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"
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Entertainment
    ... operating system came preinstalled on laptop. ... There should be a restore partition on your Hard Drive. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter)
  • Re: Restoring Windows XP from the CD
    ... can run a Repair Install but if you laptop came with "Restore CD" then ... the brand and model of the laptop and what it says on the CD's label. ... > Am I able to restore the Windows XP operating system on my laptop from the ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Hard Drive Replacement
    ... All my application programs are on my 'E' partition. ... Do you mean that when you do a backup or create an image it will take about four minutes more time to do a larger OS image? ... So now instead of having everything on one image you have to create two different images every time you want to back things up and if you want to restore you have to restore two images, I can't see what good that does. ... As for the system not being changed often, or left just as it was when installed then I suppose you never tweak the operating system to your likings, not to mention that you don't do any security updates, even if only a few times a year. ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.general)
  • Re: Death of a Computer...
    ... So that you can very quickly and easily restore your system, ... even restore images of an operating system to different hardware. ... That's the idea behind partitioning as well. ... ones who are going to bother messing with partitioning drives and drive ...
    (rec.sport.billiard)
  • Re: System Restore not working
    ... NoStop your a idiot go play with your pengwin toy and don't post unless you ... When I attempt to do a system restore I have the choice of going back ... When you're finally fedup with running this toy operating system, ... A 3D Linux Desktop... ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)