Buying laptop w/ no working OS -boot utility for testing the computer?

[daveinor]

I am going to be purchasing a laptop that doesn't have a working OS right now. It was fine and the seller decided to use the factory restore disk to give it a fresh install for whoever would be buying it. He says that when he tried this it became unusable. I don't know the details, but I don't see how he could have caused a problem that would make this unusable. I'm planning on buying it as is and doing a fresh install with Windows 7 disks rather than the factory restore disks.

What I would like advice on is testing it with some boot program to see if the screen and mouse at least work. I have used Parted Magic several times and it seems to me this would work for testing if the laptop has basic functionality. Are there recommendations for something that would be better for this sort of thing?

Also can I get some opinions as to what would have gone wrong when he tried to restore to factory settings. Is there anyway the computer could have been broken?

 

[gregrocker]

Test the HD with the maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan, wipe the HD after it checks out.

You can also boot into a Linux disk like Peppermint3 - Create Live CD/DVD/USB To Use For Emergency Backup - Windows 7 Forums to see how it performs just like using an OS. This will test everything except the HD.

When ready do a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

 

[daveinor]

Thanks for the reply. I'll be able to run the peppermint boot disk fine.

I am having difficulty finding what brand of hard drive was included with this laptop so I'm unsure of how to best run a HD diagnostic.

I won't be able to find out what's in it until I get there

The laptop is an HP Pavillion G7... anyone know what brand HD comes with these

 

[derekimo]

The laptop is an HP Pavillion G7... anyone know what brand HD comes with these

The one that came in my G7-1365dx is a Hitachi 750GB

 

[gregrocker]

You can try Hitachi Drive Fitness Test CD download

It can be problematic in which case I'd use the one which works for pretty much any make Seagate Seatools