Thank you for your replies. I tried to look for any files with the word Vista in them on the computer. There were 2 Windows files in C, but one was XP, and the other was empty.

All the other drives ( except H ) were removable storage drives. The H drive holds a file of 110KB, but I don't know what it is. A left click makes the file icon dissapear, and a right click opens the menu of "Open" Explore " etc, but I can't seem to bring up any info. nothing happens although the machine seemed to be "whirring" away, as it does when it's searching for something. Again, I admit to only waiting about 5 minutes for something to happen - maybe this was not long enough ?

I tried the F11 route, but have to admit did not push it repeatably. I will try that again.

I should maybe explain that our copy of XP was one of the multi user ones, my husband is a teacher, and we installed it from that disk.

I have tried the F11 route - nothing. The windows XP program was all that came up.

I will now go to the HP site and enquire about the recovery disks. Is a recovery disk the same as reinstalling Vista, or is it dependent on something I may not have.

I forgot to answer the question re:internet connection. I believe we tried to connect using a wizard, and then when that didn't work, we rang the ISP. We then rang primus/AOL, thinking to change ISP's, but they told us the same thing. We rang them, as their connection disk package came with the computer...That's when it all fell apart and we started getting frantic. We were led to believe we couldn't run Vista and have internet connection with iPrimus... of course, we are better infomed now, but, we believed them at the time.

Sorry, I don't remember what the specific error messages were when we tried to connect.

We have a NetComm NB5 modem.

I would assume the setup is the same for ADSL with Vista ans XP. Heres the Iprimus setup for your modem. http://support.iprimus.com.au/index....192&Itemid=120

Originally Posted by angelamont

I have tried the F11 route - nothing. The windows XP program was all that came up.

Did you try F10 just for the sake of it.

Originally Posted by angelamont

I will now go to the HP site and enquire about the recovery disks. Is a recovery disk the same as reinstalling Vista, or is it dependent on something I may not have.

As far as I can see the disk(s) are all you need. HP says the cost is minimal.

Thank you Jephree. I am afraid the F10 button didn't work either.

I have just come off the phone to HP. I have a set (?) of recovery disks coming to me in 3-5 working days. The cost was AUD$66.00.

I have to work very hard before then to try and understand internet connections, and setting up once Vista is back on the computer. HP has offered a kind of modified help with this over the phone, but they kept referring me back to the ISP... I didn't seem to be able to make him understand that iPrimus refuses to help with set-up, settings etc.

I am also trying to research a new ISP. I do not want to remain with iPrimus after this.

Thank you to Tassie Devil for the link to NetComm. I will print if off for reference. It may help us when we are trying to set up.

There should be no difference in connectivity between XP and Vista. Any operating system for that matter.

Your ISP might just have a "knee jerk" reaction to Vista questions such as "We do not support Vista" as the proper protocols have not yet been established for them and their employees.

If they are not running Vista they might be afraid to say "OK do this and that." etc.

Let us know if we can help when you get it set to try again.

Did you try getting connected before actually contacting your ISP? I can't really see there being many compatability issues when you're connecting to the net, and it would be awfully embarrassing if you re-installed Vista and got connected without a hitch

if you know a little about computers you could go on google research regaining programs that have been deleted then it shows you how to get back into the hard drive which has a small space of memory which is used for stuff that has been deleted even though it says iot has been deleted just check that out vista should be back there ....

Cheers Liam-M & braden198. The recovery disks arrived today - very quick response from HP.
I am going to wait until the weekend to install, the info with the disks says it takes about 3 hours.
As for the internet connection... the first time we tried we thought we knew what we were doing, we did everything we could do when prompted, but I think we got stuck on configuring. I am not very tech savvy, so sorry if I sound stupid. I think we got over-anxious with iPrimus's response. I thought they were leading me to believe we couldn't have the internet with Vista... I realise now how foolish that sounds.
wish me luck, and thanks again.