My son bless him decided to re-install windows on his two month old HP Pavilion computer and it looks like he has formatted and erased the partition that carries the resore data! When we try to install Windows Xp it gets to the networking section just after asking for the serial no and then hangs with about 29 minutes to go? This computer came with no disks at all as everything was on the hard drive. Is there any way I can sort this out without throwing it out of the window excuse the pun! I have been to the HP website which is a joke trying to navigate around it for recovery disks and ending up being timed out three times!! Only other solution I can think of is to murder my son and have done with it! I am sure that my son was trying to re-install Windows due to getting a virus on it although he wouldn't admit it. On his last computer he screwed up he had removed the anti virus software as it slowed it down!! I am sure there will be a death in the family shorty!

What is the exact Pavilion model?

HP has a good site here: http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html

They have many tips plus info on receiving recovery disks if necessary.

The model No. is: EG761 AA-ABU
and the product No. is: T3218.UK I shall have a look at the website you mention thanks. Just had a look at the site, it is the one I have been looking at and is a total nightmare to navigate! I just can't get to the page to order any recovery disks as it continually times me out!! It took me around half an hour last night just trying to find a page that took me to the recovery disk page! Not very user friendly at all.

What is the model e.g. Pavilion 7955?

Just for example if it were a Pavilion 7955 and you put that in the box here:

http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html

It would take you here:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/p...&lang=en&cc=us

Where among other options is the link to Recovery Disks here:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/g...cname=bph07143

Many thanks for the suggestions Jephree but it looks like I am now getting somewhere at last. I fitted a floppy drive to the machine and formatted the drive from a boot disk. I am now in the middle of installing windows and it is going well so far. I am just praying I can download all the drivers it may need if the XP generic ones won't do. I will keep my fingers crossed. Thanks again for your help.