Re: Fresh Install of XP Home?

REDWAGON wrote:

> "....although if you use the same CD
> that came with the laptop you probably won't need to enter the key or
> activate".
>
> In regards to the portion statement above that you suggested Malke, I
> would like to include some suggestions and experience I had. I just
> recently purchased a new "HP" laptop computer. It came with everything
> installed along with some free programming. It also came with an
> original XP Home (SP2) operating system disk AND also 4 other CD's
> that were the "restore" disks with all the identical stuff that the
> original computer had on it. Well, I decided to do (I think) what this
> OP might be suggesting. I placed the original XP operating system disk
> in my CD drive (set the BIOS to boot from that drive first) and then
> proceeded to re-format the entire HD and install a new "clean"
> operating system. Everything went great, however, I did have to
> (elected to call rather than on the internet) call MS on the phone and
> re-activate the system. Also, since then I decided to see what the 4
> restore disks would do, so I did the same thing with those disks and
> this time (After a considerable time I might add) everything was put
> back to when I purchased the computer new AND this time I did not have
> to re-activate the system.

The reason you had a problem was probably that you formatted the entire
drive. HP has a partition on the hard drive (can't remember if it is
hidden or not) that has the information for their recovery process and
you apparently removed it. The reason for making the physical CD's
(which HP now permits you to do once, bless their greedy ugly little
hearts) is for when you need to replace the hard drive. Even if you get
a replacement hard drive from HP under warranty, it will be a blank
hard drive (and let's not even discuss how stupid that is, HP) without
the recovery stuff on it. Normally when you want to restore an HP
computer to factory condition, you press F10 as the computer is
starting up. You'll then get the option to either restore to factory
condition or to "repair" and keep your files/programs, etc.

I've redone an awful lot of computers since XP came out in 2001, and
haven't had to call on an OEM one once. My understanding is that if you
replace the motherboard on an OEM machine with a different model/make
(like sticking an Asus in your Dell), you'll run into the necessity of
activating by phone. Notice that I'm not going to comment on activation
whatsoever. I never participate in activation threads and there's a
reason for that. ;-)

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows User/Shell
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"
.

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