How can I recover Windows XP after computer crash?

L

LorrieB

My 6 year old refurbished Packard Bell has died!! It came with Windows XP
Home Edition pre-loaded with product key sticker on cpu but no disks. I have
an older pc with Windows 98 and was wondering if there was any way I could:-
1. get disks without purchasing them as I have a product key to upgrade old
pc or
2. recover windows XP from dead machine.

I have no idea what happened to Packard Bell just lifeless like no power
getting to it?

Any help would be much appreciated.
 
M

Malke

LorrieB said:
My 6 year old refurbished Packard Bell has died!! It came with Windows XP
Home Edition pre-loaded with product key sticker on cpu but no disks. I
have an older pc with Windows 98 and was wondering if there was any way I
could:- 1. get disks without purchasing them as I have a product key to
upgrade old pc or
2. recover windows XP from dead machine.

I have no idea what happened to Packard Bell just lifeless like no power
getting to it?

1. No, you can't get an XP install disk without purchasing one. I'd be
really careful about updating a Win98 box to XP anyway. Unless the Win98
box was top-of-the-line and state-of-the-art, its hardware will probably be
inadequate. It also may be difficult to find drivers for the old hardware.

2. No, there is no way to get XP from your dead Packard Bell. Besides, the
license to use that OEM version of XP died with the Packard Bell.

A 6-year-old refurbished Packard Bell is at or near the end of its life. You
can try putting in a new power supply because that's a cheap/easy thing to
do. If that doesn't work, it's time to get a new computer.

Malke
 
T

The poster formerly known as 'The Poster Formerly

LorrieB said:
My 6 year old refurbished Packard Bell has died!! It came with Windows XP
Home Edition pre-loaded with product key sticker on cpu but no disks. I have
an older pc with Windows 98 and was wondering if there was any way I could:-
1. get disks without purchasing them as I have a product key to upgrade old
pc or
2. recover windows XP from dead machine.

I have no idea what happened to Packard Bell just lifeless like no power
getting to it?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Hi LorrieB,

The first few steps you should try if the machine is not getting power
is first make sure the power cord is plugged in security into the wall
plug and into the back of the computer. If it still does not turn on,
then Plug it into a different wall outlet (not a power strip), and you
may also want to try to exchange the power cord with another known good
working power cord. See if this gets you anywhere. Good luck.

--
"Software is like sex, it's better when it's free."
- Linus Torvalds

DRM and unintended consequences:
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/security/?p=435&tag=nl.e101
 
T

Terry R.

The date and time was Friday, May 08, 2009 11:36:09 AM, and on a whim,
LorrieB pounded out on the keyboard:
My 6 year old refurbished Packard Bell has died!! It came with Windows XP
Home Edition pre-loaded with product key sticker on cpu but no disks. I have
an older pc with Windows 98 and was wondering if there was any way I could:-
1. get disks without purchasing them as I have a product key to upgrade old
pc or
2. recover windows XP from dead machine.

I have no idea what happened to Packard Bell just lifeless like no power
getting to it?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Hi Lorrie,

When you turn it on do any lights come on? If you listen closely, can
you hear the hard drive spinning up? Do you get anything on the display?

If not, it may be the power supply. Those can be swapped out pretty
easy. Best to take out the old one and take it to a computer store that
can match up the size. If you don't have someone who can remove the old
power supply, call around to a few computer stores for pricing, giving
them the info on the power supply. The large stores may be quite a bit
more expensive. A low wattage power supply can be found for around
$30-$40 and can be swapped out in less than half an hour.


Terry R.
 
P

Patrick Keenan

LorrieB said:
My 6 year old refurbished Packard Bell has died!! It came with Windows XP
Home Edition pre-loaded with product key sticker on cpu but no disks. I
have
an older pc with Windows 98 and was wondering if there was any way I
could:-
1. get disks without purchasing them as I have a product key to upgrade
old
pc or
2. recover windows XP from dead machine.

I have no idea what happened to Packard Bell just lifeless like no power
getting to it?

Any help would be much appreciated.

At minimum, a new power supply will cost you around $35 - $50, assuming
that's the problem - and it may not be. You may wind up spending more and
more and not quite fixing the problem.

A much better used system with an XP Pro license will cost you in the $150
range. I regularly see name-brand quality q3gHz P4 systems with 1 gig ram
for around that price.

So, you need to carefully examine what your options are.

HTH
-pk
 
C

Craig Coope

My 6 year old refurbished Packard Bell has died!! It came with Windows XP
Home Edition pre-loaded with product key sticker on cpu but no disks. I have
an older pc with Windows 98 and was wondering if there was any way I could:-
1. get disks without purchasing them as I have a product key to upgrade old
pc or
2. recover windows XP from dead machine.

I have no idea what happened to Packard Bell just lifeless like no power
getting to it?

Any help would be much appreciated.

If the power supply doesn't turn on at all it must be the power lead,
the wall socket or the power supply.

Have you changed the fuse in the electrical plug?
 
U

Unknown

Can't it be the 'on' button or its wiring?
Craig Coope said:
If the power supply doesn't turn on at all it must be the power lead,
the wall socket or the power supply.

Have you changed the fuse in the electrical plug?
 
L

LorrieB

Hi Guys

Thanks for all your help, the first thing I did was change the fuse then
tried another power cable but nothing at all no lights or sound although
initially I think there was a clicking noise its not the wall socket either
as my old computer is plugged in there now and is working fine!

I think I might give up on it now as it's not my main computer but my sons,
does anyone know if I can get a wireless adapter for Windows 98?
 
T

Terry R.

The date and time was Sunday, May 10, 2009 5:22:02 AM, and on a whim,
LorrieB pounded out on the keyboard:
Hi Guys

Thanks for all your help, the first thing I did was change the fuse then
tried another power cable but nothing at all no lights or sound although
initially I think there was a clicking noise its not the wall socket either
as my old computer is plugged in there now and is working fine!

I think I might give up on it now as it's not my main computer but my sons,
does anyone know if I can get a wireless adapter for Windows 98?


A clicking noise is most likely a hard drive. But you should at least
be getting power lights if the clicking was occurring.

This link states it works with 98SE:
http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-WMP54G-Wireless-G-PCI-Adapter/dp/B000085BD8/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_c
for laptop:
http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-WPC54G-Wireless-G-Notebook-Adapter/dp/B00007KDVK


Terry R.
 

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