getting XP back after the Vista RC1 expiration

[Guest]

Hi,
I have recently been told that I am the go to university very soon and so I
bought a laptop to help me along the way. Now as with most "off-the-shelf"
computers I did not recieve an operating system disc as XP was already put on
the laptop before purchase. So the question I need to ask is how will I go
about getting XP back on my laptop after Vista RC1 has expired without paying
for and brand new copy of XP or the no doubt expensive brand-new vista?
It would seem quite unfair for Microsoft to ask people to help them solve
issues with their products and then all they got in return was a laptop that
no longer functions or a massive pay out for a brand new operating system
disc.

 

[Steve Cochran]

You don't need to post this message more than once.

You should not use a production machine (one you rely on) for testing
purposes.

Most machines come with the OS software needed to reinstall, if needed. If
your machine didn't, then don't use it for testing.

steve

 

[Guest]

Now as with most
"off-the-shelf" computers I did not recieve an operating system disc
as XP was already put on the laptop before purchase.

There should at least be some sort of Recovery CD from the manufacturer
with your laptop that allows restoring XP to the original state.

 

[Rock]

Hi,
I have recently been told that I am the go to university very soon and so
I
bought a laptop to help me along the way. Now as with most "off-the-shelf"
computers I did not recieve an operating system disc as XP was already put
on
the laptop before purchase. So the question I need to ask is how will I go
about getting XP back on my laptop after Vista RC1 has expired without
paying
for and brand new copy of XP or the no doubt expensive brand-new vista?
It would seem quite unfair for Microsoft to ask people to help them solve
issues with their products and then all they got in return was a laptop
that
no longer functions or a massive pay out for a brand new operating system
disc.

The computer vendor is required to provide some means of restoring the
system. They have 3 choices:

1. XP installation CD
2. Recovery CD
3. Hidden partition on the hard drive with an image of the drive as it came
from the factory.

If you don't have 1 or 2, there should be 3. Check the documentation that
came with the system. Many times on these types it prompts in the beginning
to create a restore disc. If you're not sure how to restore it contact the
tech support for the computer vendor.

 

[Beck]

Hi,
I have recently been told that I am the go to university very soon and so I
bought a laptop to help me along the way. Now as with most "off-the-shelf"
computers I did not recieve an operating system disc as XP was already put on
the laptop before purchase. So the question I need to ask is how will I go
about getting XP back on my laptop after Vista RC1 has expired without paying
for and brand new copy of XP or the no doubt expensive brand-new vista?
It would seem quite unfair for Microsoft to ask people to help them solve
issues with their products and then all they got in return was a laptop that
no longer functions or a massive pay out for a brand new operating system
disc.

Most off the shelf computers do actually come with a backup of some
form. Most common nowadays is installed to a hidden partition which you
access by either inserting a CD or floppy they have included, either
that or when you first switch on machine they prompt you to create the
disc by doing a backup.

 

[Rick Rogers]

As mentioned by others, you will normally have a recovery partition from
which to reinstall WindowsXP if CD's were not included with your system. Now
your problem is going to be that the installation of Vista likely overwrote
the non-standard mbr and you no longer have access to this recovery
partition. You will need to check your documentation for the system or
contact the manufacturer for assistance with this.

As to Microsoft being unfair, it is very clearly stated that this is a beta
product that should not be used on a production system. It is designed for
advanced users that know how to recover a system and are willing and able to
complete a format and reload of their original system from scratch. If you
did not pay attention to the warnings and caveats, or just clicked "ok" on
everything until you got to the download, then the failure to read is not
Microsoft's fault.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[William]

If he needs to restore the XP bootloader, the best program for that is VistaBootPro 2.1 which can restore the XP bootloader.

When I got my Gateway computers in Oct 2002, they came with the complete Windows XP on CD. I came to see the value of that in time. I would never in future purchase a new computer without it having the complete OS on a CD or DVD.

William
As mentioned by others, you will normally have a recovery partition from
which to reinstall WindowsXP if CD's were not included with your system. Now
your problem is going to be that the installation of Vista likely overwrote
the non-standard mbr and you no longer have access to this recovery
partition. You will need to check your documentation for the system or
contact the manufacturer for assistance with this.

As to Microsoft being unfair, it is very clearly stated that this is a beta
product that should not be used on a production system. It is designed for
advanced users that know how to recover a system and are willing and able to
complete a format and reload of their original system from scratch. If you
did not pay attention to the warnings and caveats, or just clicked "ok" on
everything until you got to the download, then the failure to read is not
Microsoft's fault.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Clint]

Any issues you have with not being able to re-load your original OS because
you don't have CD's are between you and your computer manufacturer, IMHO.
It's their decision not to include a CD by default, and your decision not to
procure one, or do a backup of the hidden partition (if that's the way they
set things up). It's also your responsibility to get all the drivers
together that you require. In any case, talk to the manufacturer of your
system, and see if you can order a CD from them. I believe Dell charges
about $10 for their XP CD (for customers that purchased a system without the
CD).

Next thing you know, people will be complaining that it's MS's fault that
they lost their OS CD, and it's so hard for them to re-install...

Clint