Can't find it - Help please.

[justme]

About three weeks ago I purchased a used /rebuilt HP Pavilion from a
dealer. It came preloaded with Win-XP w/SP2. No CD came with it.

I wanted to burn a start-up cd in case of any trouble. I couldn't find any
instructions in the help files or any place in the folders that listed
instructions for users. I even got a copy of Win XP For Dummies but there
was nothing in it either (that I could find).

After about a week and a half I was on line in the middle of something I
couldn't stop and got a dialog box advising me to make a cd to restore (I
think it said) windows in case of trouble. Just what I wanted but I had to
click on "remind me later" so I wouldn't lose what I was doing.

I have not been reminded and still can't find anything.

I am a very old man and a novice at this kind of thing. My old pc ran on
Win98SE. I had two start-up disks that were provided by the tech who built
the pc for me and didn't have to worry about making one.

Can anyone help me? Where can I find the instructions for burning the cd? I
just know the stupid thing will crash or something and leave me with no way
to get back on and save my files.

TIA.

jm

 

[Guest]

If you bought the computer from a dealer, then he needs to provide the XP cd
for you. Go back and demand one.

Second, if you are worried about losing your data, why not do regular
backups - burn the files to cd and store them in a safe place.

MD

 

[Brian A.]

How To Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q305595

How to use System files to create a boot disk to guard against being unable to start
Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q314079

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[justme]

How To Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q305595

How to use System files to create a boot disk to guard against being
unable to start Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q314079

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

Thanks for the links. I might be able to manage the proceedure but for one
thing. No floppy drive. That's why I mentioned the cd.

I guess I'm screwed unless I can get a cd from the dealer as suggested
elswhere.

Thanks for trying.

jm

 

[DL]

See HP site help FAQ's - how to create recovery disk - for the pavilion
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...&product=61024&lang=en&docname=c00048086#N336

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

If you bought the computer from a dealer, then he needs to provide
the XP cd for you. Go back and demand one.

Demanding one accomplishes nothing if the computer doesn't come with one.
Many OEM computers don't (I think HP falls into this category, but I'm not
sure).

OEM vendors are required by their agreement with Microsoft to give you a
means of reinstalling, should it be necessary. They can do this in one of
three ways:

1. An OEM copy of Windows
2. A restore CD
3. A hidden partition on your drive, with restore information.

If you don't have 1 or 2, you should have 3, but you should contact your
vendor to find out.

Personally, I find both 2 and 3 unacceptable (especially 3; a hard drive
crash can leave you with nothing), and would never choose to buy a computer
that came with an operating system unless I got a complete generic
installation CD for that operating system.