Fresh Install of XP Home?

  • Thread starter Thread starter HotRod
  • Start date Start date
H

HotRod

I have a notebook computer with a lot of stuff on it and I'd like to go all
the way back to just XP Home and install just what I need. Since it already
has XP Home what is the best way to do this?
 
HotRod said:
I have a notebook computer with a lot of stuff on it and I'd like to
go all the way back to just XP Home and install just what I need.
Since it already has XP Home what is the best way to do this?
Click to expand...

I interpret this post as meaning you would like to return your notebook
to factory condition. To do this, refer to the manual that came with
the notebook or - if you no longer have the manual - to instructions on
the notebook mftr.'s website for your specific model machine.

Malke
 
If you have the XP CD, enter the BIOS and make the CD-ROM drive the first
boot device, save, restart with the CD in the Cd drive, and the option to
format the C: drive and any other drive or partition can be run before you
start the setup process.

If you want to keep any files and settings use the Files and Settings
Transfer Wizard to save them to recordable CD/DVD before you format and
reinstall.

See this page on the FAST wizard:

http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/Files_and_Settings_Transfer.htm

Just remember that if you don't have a Windows XP SP2 CD, you'll have to
install SP2 and all of the updates that have come out since then.

The new OneCare service for security that MS is soon to make available
requires SP2.

Eric,
PC Buyer Beware!
http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/
 
Just format the drive and start over. Your computer may have come with a
recovery disk. If so it should be very easy to do.
 
When hotrod suggested that he wanted to go way back to just XP Home on the
computer, I suggest he probably doesn't want to go back to "Factory
Condition". That would have a lot of "factory" crap on it that he probably
doesn't want. If that is the case, I suggest that Eric has the best
suggestion by saving all his personnal files etc. and then using the original
XP CD (assuming he has one) to re-format the entire HD and re-install XP.
That way he has a very "clean" installation and can then install only what he
wants after that. If he only has the "factory" restore disks for the original
XP installation, then he is stuck with just going back to that and that
includes all the junk that they place on the computer.

Redwagon...
 
Actually I'm more weird about re-installing XP Home and then not being able
to register is. Where can I get the serial n umber from this PC before I
start fresh? How do I make sure that XP realises that this PC is already a
legally registered version??
 
HotRod said:
Actually I'm more weird about re-installing XP Home and then not being
able to register is. Where can I get the serial n umber from this PC
before I start fresh? How do I make sure that XP realises that this PC
is already a legally registered version??
Click to expand...

The copy of XP Home that came with your laptop is an OEM version tied to
that particular laptop. If you look on the bottom of the laptop, you
should see the sticker with the Product Key. This is the key that you
will use when you reinstall Windows, although if you use the same CD
that came with the laptop you probably won't need to enter the key or
activate. If you decide to buy a retail copy of XP, then you would use
the product key that comes with what you bought. You really should look
at the instructions that came with your laptop or go to the OEM's
website as I previously suggested. I'm not sure why you're worrying
about this unless this is a used laptop and you don't have installation
media.

Malke
 
"....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.

You might be right Malke that the OP does not have the original XP disk OR
maybe not even the restore disks. If that's the case, he needs to go back to
whoever he bought the computer from and get that media. Either that or do as
you suggested and purchase a new XP operating system and go from there with
the clean install he is wanting.

Redwagon....
 
REDWAGON said:
"....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.
Click to expand...

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
 
You are abolutely right Malke in regards to me formatting the complete HD.
However, my restore disks worked to replace that 100% formatted HD which
indicates to me that the restore disks have all the necessary information to
restore to the original condition also, not just the original HD (files
Hidden or otherwise). So I guess with my HP even if my HD goes out and HP
replaces it with a blank HD (it's still under warranty with HP) I could still
get my original system back using the restore disks that came with the
computer.

By the way, HP changes it's tactics every so often so what works for me at
any given purchase time may not be the same for someone else.

Cheers
Redwagon
 
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