Then you didn't get the software. Just because someone sold you
hardware that contained a polluted hard drive doesn't mean you own any
of the programs or files on that hard drive. The seller was too lazy to
wipe the drive before they sold it to you.
If the computer came from a legitimate jobber, maybe you don't get an
install CD because they provided a restore image on a hidden partition
on the hard drive. You end up restoring an image which wipes everything
in the OS partition back to the same state as when you got the box.
Contact whomever you bought the computer and ask them how you are
supposed to reinstall the operating system that you think or that they
professed was included in your purchase.
The answer to your original post does not change just because you re-worded
your question to leave out vital facts..
Here is your original post and the rest of the thread..
I need help quick I'm on my way to look at my parents comp. I did a
complete system recovery on their compaq with xp trying to restore
it to original setup. I do not have a os disk as xp was already
installed when they bought it. the problem is after doing the
recovery it started reinstalling all the files but when it is
finished all I get is a compaq screen without any icons or taskbar.
If I hit one of the shortcut keys on the keyboard it pulls up an
internet explorer search page but does not access the internet. Any
help out there,PLEASE.
If they get not get a CD nor a way to make one (usually it is the
latter - as sad as that is) then they may have gotten a recovery
partition - which is worthless if the hard disk drive is defective.
If I hit f10 to do recovery and go into advanced I believe it will
give me the option of a destructive recovery, will this reformat the
computer and if so will it affect the ability of xp to reinstall
itself from the hidden partition? As stated I do not have a os disc.
That depends on the way the recovery function was implemented. If
it is hard drive only recovery and the drive is bad - you have lost
your recovery method. If it is CD/DVD recovery (it may ask for a
CD/DVD after booting with F10) - and you don't have the CD/DVDs -
you have lost your recovery method.
You still - as I said before - need to contact Compaq. You can
look at FAQs on their web page, etc. You just need to find out the
recovery method for this PC.
So, contact Compaq and find out what you need to do. Without the CD to
reinstall, you may not have a way to restore without purchasing or borrowing
a CD (and since it likely came with Windows XP installed - it's OEM and your
support for Windows XP comes from Compaq.)
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