so...where do i find these diagnostics you speak of? on their website, or is it in my computer somewhere?

Either on a CD that came with, or from the HP site somewhere.

i got the system restore to work FINALLY, and now i cant get it connected to my godamned wireless network. I'm gonna shoot it very soon.

come chat and help me fix the fucking shitbag

well, i found the diagnostics within the bios setings in the start up menu.....

i'm running the primary drive test now....it also has a memory test in there.

the problem now though....is that i can connect to my home wireless network, but it wont get internet. I've tried all the 'repair connection' options i can find, but the dog just won't hunt.

im terribly frustrated.

You can cannot to your home wireless network? How? What is the test that says you have a connection that far?
Ping 192.168.1.1 ?
In Internet Explorer, http://192.168.1.1 ?
Lights on the wireless router? Or just that something on the Task Bar tells you a connection exists?

Also not defined is your ISP? What is physically connected to what?

Of course, a temporary hardwire connection to the router would simplify a diagnosis. Using wireless is best done later after everything else is confirmed good.

Don't try all those fixing things. First identify the failure. Failure has not yet been identified. Above are some tests to identify the failure - not yet fix anything.

Now you have two identical computers. Many netork interface diagnostics need two identical sysetms connected to a common network to test the network connection. Boot both computers into the comprehensive hardware diagnostic (no Windows) and find the last network interface test where two computers running the same diagnostic talk to each others. That diagnostic is a best way to determine what is absoutely working without doubt - so that we can move on to other possible problems.

i threw it out the window. i was surprised that it bounced.

actually, i gave up trying to find the issue.....and used system restore to reset the computer to it's original out of the box state. I had backed up all the files i cared about, so now it's just a matter of re installing a few programs. thanks anyway for your help, cellar.

So is it working now?

Oh, yeah.....it hooked right up. It's kind of cool, actually....getting to start over like i just got a new computer. AND! i get another 60 days free virus scan from norton that came with it!

Bonus!