Replacement windows xp cd

jones

Ok folks,

Bit of a funny one here but my aul lad has a pc at home that i need to reinstall windows on. The pc came with windows xp pro but the disk has been scratched and kepts failing when i try to reinstall the operating system.

Is there anywhere i can download Windows xp and then use my product key to activate it? Not talking about anything illegal here at least i dont think it is ha.

Any advise?

yoyo

jones wrote: »

Ok folks,

Bit of a funny one here but my aul lad has a pc at home that i need to reinstall windows on. The pc came with windows xp pro but the disk has been scratched and kepts failing when i try to reinstall the operating system.

Is there anywhere i can download Windows xp and then use my product key to activate it? Not talking about anything illegal here at least i dont think it is ha.

Any advise?

It's not possible to get general Windows XP CDs unfortunately, while some OEM discs will do many keys there will always be the one key you try to use and it will refuse. What brand of computer is it, Windows version is it running (SP1, SP1a, SP2, SP3 XP Pro, XP Home, XP MCE etc) and who manufactured it? Dell, HP, etc..

Nick

homingbird

Search online for a working copy as windows does not support it anymore.

riclad

it needs to be winxp pro,
home ,or other version won,t work,
I think he means microsoft do,nt support it.
you can always install linux,works on any pc,laptop, its free,
comes with browser, music player,
FITS on one cdr, use imgburn to burn iso,image file,
burn iso command,burn options,use 2x.
cdr is 1 blank cd disk.
http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=44
works on pc,512meg ram and up.
Perhaps someone on boards might lend you a cd.
what brand is the pc?
eg dell560n

theres ways to fix a scratched cdrom,
smyths toys had a disc fix service 5 euro,
last time i was there,FIX Scratched cds, i presume the process is the same for a pc cd as for an xbox cd.

see
http://www.google.com/search?gcx=w&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=fix+scratched+++pc+cdrom

maybe get 2euro dvd lens cleaning kit,
in 2 euro shop moore st,
that might help loading process.
it cleans lens in dvd drive,pcs or laptops.

HelpWithIT

Jones..Pm me the make of your PC and I might have a cd you can have loan of

jones

Thanks for the help folks! Its actually my old pc its a Dell 8300 IIRC. The cd is scratched to bits from being thrown in a garage for the past 7 years. I kept taking it out as it was installing and wiping it clean and it would go another % or 2 then stop again at another part of the disk.

I could try the disk cleaning option but i've a feeling this has gone too far.

riclad

I think there used to be shops,in dublin, that would sell,tvs,pcs,laptops,phones,
that would sell winxp ,cds,genuine, with license key,
that would install on any pc.
you might need or dell winxp pro,cd for that pc,
I cant remember the name of the shop,,i think theres one in swords village,
sells pcs,tablets , phones ,music cds,dvds,ps3,360 games,laptops,monitors.
i was there 2 years ago.
I think theres a branch in the middle of thomas st,
on the left hand side ,as you go AWAY from city centre.

riclad

SEE here ,
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/270436-45-lost-dell

reboot pc,hold down ,cntrl key, press f11, when the dell logo image appears onscreen.
this should start os recovery menu ,use enter key,arrow,
start recovery,
should install windows from hidden partition on the hardrive,
if it has one.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4926884_restore-dell-dimension-factory-settings.html

quote Restart the computer. After the Dell screen appears on the monitor, hold down the "Ctrl" key and press the "F11" key.

end quote.
This should work ok ,on the pc.if the hardisk is ok, has the hidden os, partition on it.
your dell pc is listed as having a hidden partition.

jones

Cheers riclad i'll try that this weekend see if i can get it working!! the only thing is when i started to install windows on it the other day i chose to format the C:\ so that might of got rid of the hidden partition

riclad

see
http://www.ehow.com/how_6497108_restore-desktop-original-factory-settings.html
Restart or turn on your computer. Press the "F8" key several times as it starts up until you see the Advanced Boot Options screen.

2
Select the "Repair Your Computer" option and then click on the "Next" button.


try f11,
or f8 ,recovery modes ,whatever one works,
restore os process takes,20- 30minutes to complete,
THIS DELETES all user data,photos music,on your pc drive c;/

if you install winxp into default folder,
c;/windows from a cdrom ,dvd chances are your user data,photos, music will be left on drive c,
IN my documents,user , folder WINDOWS old ,directory.
or search your user name old, mp3s ,my music etc

jones

Cool beans i'll try this weekend and report back!!


Cheers for the help really appreciate it

riclad

The partition is hidden,
it maybe still there,
unless you choose to delete it using a formatting program.like Gparted.
see http://gparted.sourceforge.net/
this livecd will show the hidden partition , 5 - 9gig approx size.
if you just did dos command format c;/
it should still there ,and be usable to reinstall windows os.
try reb0ot,press f8.
see advanced options,
does menu appear, takes 3 minutes to try it.
wont do recovery till you click,enter,or ok,confirm start recovery /restore mode.

