os installation in machine with pre-installed os

i have a hp pavilion which had a pre-installed windows-xp. now when i try to install a fresh os with anything but the recovery dvd's i got with it i get an error "setup did not find any hard disk drives installed in your computer". the recovery dvd's they gave me formats everything. so please help me.

Seems like your problem has alot to do with buying a commercial computer. You see the drivers needed for the bios and the drivers needed to reconnect all of that hardware on your pc are on those dvds. What you really need is a bios floppy for your pc and then it may work. I am not really sure though I am just trying to help.