Enter OS Key? Repair install?????

[Guest]

I have a year old HP laptop that came with XP Pro SP1 pre-installed. I have
the original CD, and the sticker with the key on the bottom of the laptop. I
let my daughter use the laptop while in college, but without the installation
CD. Now that I have the laptop back, Belarc Advisor shows a different OS key,
and an MS validation error message says that it's a company license that
expired. How do I reenter my original key? Will performing a repair install
solve this problem? If yes, will a repai install mess up all my installed
applications? will I have to reinstall all my other applications?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Apparently, someone installed an illegal, pirated version
of Windows XP Professional. You'll have to backup your
important files, then use the HP method of performing
a "destructive recovery".

HP Pavilions that ship with Microsoft Windows XP do
not come with Recovery CDs. Instead, they use a hidden
space (partition) on the hard drive to store the recovery
information.

Read the following article thoroughly, then follow
the steps outlined to perform a "destructive"
recovery operation.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...docname=bph07145&product=71013&dlc=en&lang=en

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I have a year old HP laptop that came with XP Pro SP1 pre-installed. I have
| the original CD, and the sticker with the key on the bottom of the laptop. I
| let my daughter use the laptop while in college, but without the installation
| CD. Now that I have the laptop back, Belarc Advisor shows a different OS key,
| and an MS validation error message says that it's a company license that
| expired. How do I reenter my original key? Will performing a repair install
| solve this problem? If yes, will a repai install mess up all my installed
| applications? will I have to reinstall all my other applications?
| --
| Thanks.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

A 'Repair' install should enable you to change the PK to the original one.
All your data files, settings and programs will be left intact with a
'Repair' install.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the link. I'll check it out. Do you know if the fact that the hard
drive was re-partitioned since it was purchased will make a difference when
performing a "destructive recovery"?

 

[Guest]

Sounds great. I'll give it a try first.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

The HP destructive recovery operation will return the hard drive
to its original factory partition(s) or configuration.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Thanks for the link. I'll check it out. Do you know if the fact that the hard
| drive was re-partitioned since it was purchased will make a difference when
| performing a "destructive recovery"?
|
| --
| Thanks.