Lost software that came with computer

[Msnews.Microsoft.Com]

Hi,
I bought my granddaughter a new dell laptop computer with xp home sp2, and
it has slowed to a crawl. And it takes a long time to start up. I have run
all adware/malware I know of and check for viruses with updated applications
and I have disabled everything at startup except the antivirus software.
She has Norton AV. I think the hard drive needs to be reformatted and
windows xp home reinstalled but she has lost the software that came with the
computer. Any advice on how to restore this computer will be greatly
appreciated. Starlin

 

[Juan Perez]

Hi:

First thing, I will make a back up of all your personal data: photos,
documents, etc.

Then if you have a lost your software, I will get in contact with the
computer manufacturer and ask for a recovery CD. With the model number and
serial, Dell should be able to provide it for a nominal price.

If Dell is not able to provide it, you could get copy of windows XP home for
new machines, and install from there. Then use windows update to download
any pending upgrade.

Just two things:

1-I am not sure if you can buy a copy of windows XP for new machines,
without buying a new machine.

2- After installing the OS, you may need to configure some parts of your
computer, like modems o graphic card.

This last option normally it is more time consuming.

 

[Jim]

Hi,
I bought my granddaughter a new dell laptop computer with xp home sp2, and
it has slowed to a crawl. And it takes a long time to start up. I have
run all adware/malware I know of and check for viruses with updated
applications and I have disabled everything at startup except the
antivirus software. She has Norton AV. I think the hard drive needs to be
reformatted and windows xp home reinstalled but she has lost the software
that came with the computer. Any advice on how to restore this computer
will be greatly appreciated. Starlin

Does this laptop have the hidden restore partition? If so, then, first of
all, Dell doesn't ship the XP CD with such laptops.
You access the restore partition by pressing F11 before XP starts. This
partition restores the computer to the as delivered state.
The fine manual (which may also be present on disk) discusses how to perform
this task.

If at all possible, you should replace Norton with something else. It is a
big resource hog.

Jim

 

[Juan Perez]

Hi:

Jim, know much better than me the Dell machines. I am an HP user. Sorry
if I told something not 100% accurate.

Regards

--
Un saludo
Juan Perez

Este mensaje se proporciona "como está" sin garantías de ninguna clase, y no
otorga ningún derecho.

 

[Jim]

Hi:

Jim, know much better than me the Dell machines. I am an HP user.
Sorry if I told something not 100% accurate.

Regards

--
Un saludo
Juan Perez

Este mensaje se proporciona "como está" sin garantías de ninguna clase, y
no otorga ningún derecho.

Since both HP and Dell now ship laptops with a repair partition, the only
difference between the two would be how you access the hidden partition.

Jim

 

[Rock]

Hi,
I bought my granddaughter a new dell laptop computer with xp home sp2, and
it has slowed to a crawl. And it takes a long time to start up. I have
run all adware/malware I know of and check for viruses with updated
applications and I have disabled everything at startup except the
antivirus software. She has Norton AV. I think the hard drive needs to be
reformatted and windows xp home reinstalled but she has lost the software
that came with the computer. Any advice on how to restore this computer
will be greatly appreciated.

Contact the Dell tech support for the computer to find out how to do a
recovery. Is there a hidden partition on the hard drive with an image of
the drive as received? The recovery process might be accessed by pressing a
certain key during boot up. Find out the specifics from Dell.