It's an HP pavilion model dv5z-1000. It was running windows Vista 64 bit. I was running the Vista memory diagnostic test on it when the HDD failed. I can get to the boot screen where I can choose to boot into safe mode and debugging mode, recovery management console.
It will start loading but then it hangs up. I get am empty desktop with the mouse on it but it will not finish loading.

As far as I can tell I need a Vista DVD to repair the HDD. And as luck would have it. I don't have that DVD. I have xp and 7.

Is there a way to fix her HDD with out the Vista dvd?

Here's my email jonvolunteer@hotmail.com

Did you try booting in to safe mode yet.

I did. All I get is a blue background(not the screen of death) and a pointer. I tried debugging mode. I tried holding F11 so it would load right into the recovery partition. I tried loading safe mode with active directory... I get the same result.

I guess the next thing I would try is a bootable anti-virus CD/DVD.

Here is a list, it may be a little dated but it will get you started I think:

http://www.techmixer.com/free-bootable-antivirus-rescue-cds-download-list/

I found spinrite. I hope it works.

You can DL a clean copy of Vista from Digital River (legal copy of Vista from Microsoft). The problem is that it will not be authenticated when you load it. If you can figure out how to get the original digital certificate and OEM Key (different than the one on the notebook) you can authenticate it off-line. If not, you''ll have to do a phone authentication with Microsoft.

The Vista image can be loaded onto a 4GB thumbdrive and booted directly from there. Here is a thread to get you started. http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-compaq/120228-clean-vista-install-no-activation-109.html Here is another one describing the process with W7. It's similar for Vista. http://forum.notebookreview.com/6465732-post1612.html

Sailus

Still trying to figure out what is burned on my desktop. It looks like my son really did a job on this unit. I'm suspecting that the Mobo and CPU is shot.:'( Anyone know an easy way to check the power unit? I can't even get the unit to POST.

I'm running a data recovery program right now. Her HDD is really messed up. Errors all over the place. I'll finish that up first and see what happens. Then I'll try the img.

I guess you could test the PSU with a voltmeter. It sounds like you are getting power to it.

Can't even get to the BIOS?

It could just be the MOBO. Even if the CPU is fried you should be able to get to post. If the MOBO was still good.