That is only part of the deception they do at the big box stores.
Now, since your computer hard drive still spins and has good data on it, look at using a Knoppix
Linux disk.
You can buy a Knoppix disk ready made, or download the iso file. (do a google)
Knoppix is a self contained operating system that runs off the CD and Ram only. (nothing to load on
the HD)
While it has a built in CD burner program, you need two CD drives to use it. But it will copy files
to a USB drive.
Buy a one gig USB drive and copy all of your files to this drive. Then you can reformat the HD.
Note: By default the USB drive will mount as "Read Only". You will have to set it to Read-Write,
then unmount it and remount it with the Knoppix software (you don't have to physically unmount and
remount the drive)
Knoppix is a great tool for rescuing files off a non-operating Windows HD. (Yes it will read NTFS
drives but don't make NTFS drives read-write)
: Thanks for the explaination and when I purchase my next computer, I will be
: sure that the OEM XP/Vista CD is included. However I think this is very
: decieving to the typical consumer who purchase a computer at the big box
: stores.
:
: "Admiral Q" wrote:
:
: > You'll have to take the issue up with your PC vendor - you did research what
: > you were getting before you purchased it correct? I always make sure the
: > systems I buy come with a fully functional OEM installation disk, in other
: > words, one that can be used for a repair installation or boot to the
: > recovery console - no "restore CD or partition" accepted. If the vendor
: > can't supply (most do for a small $10-$20 USD fee), then on to the next
: > vendor.
: > FYI - MS only requires the OEM's to be able to restore the OS back to it's
: > original "installation" state - which be formatting and reinstalling from a
: > hidden partition does just fine.
: > So you have what you have and just because the answer you gave is not what
: > you want to here, it is what you have to work with, and unless you purchase
: > a retail upgrade version of the same OEM version on your PC/Laptop, then
: > you'll have to backup, reformat, restore the OS and reinstall/configure
: > additional apps and recover your data.
: > --
: >
: > Star Fleet Admiral Q @ your service!
: > Google is your friend!
: >
http://www.google.com
: >
: >
: > : > >I don't think this is the answer. I too have a similar issue. The
: > >computer
: > > I did a Repair on did not come with an XP cd, only a recovery (reformat
: > > and
: > > reload) CD. This is not an acceptable option when generally a windows
: > > repair
: > > with the XP cd will fix most problems and leave settings and files intact.
: > >
: > > After doing a repair with a different XP Home cd, I now stuck at the XP
: > > activation screen. The computer I am repairing as a legal XP Home license
: > > key, but it does not work since I used a different CD. Online/telephone
: > > activation do not work either.
: > >
: > > What is the solution to problems such as this? And backing the data,
: > > reformating and restoring are not acceptable answers.
: > >
: > > Thanks
: > >
: > > "fourstringbanjo" wrote:
: > >
: > >> I made a bonehead mistake and am trying to figure the right way to go
: > >> about
: > >> fixing the problem. I had a system lockup so I did a windows repair using
: > >> my
: > >> install CD. The problem is that without paying attention I grabbed the CD
: > >> from my dell computer and did an system repair on my hp laptop. Every
: > >> thing
: > >> worked quite well until the end when I was surprised to find that I
: > >> needed to
: > >> reactivate windows and of course i can't activate because it is dell oem
: > >> on a
: > >> hp laptop.
: > >> I can see by going into safe mode that my data is still all there so the
: > >> repair would have worked fine if I could just open Windows. I am now at a
: > >> loss as to the best way to proceed. My hp laptop came with a system
: > >> recovery
: > >> disc which will reinstall windows but wipe out all my data. I would be
: > >> willing to go out an buy a new copy of Windows but am unsure whether that
: > >> would work with out messing up my data.
: > >>
: > >> Any insight into how I can either get a temporary activation so that I
: > >> can
: > >> rescue my data. If I could do that I could use the system recovery CD's
: > >> and
: > >> then start over.
: > >>
: > >> Noel
: >
: >
: >
