Reinstalling XP

[Howard Brazee]

My mother's computer is messed up. I'm planning on borrowing it a
day, copying her documents to my computer, adding some more RAM, and
then reinstalling Windows XP.

I believe there shouldn't be any problems with her applications or
data.

But I have a half dozen Windows XP disks. I don't know if it makes
any difference which one I use - but I don't want to use a code I have
already used for reinstalling Windows. Can I look up her code and
then use any disk?

--
"In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found,
than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace
to the legislature, and not to the executive department."

- James Madison

 

[Daave]

My mother's computer is messed up. I'm planning on borrowing it a
day, copying her documents to my computer, adding some more RAM, and
then reinstalling Windows XP.

I believe there shouldn't be any problems with her applications or
data.

But I have a half dozen Windows XP disks. I don't know if it makes
any difference which one I use - but I don't want to use a code I have
already used for reinstalling Windows. Can I look up her code and
then use any disk?

What is the make and model of your mother's PC?

It should have a Windows XP Certificate of Authenticity sticker affixed
to the case (assuming the PC originally came with a license to run
Windows). On this sticker, you will find the version (e.g., XP Home or
XP Pro) and the Product Key. Your installation CD *must* match the type
and license represented on this COA sticker. Also, a Retail XP
installation CD will not work with an OEM license/Product Key. For that
situation, you would need to use a generic OEM XP installation CD (and
again, the version [Home or Pro] would need to match).

With some installation CDs, there is no need to even enter the Product
Key. (Example: A Dell PC and a Dell-branded XP installation CD. In this
case, there is code on both the CD and the motherboard to allow for what
is called System-Locked Preinstallation.)

 

[Howard Brazee]

What is the make and model of your mother's PC?

It should have a Windows XP Certificate of Authenticity sticker affixed
to the case (assuming the PC originally came with a license to run
Windows). On this sticker, you will find the version (e.g., XP Home or
XP Pro) and the Product Key. Your installation CD *must* match the type
and license represented on this COA sticker. Also, a Retail XP
installation CD will not work with an OEM license/Product Key. For that
situation, you would need to use a generic OEM XP installation CD (and
again, the version [Home or Pro] would need to match).

I have both home and pro versions of XP Pro. She might have her
original disk, but I can't count on it. She has an e-Machines
computer and all of the stickers are still on front of the machine.
So you think her product key might be on one of those stickies. That's
good, provided a generic XP CD will work or that she has her disk.
I know enough to not run any software until I upgrade her XP when I
reinstall.

With some installation CDs, there is no need to even enter the Product
Key. (Example: A Dell PC and a Dell-branded XP installation CD. In this
case, there is code on both the CD and the motherboard to allow for what
is called System-Locked Preinstallation.)

--
"In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found,
than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace
to the legislature, and not to the executive department."

- James Madison

 

[Daave]

What is the make and model of your mother's PC?

It should have a Windows XP Certificate of Authenticity sticker
affixed to the case (assuming the PC originally came with a license
to run Windows). On this sticker, you will find the version (e.g.,
XP Home or XP Pro) and the Product Key. Your installation CD *must*
match the type and license represented on this COA sticker. Also, a
Retail XP installation CD will not work with an OEM license/Product
Key. For that situation, you would need to use a generic OEM XP
installation CD (and again, the version [Home or Pro] would need to
match).

I have both home and pro versions of XP Pro. She might have her
original disk, but I can't count on it.

That is why I asked for the model. With that information, we could
search Google and determine the method Emachines provided to return the
PC to its original condition. It's quite possible this PC did not ship
with a CD and that the method involves accessing a hidden recovery
partition on the hard drive.

Also, look at the COA sticker. It should look like this:

http://i1.iofferphoto.com/img/item/354/750/76/X08.jpg

I assume it came with XP Home (but you can tell us for sure). If so, you
would need to use a generic OEM version of XP Home along with the
Product Key on the sticker. If you have a branded OEM version, I doubt
it work work.

Then again, if there is a hidden recovery partition on the hard drive
and the hard drive is still in good shape physically, you should be
fine.

