can't re-boot

I have a new computer with Vista HP x64. I have a problem somewhere
which is stopping a successful boot - the screen hangs following the
'PCI Devices Listing...'. I have tried to re-boot from the original
installation CD and I can hear the disk whirring but then it stops and
boot-up simply hangs.

I want to go back to square one and re-format my hard disk and start
again, but I don't know how to do this, because I don't know how to move
past the point at which the boot stalls.

Any suggestions gratefully received.


--
professor_skunk

"professor_skunk" <professor_skunk.359nh3 RemoveThis @no-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
news:professor_skunk.359nh3@no-mx.forums.net...
>
> I have a new computer with Vista HP x64. I have a problem somewhere
> which is stopping a successful boot - the screen hangs following the
> 'PCI Devices Listing...'. I have tried to re-boot from the original
> installation CD and I can hear the disk whirring but then it stops and
> boot-up simply hangs.
>
> I want to go back to square one and re-format my hard disk and start
> again, but I don't know how to do this, because I don't know how to move
> past the point at which the boot stalls.
>
> Any suggestions gratefully received.
>
>
> --
> professor_skunk

You should be able to hit one of the F function keys to start a restore.
Since HP doesn't furnish a real Windows installation disk, this is the only
option you have. You will be restoring from a hidden partition on the hard
drive. Or, if you were able to use the one-time only burn option that HP
has on their systems, you will be using the restore disk(s) you burned using
the one-time utility. You will have to check your documentation to find out
which key to hit at startup. They differ from maker to maker. Could be the
F2 key, could be F12. These key options are usually shown during the POST,
as the machine first starts the boot process.