RossieMan

You can get these on Kat.ph/piratebay.

Technically, its not illegal as you are already using your own windows serial number.


/only use it if all else fails me thinks.

riclad

Recovery partition should still be there as far as i can tell, unless you used
diskpart or some other program to delete it.
if using recovery ,partition it reinstalls windows xp, as before ,as it was installed by dell in the factory.
you,ll still need to reinstall firefox,itunes ,chrome etc,
if recovery fails, it maybe possible to get dell isos,cd images from the web.AS a last resort,
and use the windows license key on the pc case label.
i think the recovery partition is 3-4 gig approx on an 80gig ide drive.

gctest50

jones wrote: »

Cool beans i'll try this weekend and report back!!


Cheers for the help really appreciate it

Check your PM - bit of help there

riclad

Open a command prompt as administrator.
Run Diskpart application by typing Diskpart in the command prompt.
In the “Diskpart” prompt, enter rescan command and press Enter key to re-scan all partitions, volumes and drives available.
Then type in list disk and press Enter key to show all hard disk drive available.
Select the disk that contains the partition you want to remove. Normally, with just 1 hard disk, it will be disk 0. So the command will be:
select disk 0

Finish by Enter key.

Type list partition and press Enter key to show all available and created partition in the disk selected.

Open a command prompt as administrator.
Run Diskpart application by typing Diskpart in the command prompt.
In the “Diskpart” prompt, enter rescan command and press Enter key to re-scan all partitions, volumes and drives available.
Then type in list disk and press Enter key to show all hard disk drive available.
Select the disk that contains the partition you want to remove. Normally, with just 1 hard disk, it will be disk 0. So the command will be:
select disk 0

Finish by Enter key.

Type list partition and press Enter key to show all available and created partition in the disk selected.

from www.bootdisk.com

a win98se bootdisk ,copied to a 3.5inch floppy disk
gives you acess to a dos prompt ,
gives you acess to dos mode,

IF that pc has a 3.5inch drive.
IF i remember correctly.
is about 7 years since i used a boot disk.

They also have winxp boot cds,
http://www.bootdisk.com/popfiles.htm

eg get iso,burn to cd using imgburn.
it should,nt be necessary to do this anyway.

200motels

riclad wrote: »

Open a command prompt as administrator.
Run Diskpart application by typing Diskpart in the command prompt.
In the “Diskpart” prompt, enter rescan command and press Enter key to re-scan all partitions, volumes and drives available.
Then type in list disk and press Enter key to show all hard disk drive available.
Select the disk that contains the partition you want to remove. Normally, with just 1 hard disk, it will be disk 0. So the command will be:
select disk 0

Finish by Enter key.

Type list partition and press Enter key to show all available and created partition in the disk selected.

Open a command prompt as administrator.
Run Diskpart application by typing Diskpart in the command prompt.
In the “Diskpart” prompt, enter rescan command and press Enter key to re-scan all partitions, volumes and drives available.
Then type in list disk and press Enter key to show all hard disk drive available.
Select the disk that contains the partition you want to remove. Normally, with just 1 hard disk, it will be disk 0. So the command will be:
select disk 0

Finish by Enter key.

Type list partition and press Enter key to show all available and created partition in the disk selected.

from www.bootdisk.com

a win98se bootdisk ,copied to a 3.5inch floppy disk
gives you acess to a dos prompt ,
gives you acess to dos mode,

IF that pc has a 3.5inch drive.
IF i remember correctly.
is about 7 years since i used a boot disk.

They also have winxp boot cds,
http://www.bootdisk.com/popfiles.htm

eg get iso,burn to cd using imgburn.
it should,nt be necessary to do this anyway.

I know this is about about Xp but a friend of mine has a similar problem with Vista on a HP machine, he can't find the recovery partition even tho on boot up F9 states recovery but if you press it nothing happens, I think the hard drive was formatted. Any ideas how he would get it back as his Vista is giving him a lot of trouble.

Torqay

200motels wrote: »

I know this is about about Xp but a friend of mine has a similar problem with Vista on a HP machine, he can't find the recovery partition even tho on boot up F9 states recovery but if you press it nothing happens, I think the hard drive was formatted. Any ideas how he would get it back as his Vista is giving him a lot of trouble.

