This is what I sent to HP ---Any Ideas --this is my daughters Laptop & I'm stumped ?

HP DV6636NR

Should have also mentioned using windows vista not XP

Problem Description:

won't boot. (performed Hard reset & reseated ram ).Was only able to boot using linux cd - windows partition of harddrive not mountable.HP recovery partion accessible but would not run using F11 at startup. Reset Bios to Defaults. thought because I could access HP partition of Harddrive only,that it must be problem

Please provide previous troubleshooting steps, or information that can help

replaced Harddrive. Purchased recovery cd's from HP - Installed software - after fully loaded & at the end system rebooted - showed loading windows files at bottom of screen - then cursor at top left corner, then nothing. tried hard reset, reseating ram. Now the recovery disk will no longer fully load it shows bar going across that windows files are loading then goes to cursor on left upper corner - then cd stops & screen is blank .

Have copy of Ubumtu linux
Installed to harddrive
Ran fine last evening but on reboot,but now linux nor bootable linux cd will not run
Fresh copy of windows Vista (not Recovery cd )
Shows windows files loading on bootup & then hangs


Has anything changed since the unit functioned properly (installation of SW, settings, cabling, etc.):

No other than replacing harddrive to attempt repair
Have Done all I can come up with - Short of sending to HP - Any Ideas ?

Hi dj, When you put a new harddrive in did you do a fresh install of windows? Also what happened to make you replace the harddrive .

system would not boot to start
tried reinstalling OS using HP recovery partition--hangs machine
using bootable linux cd was able to mount Hp recovery partition only but not main windows partition
Ordered recovery CD from HP to attempt reinstall of OS ---did not work
Replaced harddrive because I though boot sector bad as I could access part of it using linux
performed a complete OS install using Recovry CD & it showed that it installed but still won't boot
Using Linux cd I can mount the harddrive & see that windows did in fact install but would not boot.
deleted partition & installed Linux as operating system - same results
shows linux loading --booted 1 time then will not boot
Oh ---did I mention that recovery CD will no longer load & intermittantly I can get Linux cd to load

When you say "recovery cd" you are referring to the recovery cd with windows vista on it right? How many HDD's do you have installed? I think you need to First: take out lil watch battery out of your motherboard for about 2 or 3 miniutes to reset cmos. Then try your install cd again, If that dont work and you cant get the system to boot to cd then you will have to get a boot cd to wipe out everything on HD and start over (i use Gparted for a boot cd) after all that you should be able to do a fresh install using the "recovery cd".
hope that helps!