Windows 7 - Clean install of Win 7, drive not found

So I guess I should start off by saying I am new to this forum and definitely not as knowledgeable on computers as everyone else here. With that being said, I hope that you guys would be kind enough to assist me with my issue.

I have a pretty basic desktop computer (CQ5600Y) that broke down on me recently. I haven't owned it for more than a year. All I know is that I left my computer on for a few hours and when I come back to use it, it was responding very, very slowly. It took 5 minutes just for an icon on my desktop to highlight after I clicked it just once. As a result, I shut my computer off by holding the power button and then turned it back on.

When I turned it back on, it will show the Compaq start-up screen with the option for Setup, Boot Menu or System Recovery. I can get to Setup and Boot Menu, but not System Recovery. If I press nothing during this time, the computer will just turn into a black screen with a blinking cursor and the statement, "DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER"

I have a Windows 7 installation disk and the system recovery disks, but neither seem to work. When I use the Windows 7 installation disk, I choose the Windows Setup mode. It then goes to a "Windows is loading files..." screen and I assume it is loading files from the disc.

It then asks me which language, time and currency format and keyboard or input method I would prefer. I choose accordingly and press "Next."

I then choose "Install Now.."

It states that "Setup is starting..."

I then get through the licensing information and press "Next" and then I choose Custom so that I can install a new copy of windows.

This next step is where I am stuck.

A window pops up with the title "Where do you want to install Windows?"
It also states that "No drives were found. Click Load Driver to provide a mass storage driver for installation."

I don't know where to go from here. I assume I need to load a driver, but what driver am I supposed to load? When I click "Load Driver" it asks me to "insert the installation media containing the driver files." I have inserted the recovery disks (there are 4 of them + one supplemental disc) and searched through them, but I couldn't find anything. What exactly am I looking for? All these file names are foreign to me. Am I looking in the wrong discs? Are there drivers I am supposed to download from some website? If so, what should I type into google in order to find the right drivers?

Someone please help!!!

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

Have a look here: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Sear...2F6+drivers%22

Try the Intel Rapid Storage Technology F6 drivers. You'll need to download them and save them then install them.

I will give it a try, thanks! But does it matter if my processor is AMD Athlon II 170u and not Intel?

In that case, you'd perhaps be better trying HP support.

You may need to click through the correct region depending where you live.

HP Support & Drivers | United Kingdom

As I understand it, your PC was working fine and you left it running for a few hours.

When you returned it was VERY slow to respond and now can't find a valid system disk.

I'd at least consider a hard drive failure.

If it is less than a year old, it is presumably under warranty. HP may have some hard drive tools you can run to determine if your hard drive is failing or failed.

I tried calling HP, and my warranty is actually done, so I guess it must have been a little over a year that I have owned this computer. They told me that I would have to pay $300 to get help... so that was the end of that route.

If this is a hard drive failure, what are my options? In the meantime, I guess I will try HP support again and see what I can do.

A few ideas:

Go to HP support site for your particular PC model. See if they have a downloadable hard drive diagnosis utility.

Or find out what brand of hard drive you have and then go to that manufacturer's web site and download a tool.

Windows has a built-in disk checking tool called checkdisk, which can be accessed by right clicking a drive in Windows Explorer. Choose properties and then the tools tab. But it really only checks your file system, NOT the health of the drive per se.

If you cannot boot the PC, you may have to burn any downloaded tool to a bootable CD and run it from there.

I'm not saying it is a bad HD, but it's a possibility, considering what you have said.