Just as with Windows XP, there is no legal way to to download Windows Vista. So the are only two options (allowed to discuss here):

1. Contact HP customer care, for a small fee they will send you a set of recovery discs for your system.

2. Buy another version of Windows, if you're not happy with Vista.

P.S.: there might be other solutions, but you won't find them here.

riclad

SEE my previous posts, get livecd,gparted iso, burn image to a cdr, rebbot from cdr,
it,ll show you all the partitions, including recovery, i have 1 hp pc,at the moment with recovery partition.
what model pc is it?
eg hp 570mt ?

http://www.ehow.com/how_8390391_boot-hp-recovery-console.html

reboot pc,try press f11 key,repeatly until a screen appears,
see link above.
try this before you download a gparted cd.

riclad

theres likely to be a specific hp cd windows xp,for your particular model,
eg 520ls

or get windows os dvd from hp support ,as previously suggested.
I got a hp pc last week,cpu 3.oghz, i just installed linux on it, MY 2nd hp,pc has win7 premium.
it works fine,has a browser,music player,vlc, runs at least twice as fast as winxp,
NO antivirus needed for ubuntu.

riclad

Step 1
Restart your computer.

Step 2
Wait for the standard "BIOS" prompts to appear on the screen and press the "F11" key. This must be completed before the Windows logo appears on the screen. The "HP Recovery Manager" window appears on the screen.

Step 3
Click the "System Recovery" option in the Recovery Manager window to begin restoring your computer to a better operating condition.

Just using format c:\ comand should not delete the recovery partition.

google hp your model xx pc recovery mode.

200motels

riclad wrote: »

SEE my previous posts, get livecd,gparted iso, burn image to a cdr, rebbot from cdr,
it,ll show you all the partitions, including recovery, i have 1 hp pc,at the moment with recovery partition.
what model pc is it?
eg hp 570mt ?

http://www.ehow.com/how_8390391_boot-hp-recovery-console.html

reboot pc,try press f11 key,repeatly until a screen appears,
see link above.
try this before you download a gparted cd.

It's a HP Compaq 5019 UK it has Vista basic on it.

riclad

S
you are supposed ee ,
http://bizsupport1.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00829591/c00829591.pdf

turn on hp pc,when the blue screen,with hp invent logo appears,press f11,
you have 2 or 3 seconds to do this,
then
wait for recovery manager to load, follow onscreen prompts,this should reinstall os,from hidden partition.
NOTE, this formats c, wipes all user data,info,pics, music from drive c;/

SEE pdf,link above,page 27, recovery START FROM system startup.

if you have hp recovery disks you could use those instead.
you are supposed to make recovery cds,from the hp menu,
in start programs, now and again.

I think the above link,pdf ,refers to your hp pc, 200 motels.

You could use a livecd,eg mint to load from cd,
copy all music,user data to an external drive,
mint 7, 660meg,
Fits on 1 cdr disk.
get a vista cdrom, install vista on hp pc, use license key,
if cd is vista home, you,d need a vista home license key.
OR contact hp support for a vista cd for your particular model.
or get vista basic cd,use the license key,on the pc case, label.

riclad

You could install mint linux,on partition drive c, uses about 5gig free space,
it has webrowser in the iso ,install file.
Just do not go near,or delete hp recovery partition.
See this gives you full acess to the web thru wifi,or ethernet cable,
SEE ,
http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=25
fits on 1 cdr,download iso,burn iage iso to cdr ,2x speed,using imgburn program.
See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywEmVhRDN9M
gparted from mint linux,
Enables you to check,look at any partition on a pc,
including hp recovery partition.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjQRkISnHQ4

GParted info.

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-Systems-e-g-Windows-8-and-Software/F11-HP-recovery-doesn-t-boot-into-recovery-partition/td-p/197434

the recovery partition needs to be Active, in order to,work,
eg reinstall windows os.
you may need to make it active.

fix recovery mode,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ2PKDs4DEY

see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxhARGs6k2Y

riclad

see
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=619964

riclad

,http://alternativeto.net/software/partition-wizard/about/
To make the recovery partition active,
if its not active already, and to check thats its on the hardisk.

then install minitool partition wizard.
reboot, pc, then make recovery partition Active.

200motels

riclad wrote: »

S
you are supposed ee ,
http://bizsupport1.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00829591/c00829591.pdf

turn on hp pc,when the blue screen,with hp invent logo appears,press f11,
you have 2 or 3 seconds to do this,
then
wait for recovery manager to load, follow onscreen prompts,this should reinstall os,from hidden partition.
NOTE, this formats c, wipes all user data,info,pics, music from drive c;/

SEE pdf,link above,page 27, recovery START FROM system startup.

if you have hp recovery disks you could use those instead.
you are supposed to make recovery cds,from the hp menu,
in start programs, now and again.

I think the above link,pdf ,refers to your hp pc, 200 motels.

You could use a livecd,eg mint to load from cd,
copy all music,user data to an external drive,
mint 7, 660meg,
Fits on 1 cdr disk.
get a vista cdrom, install vista on hp pc, use license key,
if cd is vista home, you,d need a vista home license key.
OR contact hp support for a vista cd for your particular model.
or get vista basic cd,use the license key,on the pc case, label.

As I mentioned earlier, it's not my PC but a friends, anyway thanks for reply's, alas it didn't work, the recovery partition was deleted or wiped, he has a legit windows 7 disk so I suggested to him he install that which he is doing so as I type.