Re-installing Windows XP when I have the licence but no CD

[Sean]

I recently bought a PC with XP installed. The base unit has the licence key
sticker attached to the side.

Due to various problems I now need to re-install Windows XP (I can not repair
the installation), but I did not get a Window XP CD with the PC.

How do I go about re-installing XP without this CD? Can I obtain / download a
copy of Windows XP from somewhere to re-install again seeing as I already have a
valid licence code?

(Contacting the original vendor is not an option.)

Thanks,
Sean.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

If "contacting the original vendor is not an option", your
Product Key is worthless without the PC manufacturer's
Restore CD. You'll need to purchase a new
"Full Version" of Windows XP.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I recently bought a PC with XP installed. The base unit has the licence key
| sticker attached to the side.
|
| Due to various problems I now need to re-install Windows XP (I can not repair
| the installation), but I did not get a Window XP CD with the PC.
|
| How do I go about re-installing XP without this CD? Can I obtain / download a
| copy of Windows XP from somewhere to re-install again seeing as I already have a
| valid licence code?
|
| (Contacting the original vendor is not an option.)
|
| Thanks,
| Sean.

 

[Grant Robertson]

I recently bought a PC with XP installed. The base unit has the licence key
sticker attached to the side.

Due to various problems I now need to re-install Windows XP (I can not repair
the installation), but I did not get a Window XP CD with the PC.

How do I go about re-installing XP without this CD? Can I obtain / download a
copy of Windows XP from somewhere to re-install again seeing as I already have a
valid licence code?

If this is a name brand PC then there is probably a separate partition
with software on it to restore your installation to the way it came from
the factory. Watch as you boot up and see if there is any special key to
press to initiate a restore. You may have to go into the BIOS and disable
any quick boot mode or logo screen so you can then see the prompt for the
key to press.

If you don't see any mention of a key to press there may still be a
restore partition. If you can boot into safe mode you can use the Disk
Management tool {R-click My computer ; Manage ; Storage ; Disk
Management} to check to see if you have an additional partition you
didn't know about. If it is there then a qualified technician may be able
to initiate a restore from this partition. If you can't even get into
Safe Mode then you could still boot to a floppy and run FDISK. If you
don't know what I am talking about then you really should find yourself a
good technician.

Another option is to use the i386 directory that is most likely currently
on the C: drive. Copy that entire folder and everything under it to a
separate drive or burn it to a CD. After you have backed up any data and
formatted the drive you can copy this i386 folder back to the it's
original location. Boot off of a floppy and run WinNT.exe from the i386
folder. Sometimes the WinNT.exe file is missing (often an attempt to
protect users from themselves) but you can get a copy of it from any
other media or a friends PC. Your license code is not tied directly to
this particular file. This is not piracy, it is a legitimate repair
technique. This file is just what gets the installation started.

There are many other methods to handle installations but this basic
method should get you back up and running. If you want to know more look
here
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/default.mspx

 

[Sean]

If this is a name brand PC then there is probably a separate partition
with software on it to restore your installation to the way it came from
the factory.

There isn't a separate partition - just the one partition containing XP. I
already checked for that.

So basically, without the original install CD the license key is worthless? Do I
have to purchase XP again?

Thanks,
Sean.

 

[Grant Robertson]

There isn't a separate partition - just the one partition containing XP. I
already checked for that.

You still have the option of copying the i386 folder, formatting the
drive, replacing the i386 folder and reinstalling from there. Usually,
all the Windows installation files plus some driver files are included in
that one folder.

So basically, without the original install CD the license key is worthless? Do I
have to purchase XP again?

Not necessarily. If you have a valid license you are entitled to use any
media that will work to achieve repair of your system. Unfortunately
finding just the right media may be difficult as there are many different
'releases' of Windows for different purposes. OEM, Retail, Volume
License, etc. If you have a sticker on the side of your PC then you have
an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) version of Windows. But there
are also many different versions as well: SP-1, SP-1a, SP-2, etc. Look
for a friend who has a sticker that looks exactly like yours except for
the license key. Then see if they have the original installation disk.
Some manufacturers actually provide them. You can't use an easy restore
disk from another PC so don't even try it. You have to have the disk that
just installs Windows. You should be able to reinstall using this disk
and your key.

Unfortunately there is also a chance that it is not quite the right media
and it won't take the license key on your sticker. Don't be tempted to
use the key on your friend's sticker. Not only would that then be
pirating but it wouldn't activate anyway. If you can't find a friend with
the appropriate media you should call a good technician. Make sure they
are familiar with the whole issue of having the right media to match the
license. They should have a backup media that they could use to
legitimately reinstall your Windows. As a last resort you should be able
to call Microsoft Sales at (800) 426-9400 explain your situation and they
should be able to sell you replacement media.