Hewelt frakin Pakard

[onca]

(Whatever happened to the good old days when you turned a computer on and it just worked??? Then 20 minutes loading a blocky game from cassette....)

@NeXuS, to answer one question. No system since Windows 95 has ever required drivers for hard disk (except in the case of SCSI, which you will not find in a pre-built home system). This sounds like either a faulty hard disk (logic board probably), or faulty motherboard.

It's also possible some BIOS settings are set incorrectly -- if some smartass HP techo has overclocked it, for example, that will cause intermittant problems and BSOD. Suggest this when you call to the helpdesk and have them talk you thru getting the right settings (usually setting to "factory defaults" and going from there.)

And, what vaporlinx said. Call HP helpdesk and don't let them go until the problem is sorted, or they will give you an exchange.

Keep us posted.....
o.