Ok no one laugh, but I really like the HP Pavilion PC. I can get one without a HD really cheap. I can get the HD and OS also. But when I install the new HD and OS where will XP get the drivers? For example the ethernet card driver, the scroll mouse driver and the 9 in 1 card reader driver?

Thanks

Nothing to laugh about, there should be an accompanying CD with the PC that contains all the necessary drivers. If not just search for the PC Model here http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html

also some drivers are built into the windows system, you could also look for drivers at www.driverguide.com

The only thing you would have to worry about is the ethernet card, for if windows doesnt have built in drivers for that card, you probably wont be able to use it... Else, the scroll mouse drivers are built-in, providing its relitivly generic, and the 9-in-1 card reader, it may or may not have integrated drivers for, still, you could check the windows update site for newer versions of your drivers.

to answer your origonal question, most of the time windows gets the drivers first off its own cd, second off the web(through windows update), and thirdly through the user...