooth. HP's online driver support is good, even for old systems.

There's probably some HP system that will make a liar out of me but I don't expect you'll have any problem.

Pretty pictures, in the form of secret codes. Sometimes it's the layout, others a combination of the layout plus codes in unused areas. I don't think HP does this, or at least I haven't fought it with any HPs.

It's frightening the way so many techs are going the route of the classic car repair shysters: Preying on the less knowlegable. I just helped a wonderful old gent (WW2 B17 ball turret gunner) who had already taken his stuff to a repair shop. They completely forkled his Windows install and "fixed" the problem by selling him a new printer and other junk. Of course, he had to have someone else help (me) before he could use anything again. Makes me want to pay them a special visit. Hell, I'm tempted to do the hidden camera expose thing. Prep a system with small problems and have him take it in for diagnosis. Grrrr. Sorry, it gets under my skin.

__________________
There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

Glory's Sun

My tech already has the system up and running..

magictoy

Now my feelings are hurt because nobody clicked on my link.

http://www2.geek.com/discus/messages...tml?1143232644

Martel

I work at a computer repair shop and do 10-20 windows xp reinstalls on new hard drives a week... OEM, non-OEM, OEM copy on a different branded machine, etc etc.

I have never heard of a "hard drive tattoo". I certainly don't think you'd have any problem whatsoever just using a normal windows disk and your HP key. Like they said, the worst that will happen is you have to call Microsoft and activate it. Takes about six minutes. No sweat.

__________________
Anamnesis

Glory's Sun

guys.. geez I wasn't asking for advise on how to get the thing working again. I own an ISP .. we know how to do that I just happend to ask one of the tech's about the tat and he said he never heard of it. So I figured I'd ask you guys.

At least we know that you guys are willing to help out when it's needed

and..<i>magictoy</i> I'm clicking your link now

NotAnAlias

Never heard of tattooing a hard drive lol!

HP are such scoundrels, they don't even send you drivers cds with their computers any more.

Bah!