If you *do* happen to have a *generic* OEM version of XP (correct
version, Home or Pro, to match the license on the COA sticker), you may
still want to use it in order to avoid all the trialware and crapware
Emachines probably includes with their recovery partition.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My mother's computer is messed up. I'm planning on borrowing it a
day, copying her documents to my computer, adding some more RAM, and
then reinstalling Windows XP.

I believe there shouldn't be any problems with her applications or
data.

There should be no problems with data, if you've copied it, but her
applications will have be reinstalled from the original media.

But I have a half dozen Windows XP disks. I don't know if it makes
any difference which one I use - but I don't want to use a code I have
already used for reinstalling Windows. Can I look up her code and
then use any disk?

Yes, *if* the disks match her Windows XP with respect to Retail vs.
OEM, Full vs. Upgrade, Home vs. Professional. And also if she has an
OEM version that came with the computer, it will probably also have to
match with respect to OEM vendor.

 

[Howard Brazee]

That is why I asked for the model. With that information, we could
search Google and determine the method Emachines provided to return the
PC to its original condition.

I have the model written down at home, but I'm at work. My Mom lives
in a retirement home - I was going to try to borrow her computer this
weekend, but I may need to get by before I take it.

It's quite possible this PC did not ship
with a CD and that the method involves accessing a hidden recovery
partition on the hard drive.

Now that you mention it, I'm pretty sure that this is the case. I
hope it has some instructions somewhere.

Also, look at the COA sticker. It should look like this:

http://i1.iofferphoto.com/img/item/354/750/76/X08.jpg

Will do.



--
"In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found,
than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace
to the legislature, and not to the executive department."

- James Madison

 

[Howard Brazee]

There should be no problems with data, if you've copied it, but her
applications will have be reinstalled from the original media.

Hmmm, she's in her 80's and she's not real organized. That might be
a problem.

Interesting problem though when people don't remember whether they
bought a program on-line or from where.

--
"In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found,
than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace
to the legislature, and not to the executive department."

- James Madison

 

[Bob I]

I have the model written down at home, but I'm at work. My Mom lives
in a retirement home - I was going to try to borrow her computer this
weekend, but I may need to get by before I take it.




Now that you mention it, I'm pretty sure that this is the case. I
hope it has some instructions somewhere.

try here
http://www.emachines.com/support/product_support.html

 

[Daave]

Yes, *if* the disks match her Windows XP with respect to Retail vs.
OEM, Full vs. Upgrade, Home vs. Professional. And also if she has an
OEM version that came with the computer, it will probably also have to
match with respect to OEM vendor.

That is not my experience.

That is, it should be possible to use a generic OEM (aka System
Builder's) version of XP along with the Product Key on the COA sticker
affixed to the PC with the OEM XP license, provided the type of XP
(e.g., Home or Pro or MCE) matches.

One time, I ran into a bit of a snag with an HP laptop. During the
installation (using my System Builder's OEM XP Pro installation CD), it
would not accept the Product Key from the COA sticker (OEM license for
XP Pro) as it should have. I researched the problem and instead used the
generic "golden master" product key that HP uses for XP Pro. That
allowed me to complete the installation. Then when it was time to
activate XP, I needed to enter the Product Key on the sticker!

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

That is not my experience.

That is, it should be possible to use a generic OEM (aka System
Builder's) version of XP along with the Product Key on the COA sticker
affixed to the PC with the OEM XP license, provided the type of XP
(e.g., Home or Pro or MCE) matches.

You're right. My apologies. I was thinking of a big OEM's CD
(BIOS-locked to the computer) with a generic key.

 

[Howard Brazee]

try here
http://www.emachines.com/support/product_support.html

They told me the following:
I understand that you are trying to reinstall the Operating System of
the Computer using the Windows XP Disk without losing the data.

