Packard Bell Discs

[Jamesy]

Basically, I can only install XP with the discs packard bell supply. No other XP based install will work (98 does and Vista does, go figure) which is odd.

Is there a metaphorical button (or real, I can always hope!) that can unblock it from XP or is it something in the BIOS etc stopping it?

Cheers.

[Recursion]

What is the error? O_O

[Jamesy]

It will spend ages loading then say it could not find a Harddrive and make me restart (push F3 to quit setup etc etc)

[The Professor]

Can you not phone up packard bell and get another copy? That's what I did, I think its free.

[alexxxxx]

pirate one. if you legally had one it's not stealing is it?

[Jamesy]

Can you not phone up packard bell and get another copy? That's what I did, I think its free.

I have the discs, but they only work with the recovery partition and pretty much install XP back to shop quality with all the crappy added in programs.
and I can't dual boot or test other XP related OS's which is what I want to do.



;4668223']pirate one. if you legally had one it's not stealing is it?

Read the thread.

[:job2]

The disks that come with a computer with an operating system pre installed are made for that specific computer, if you try and install them on any other computer it will totally **** up and you have to install from scratch again. I tried downgrading to XP from Vista on my PC using my sisters XP disk that she got with her comp and it worked fine for like a day then 'locked out'. I wouldn't know how to make it to allow any operating system. Try legally buying a disk see if that works

[alexxxxx]

Read the thread.

one can get installs for each manufacturer. or at least for vista you can. i did read the thread.

[Jamesy]

lol it's strange though.

Vista works perfectly, 98 installed perfectly. Linux installs perfectly, OS X installs perfectly.

Anything XP based, Longhorn Reloaded, XP , Xp pro, just doesn't see the HDD.


;4668265']one can get installs for each manufacturer. or at least for vista you can. i did read the thread.

I have the discs, I don't want to pirate XP. What I need to to some how unlock the computer to install non packard bell XP's on it.

[Mr.Sam]

I had to use either f11 or 12 in order to reformat - on the packard bell screen.

(can't remember the correct button sorry)

[alexxxxx]

i dunno. can you reflash the bios? or am i just guessing. or just ask for more disks from Packard-Bell?

[Jamesy]

flash bios. Sounds rather daunting. lol.

I was hoping for a little switch :(.

[alexxxxx]

is your sister's XP disk 'branded' by another manufacturer (like Sony?). If it is, that's you're problem, and there's nothing you can do.

[Jamesy]

Sister?!

Nope they just say "Packard Bell recovery disc 1 (or 2)"

Any other xp based installer gives me no hard drive detected.

[Tomm]

You may need the appropiate SATA drivers for your hard drive.

[Jamesy]

I don't have a floppy drive. How would I find out all this without opening up. If possible?

[alexxxxx]

Sister?!

Nope they just say "Packard Bell recovery disc 1 (or 2)"

Any other xp based installer gives me no hard drive detected.

confusing this hread with another, sorry.