[dezero]

I was advised by a computer tech to buy a new hard drive because of issues I had with my HP pavillion s3330.
After installing I got a non-system disk error message.
After going into the BIOS to make sure it was booting my HP recovery cd from the the right drive, I ran a diagnostics test and after finding no problems an error message came up at the bottom saying - Testing: BOOT PATH, Error code: BIOHD-3.

I consulted HP who said I need to create a partition for the software to be installed to.
If that is the problem then can anybody assist me with this as I have no clue.

By the way, I'm using Vista home premium.

Thanks,

Greg

[etaf]

is it actually booting the CD - correctly - that error would be if it is seeing the blank Harddrive

After going into the BIOS to make sure it was booting my HP recovery cd from the the right drive

and is the boot order correct for the CD/dvd as the 1st boot device ?

[dezero]

Yes, It was automatically set to boot from the CD drive

[etaf]

then the CD is not bootable - so it goes to the HDD

can you check the CD boots on a different PC

[dezero]

Actually it booted a recovery on the the previous drive I had until I had problems with it and was advised to buy a new drive. The difference was that drive already had vista installed on it

[etaf]

Actually it booted a recovery on the the previous drive I had until I had problems with it and was advised to buy a new drive. The difference was that drive already had vista installed on it

now confused

CD/DVD drive or Harddrive

The Recovery CD should boot up regardless of the HDD in the PC

[dezero]

Hp told me I need to create a partition first but wanted money from me to tell me how to do that

[etaf]

the recovery CD when booted should give you all those options
but your not booting the CD at all

do you have another PC - you can try and boot it on - to see if it runs and boots ?

[dezero]

I have no other pc available, I'm unsure if the disc will boot onto an empty drive

[etaf]

I have no other pc available, I'm unsure if the disc will boot onto an empty drive

it should do thats the point of a recovery CD to do exactly what you are doing