New Hard drive

[KJ123]

I have a Sony Vaio Model PCG-K15 notebook Running Windows XP That the hard
drive crashed on. I can not get into the system at all. I have purchased a
new western digital drive that will arrive in the next few days. The Vaio did
not come with any discs and when I spoke to them the other day they said
there are no startup up discs available for this machine. How can I get my XP
back into the machine? Can I download a boot disc on my other computer from
microsoft and then put it in my notebook to get the system started? Really at
a loss here an Sony is no help. Thanks

 

[sgopus]

Since the hd will not boot, and you have no recovery disks, your up a creek
without a paddle, most likely you will have to buy XP ( if you can find it)
and then get the drivers for the hardware.

Too bad you didn't make a clone of your HD before it went belly up.

 

[Malke]

I have a Sony Vaio Model PCG-K15 notebook Running Windows XP That the
hard drive crashed on. I can not get into the system at all. I have
purchased a new western digital drive that will arrive in the next few
days. The Vaio did not come with any discs and when I spoke to them the
other day they said there are no startup up discs available for this
machine. How can I get my XP
back into the machine? Can I download a boot disc on my other computer
from microsoft and then put it in my notebook to get the system started?
Really at a loss here an Sony is no help. Thanks

You will need a generic OEM XP install disk. Install it using the Product
Key that is on the COA sticker on the bottom of the laptop. You will need
to go to Sony's website and download the drivers for all your hardware, as
well as any laptop-specific software (power management, FN keys utility,
etc.). If you don't have a generic OEM XP install disk, a local computer
professional can do this for you.

Creating a boot disk on your other computer will not help. You need to have
the full installation CD if you want to install XP.

Malke

 

[KJ123]

thats what I was afraid of. I can get XP at staples. I checked today. Do the
hardware drivers I need come from Sony? Thanks for help.

 

[sgopus]

I would think so, check out their website for your model and whatever else
that you would need to match the drivers with the hardware.

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

thats what I was afraid of. I can get XP at staples. I checked today.
Do the hardware drivers I need come from Sony? Thanks for help.

Yes, http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=PCGK15&LOC=3

 

[JS]

The practice of only using a Restore Partition instead of shipping each
customer an actual Windows CD is a bad decision by the PC Manufactures and
equally as bad for Microsoft to allow such a practice. Just how mush does is
cost to stamp/burn a CD with Windows, a few dollars if that.

It's about the equivalent of not getting a spare tire with your new car,
have a flat and your dead stuck in road.

JS

 

[Xandros]

When you say the hard drive crashed what exactly happened? It is not unusual
for the master boot record or an XP system file to become corrupted and that
can be a fairly easy fix. Post back with as much information as you can.
Perhaps someone can walk you through a repair. If the drive isn't totally
damaged you may be able to get a lot of data off it. There are bootable CDs
like the UBCD4Win that can help with data recovery http://www.ubcd4win.com/
(Be advised that you will need a Windows XP CD to create a bootable Ultimate
Boot CD 4 Windows but you could borrow one to make the disc). Or you can use
a Linux based live CD to transfer files off the old drive. Knoppix is one
such program http://www.knopper.net/knoppix-mirrors/index-en.html . Just
boot the laptop with the CD and you're set to burn files off the old drive
to a DVD or CD-RW

If the old hard drive is indeed dead then you will need to purchase a copy
of Windows XP and do a fresh install. You will also need to locate drivers
for the Sony hardware. Those you can find here
http://esupport.sony.com/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=PCGK15 and you will need to
reinstall any software you used before hand. Don't assume that the Windows
XP CD will have all the programs you are used to. Many programs on the
Laptop were likely preinstalled by Sony. If you used Microsoft Word, Excel,
PowerPopint etc. You will need to either purchase a copy of Microsoft Office
or use the free OpenOffice suite which is different software but can work
with Microsoft Office files http://www.openoffice.org/

 

[M.I.5¾]

The practice of only using a Restore Partition instead of shipping each
customer an actual Windows CD is a bad decision by the PC Manufactures and
equally as bad for Microsoft to allow such a practice. Just how mush does
is cost to stamp/burn a CD with Windows, a few dollars if that.

It's about the equivalent of not getting a spare tire with your new car,
have a flat and your dead stuck in road.

Most new cars haven't been supplied with a spare tyre for some years now.
They are usually supplied with a can of gunge that auto seals and inclates
the tyre. Fine if you have a simple puncture, but useless if you have a
major blowout on the motorway.

 

[JS]

I would think that a hard disk crash is about the equivalent of a major
blowout.

JS

 

[M.I.5¾]

I would think that a hard disk crash is about the equivalent of a major
blowout.

Which makes the allusion a particularly good one.

JS