Howard, this is to inform you that the scope with eMachines Technical
support is limited. In order to help with out of scope issues we have
a dedicated team called "Pay for support" who will be able to provide
you with the best options available and help you further.
=========================
Her machine has the following specifications:

Specifications
CPU : Intel® Celeron® D Processor 352
(512KB L2 cache, 3.20GHz, 533MHz FSB)
Operating System : Genuine Microsoft® Windows® XP Home SP2

Chipset : ATI Radeon™ Xpress 200
Memory : 512MB DDR (1 × 512MB) 400MHz (PC3200)
Expandable to 2GB
Hard Drive : 120GB (7200rpm, 2MB cache)
Optical Drive : 48x CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
Video : ATI Radeon™ X300-based integrated graphics
Up to 128MB of shared video memory
PCI-Express® (PCI-E x16) slot available
Sound : 6-channel (5.1) high-definition audio
Network : 10/100Mbps integrated Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port)
Modem : 56K ITU v.92-ready fax/modem (RJ-11 port)
Peripherals : Standard multifunction keyboard, 2-button wheel mouse,
amplified stereo speakers (USB powered)
Ports/Other : 6 USB 2.0 (2 in front, 4 in back), VGA external
connector, serial port, parallel port, 2 PS/2 ports (keyboard and
mouse), 5 audio ports (2 in front, 3 in back)
Dimensions : 14.25"H x 7.25"W x 16"D
Weight : 22.5 lbs (PC only)



--
"In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found,
than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace
to the legislature, and not to the executive department."

- James Madison

 

[Daave]

I was under the impression you wanted to perform a Clean Install (i.e,
wipe the hard drive clean, start fresh, install a clean instance of the
OS, install the programs, and copy all the data back). But based on what
you included below, the eMachines technical support department seems to
believe you want to perform a Repair Install (which, if done correctly,
leaves all the data and OS and applications untouched, more or less).

What is it you wish to do?

If the PC is truly "messed up" (i.e., compromised with *too much*
malware), the sensible move is to perform a Clean Install. If the PC
just has one instance of malware, removing the malware (and a Repair
Install would probably be unncessary) is the way to go.

So, do you have the correct method to reinstall Windows handy (if this
is necessary)?

 

[Daave]

A repair install. My mother is in her late 80's and doesn't have
good records of her applications that she wants working when I'm done.

From the information you provided, it sounds like a Repair Install won't
accomplish anything positive. It is only used in certain situations, and
again by your description, your mother's situation is not one of them.

I will run what I can to clean it up.

In that case, I recommend you visit this page:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

It's quite labor-intensive, but you will have a shot at fixing whatever
problems are there.

I've got XP installation disks, and I'm pretty sure she has an
installation partition (which I don't know how to use).

The above is moot if you are only removing malware. Good luck and let us
know how you did!

(Just remember: If the system is too severely compromised, you will
really have no other choice than to perform a Clean Install.)

 

[Howard Brazee]

In that case, I recommend you visit this page:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

It's quite labor-intensive, but you will have a shot at fixing whatever
problems are there.

I don't know that she has malware. A couple of people have
suggested that reinstalling Windows as if it were an upgrade would fix
a poorly running system. I was planning on running Spybot after
doing a full virus scan. I'll probably run a few of the things
mentioned on your link.

--
"In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found,
than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace
to the legislature, and not to the executive department."

- James Madison

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

A Repair Install will not and cannot resolve a malware-related issue.

 

[Daave]

I don't know that she has malware.

Also, you don't know she *doesn't* have malware. ;-)

Usually, if a PC is "messed up," malware is the cause.

A couple of people have
suggested that reinstalling Windows as if it were an upgrade would fix
a poorly running system.

A poor suggestion. A Repair Install is only indicated in certain
situations. You have provided no indication that your mother's PC
suffers from one of these situations.

I was planning on running Spybot after
doing a full virus scan. I'll probably run a few of the things
mentioned on your link.

Good luck. In addition to checking for spyware (Spybot S&D is OK, but
MBAM and SAS are superior), you need to check for viruses, worms, etc.
Avira AntiVir and Avast are good free AV programs.

If you post back with specifics with regard to the actual problems on
this PC, we may very well be able to provide you with much more targeted
advice. For instance, you might find that all you need to do is to
unsintall the Google toolbar browser addon (or something else along
these lines).