Hi. I've just purchased a computer but without the harddrive. I do have the o/s key but I'm not sure how to install the system without disks. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Hi.

First of all when you are in the BIOS and have set the DVD/CD drive as the first boot device make sure you save the settings before you restart the computer as it will not remember the changes if you don't.

Make sure that the lens on the CD/DVD drive is clean and also make sure the Windows 7 install disk is clean and free of any finger prints.

make sure that you keep tapping a key when the drive spins up as sometimes people miss the "Press any key to boot from CD/DVD" message.

If you still can't get the disk to boot then try the install disk in a working PC and see if that reads the disk. If it does then the optical drive could be faulty or does not support DVD format.


Regards.

Hello here you can download a manual:

http://www.biostar-usa.com/app/en-us/support/download.php

By entering the right mainboard number.

Try to set the bios to factory settings.Load default settings.
And set the boot order: first boot device:dvd, second, the harddrive.
If you are using a IDE drive make sure its set as master.
A sata drive does not have that function.
Make sure the windows disk is clean and without scratces.

Here is a youtube video that shows you how:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMc5ukMguEo

Good luck

Borrow an operating system disk from a neighbor, friend, relative or co-worker to reinstall windows. Just borrow the version that your Certificate of Authentication (COA) sticker on the bottom of the laptop says. Also make sure you can read the Product Key Code on the COA. Also get the product key code for the disk you borrow because sometimes during installation or activation it will ask for the Key that is on your sticker, and sometimes it wants the key from the installation disk.

Just make sure you borrow the same version of windows that your COA says is installed on your system otherwise you'll have problems activating it.

The beep codes indicate there is a problem keeping it from starting. You code post the model, etc. of the computer, and the number of beeps, and if there are long or short beeps. Mostly these are memory and/or video. If you can, disconnect the hard drive, cd, and any extra cards (sound card, modem, network). Re-seat (remove and re-install) RAM and video card, then try it again. Re-post if you are still getting beep codes with # of beeps, etc.

First make sure usb cable connected to harddrive is working fine. try it in different usb ports. Press windows key +R key so you can see run then type in run "devmgmt.msc" then press ok so you can see device manager uninstall all usb drivers then it automatic install usb drivers. then check. Also you need to change registry for that type in run "regedit" then press ok then you can see registry editor then locate below key. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11 CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} And remove upper filter and lower filter.Then restart computer then check. Also locate the below key and make sure it's value is 3 not 4. HKLM\system\currentcontrolset\services\usbstor make sure start value is 3 not 4. Let me know if you need further assistance. Thanks for using FixYa

you need to contact the company you bought the computer from and ask them for the phone number to the software packege company they use with there computers if you contact them they will send you a copy of the vista install

What Product key are you using?Make sure that it is not the Microsoft Operating System product key.

First make sure usb cable connected to harddrive is working fine. try it in different usb ports. Press windows key +R key so you can see run then type in run "devmgmt.msc" then press ok so you can see device manager uninstall all usb drivers then it automatic install usb drivers. then check. Also you need to change registry for that type in run "regedit" then press ok then you can see registry editor then locate below key. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11 CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} And remove upper filter and lower filter.Then restart computer then check. Also locate the below key and make sure it's value is 3 not 4. HKLM\system\currentcontrolset\services\usbstor make sure start value is 3 not 4. Let me know if you need further assistance. Thanks for using FixYa

* Look in your BIOS, I've it can detect the HDD.
( Press the F1 or F10 key after restarting the computer) * Make sure all the cables are connectedproperly.

* It might be a jumper setting.


I've you have 2 HDD's on 1 cable, you need to have 1 Master & 1 Slave,or else your HDD(s) wont show up & other problems.

Jumper settings below (Yourjumper settings might be different !)


I've this all didnt work, either your HDD or your MOBO is broken.

In order for the computer to work, and for you to reformat the harddrive, you will need a bootable disk, either one which has a drive utility on it in order to reformat and partition the harddrive or an operating installation disk which includes a drive utility (any windows installation disk has it) - without one you will neither be able to properly reformat the harddrive nor install an operating system on it in order to use the computer.

As you have stated, this is obvious, and your problem is that you do not have an installation disk. A restore disk would not help if you reformatted the harddrive.

You can either purchase a Windows operating system disk, find one (no, not anything illegal - I have spare copies of windows and all of my geek friends have spare copies, because frankly of issues like this),

or download a copy of Linux and burn it to a cd - Ubuntu is a decent choice for a starting Linux user, and is very easy to use (works alot like windows, has tutorials, etc) and is completely free - you can do a search for Ubuntu Linux on google and you will be able to download a copy which can be burnt to disk or request a disk be sent to you, though I cannot remember if they still send free Ubuntu disks out.

Linux typically runs very well on limited resource computers such as the one you are in possession of. Did I mention it was free? If nothing else, you can use it to reformat the harddrive using their Live Boot disk - it allows you to use the Ubuntu operating system without installing it. You boot from the cd and can use their harddrive utility, or install Linux to the harddrive, or just check it out to see how it works.