Messed up HP hard drive - no windows disc

[pigface]

I have a Hewlett Packard PC which will not start up. Having tried unsucessfuly to boot the computer using various methods including dowloaded startup discs I have now come to the conclusion that the hard drive has failed.

As such, I am planning to buy a new hard drive. The trouble is that HP (and I believe Compaq) PCs are not supplied with Windows CDs because Windows is already installed.

So, when I install the new hard drive I will have no way of if installing Windows on it. Does this mean that I will have to buy a new Windows software disc?

[mata hari]

Have you considered changing the Power supply in case it's been blown by a power surge ot whatever? It's cheaper to try that first, before forking out for a new hard drive, which may not be the problem, and if it is the PD then you won't have to buy a new windows CD! Just a thought!

[j2buttonsw]

FYI, HP used to supply with new computers a restore CD(s) that you could use to rebuild the system just as it was when it left the factory. Now they supply a windows CD (activated and requiring no serial number but only works on compaq machines) plus a driver CD. Phone up compaq/HP and ask whether they will supply you with the restore or compaq windows CD (cheaper than buying a windows CD as it is not a license only media).