Installing OS on New Build Using HP Recovery Disc

Hello All,

Please excuse my ignorance for the title as that was the best I could do to condense.

My old Gateway has finally become unusable. In short, I am unable to boot at all, even in Safe Mode. My tech has gone through BIOS, etc. and still nothing.

So, I have decided to go the 'custom' route purchasing a barebones from Tiger. No issue at all with hardware and the actual building. In an attempt to install the OS, we used his recovery disc as I could not locate the disc from my Gateway. We thought this would be OK as I have the key from my Gateway. His was from an HP, also Home Premium, using an Intel processor. Sadly it did not take. The new build did not see the recovery disc at all. We inserted 2 other discs as a test and they were recognized. Going through the BIOS on the new machine everything is in order.

Two questions. First, is it possible the new machine is not 'accepting' the recovery disc because it not only came from a factory build but was also meant for an Intel chip?

Second, am I reduced to purchasing a retail copy to get the new machine running, or are there alternative, less expensive methods of obtaining an OS?

Thank you in advance to everyone for your input.

WOLLAM

Hell AddRAM, thank you for your prompt input. The legality of our endeavor was one scenario we did not consider. So, just two questions to close my discussion.

First, aside from the legality issue, what could be the reason for his HP disc not working? Is it because his disc is meant for an HP with Intel and my new machine is custom with AMD? (This is his #1 theory)

Second, while I am not uncomfortable with Linux or Ubuntu for my OS(I have never used either), I am very comfortable and prefer to continue using MS Office. I have a 3-license copy of MS Office. Would I be able to run my copy of MS Office on either Linux or Ubuntu? And (sorry if this is turning into another topic, but I promise this is my last inquiry) will recipients be able to open/edit/etc. files I make in Open Office or Ubuntu's 'Office' if MS Office is not usable?

The HP disk only contains device drivers for the HP computer it was designed for. These drivers are completely inappropriate for your computer and cannot work.

Miller7
Thanks very much for the input. I will be taking the retail option, simply for ease of installation and relatively low cost. We are just trying to understand why the new machine would not even "acknowledge" we had a disc in the drive. Thanks again.

The manufacturers use of a recovery disk is totally proprietary and not a part of Windows. Different manufacturers do things in different ways. The manufacturer may not be using a standard file system so Windows will have no way of understanding it's contents.

LMiller7,

Thank you very much. That explanation makes complete sense.

WOLLAM