Hewlett-Packard's board is investigating the company's flawed $11bn acquisition of software firm Autonomy Corp, and has set up an informal committee to provide strategic advice to chief executive Meg Whitman.

The moves were disclosed by some H-P directors in a private meeting with big investors on Monday, according to a person who attended the meeting. The efforts appeared to be aimed at demonstrating that the board has put management on a shorter leash following a string of blunders at the Palo Alto, California company.