My hp pavillion dvd drive just hangs up when I try to reinstall windows

If pressing F11 ("system recovery") does nothing, then your disk-drive, which contains a "system recovery partition" is inaccessible,
i.e., your disk-drive has failed.

You'll need to buy a new disk-drive, install it, and use the original "System Restore" set of CD/DVD disks to reinstall Windows onto the new disk-drive.

From the manufacturer's web-site: http://support.hp.com
enter your specific model-number, and you'll be directed to the available "downloads" for your computer.

Or, purchase a set of "System Recovery CD/DVD disks" from HP, and reinstall Windows. That set of disks will install the correct drivers for your hardware.

Just try to reinstall the DVD driver software through the Add Hardware wizard at the control panel. From the Start menu, left click the Control Panel, and the Add Hardware. Right to left click to open. Just follow the instructions and let your PC do the rest. If you have an internet, connect your PC without opening any window. Your PC will autoconnect and search the internet for the proper software driver. Wait for
a few minutes, until it is installed. Hope this Help.

You may have two problems, or just one.

The disk-drive is "failing" -- if it is "misreading" the "wallpaper" picture, then the viewed wallpaper will look to be "corrupted".

Backup all your files, to DVD-writable or USB memory-sticks,
before the disk-drive completely "dies".

Given that you have a "Athlon 64 3800+", it's worth replacing the disk-drive, reinstalling Windows, and restoring your files from your backup.
Much cheaper to replace the disk-drive than to buy a new computer.

cd/dvd rom is probably not working ,try using a lense cleaner disc if that doesn't work it's cheap enough to just install a new drive DVD/Rw as they are about £20.00 new.

have you tried reinstalling the dvd drivers?
I would try that and see if it works.
also make sure you set to the proper region for your dvd's
you can only change the region a couple times so go easy.

you have to send it back to hp to get it fixed, this is the second time mine had the same problem

memphisrains -

Sounds as though you may need to reinstall the driver for the laptop's cdrom drive. The easiest way I've found to do this is to download it directly from the manufacturer's web site; In your case, look here:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=ob-31831-1&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=435618&os=228&lang=en

Download the file to your desktop (file name is sp30367.exe), and run the installation to reinstall & update the DVD/CD-ROM drivers.

Hope this helps!
-thinstatic

Try this, put a DVD movie in the drive, then open windows explorer (Right click the start button, click explore) then see if you can read the DVD files on the DVD.

If you cannot browse the DVD then the DVD optics of the drive have failed and you will need to replace the drive.

You should be able to do a clean format with the hp disk on a new drive.Basically start from scratch.I have put new drives in HP computers without any trouble