Formatting XP without disk

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Guest

A friend of mine has got a computer from one of those "rent to own" places (stupid mistake, if you ask me) Anyway, after all the virus and spyware cleaning I did for him, his computer is still acting on the crazy side. He wasn't given any disks for his computer. We've tried to do the Quick Restore and it only goes back like 2 weeks from when he got it, so it's no use. My question is, if he goes to My Computer > C and chooses "Format" will that COMPLETELY erase everything, including the XP OS? And if it does, in what way can he get this fixed other than going out and buying Windows XP?

Thanks in advance!
 
Janice;
No, that will not format C.
Windows can not format the drive it is installed.
Contact the seller for appropriate CDs.

What brand of computer?
Check the manual and/or contact the manufacturer for recovery
procedures.
Some manufacturers use a hidden partition on the drive for recovery.
Some also give the option to create the CD right on the computer.

Otherwise contact the computer manufacturer to see if they can help.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


Janice said:
A friend of mine has got a computer from one of those "rent to own"
Click to expand...
places (stupid mistake, if you ask me) Anyway, after all the virus and
spyware cleaning I did for him, his computer is still acting on the
crazy side. He wasn't given any disks for his computer. We've tried
to do the Quick Restore and it only goes back like 2 weeks from when
he got it, so it's no use. My question is, if he goes to My Computer
C and chooses "Format" will that COMPLETELY erase everything,
Click to expand...
including the XP OS? And if it does, in what way can he get this
fixed other than going out and buying Windows XP?
 
There is little you can do without the WINXP Program disks. If you FORMAT
you will need to reinstall WINXP as the disk (partition) will be completely
wiped. You are entitled to the WINXP disks as a licensee and you should go
back to where you purchased the machine and ask for (demand) the disks. It
may be that the machine is loaded with a "pirated" copy which case you
should complain to Microsoft.

Janice said:
A friend of mine has got a computer from one of those "rent to own" places
Click to expand...
(stupid mistake, if you ask me) Anyway, after all the virus and spyware
cleaning I did for him, his computer is still acting on the crazy side. He
wasn't given any disks for his computer. We've tried to do the Quick
Restore and it only goes back like 2 weeks from when he got it, so it's no
use. My question is, if he goes to My Computer > C and chooses "Format"
will that COMPLETELY erase everything, including the XP OS? And if it does,
in what way can he get this fixed other than going out and buying Windows
XP?
 
Edward W. Thompson said:
There is little you can do without the WINXP Program disks. If you
FORMAT you will need to reinstall WINXP as the disk (partition) will
be completely wiped. You are entitled to the WINXP disks as a
licensee and you should go back to where you purchased the machine
and ask for (demand) the disks. It may be that the machine is loaded
with a "pirated" copy which case you should complain to Microsoft.


(stupid mistake, if you ask me) Anyway, after all the virus and
spyware cleaning I did for him, his computer is still acting on the
crazy side. He wasn't given any disks for his computer. We've tried
to do the Quick Restore and it only goes back like 2 weeks from when
he got it, so it's no use. My question is, if he goes to My Computer
including the XP OS? And if it does, in what way can he get this
fixed other than going out and buying Windows XP?
Click to expand...

you are not entitled to an xp disk when you buy a pc, unless you have been
charged and invoiced for it.
pc suppliers can supply "recovery disks" or have the "recovery disk" on a
partition.
 
Janice said in news:[email protected]:
A friend of mine has got a computer from one of those "rent to own"
places (stupid mistake, if you ask me) Anyway, after all the virus
and spyware cleaning I did for him, his computer is still acting on
the crazy side. He wasn't given any disks for his computer. We've
tried to do the Quick Restore and it only goes back like 2 weeks from
when he got it, so it's no use. My question is, if he goes to My
Computer > C and chooses "Format" will that COMPLETELY erase
everything, including the XP OS? And if it does, in what way can he
get this fixed other than going out and buying Windows XP?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Since you intend to erase EVERYTHING *and* since the user never got any
disks (presumably the OS isn't in a hidden partition you use for a
"reinstall" which is often just a disk image), it sure sounds like you
will buying a copy of Windows. If so, just insert the CD, boot from it,
and use its install to delete the partition, recreate it, and format it.

Ask the renter where is the *LEGAL* copy of Windows that supposedly came
with the computer. If it was pre-installed then asks where are the OEM
CDs or how to perform a reinstall. If they refuse, tell them that you
will be reporting the pirated software to their State Attorney's Office
to investigate and possibly charge them, along with telling them that
you will notify Microsoft of the piracy. However, read the rent
contract. It may be that the rentee doesn't own anything until the
final payment is made, so even you reinstalling the OS might violate the
lease. Check with the renter to see if they will be helpful.
 
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