Windows XP recovery without a restore disk -- VPR Matrix

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

I've got a VPR Matrix 6100 that did not come with a restore/recovery CD. I
need to reinstall XP. From what I understand the restore/recovery files are
on the hard drive somewhere, possibly in a seperate partition that doesn't
show up in explorer. Can anyone tell me how to access those files and do a
fresh reinstall? Thanks!

Greg
 
The vendor tech support or the userguide that came with the computer
would be the correct source of this information. It is not a Windows XP
function or matter determined by Microsoft and is vendor specific.
 
Hi,

If the computer does not have a restore/ recovery CD by default, there
should be some specific key combination to access the recovery files from the
hard drive during the startup. The computer manufacturer will be able to help
you on this.

Regards,

Arun Aluvila
 
Thanks for the suggestions I do appreciate it. I did look at their web site
and there is really nothing there at all. The computer is out of warrenty,
and I really hate to pay someone thirty dollars or more to tell me something
that should be in the documentation. So <rant> I guess that's my court of
last resort, since I even less relish the idea that I'm going to have to pay
$200.00 for a copy of Windows XP because someone was too cheap to even put on
CD and give it to you. </rant off>
 
The only requirement that Microsoft has imposed onto the OEM PC makers is
that they need to provide a method of restore XP to the delivered state. A
hidden partition "seems" to many PC amkers as the method that is allowed.
 
Yes, one would assume that there is some kind of key combination. I just got
off the phone with Matrix, and they want *80* dollars just to tell you the
location of the files that they put on there in the first place. So my wife
is now going through every ALT and CTL combination with all the function keys
at boot-up. If we find the combination, I'll definitely post it, so someone
else doesn't have to go through this insanity.

Greg
 
Clipped from a review
"VPR Matrix is Best Buy’s own line of private label PC’s found only at
Best Buy stores"

I would go talk to their tech counter folks.
 
If you have the CD key, which is usually on the
case these days, just borrow/dupe someone's
else's XP CD (be wary of brand-specific ones,
though.) You pay for the key, not the actual CD.
Just get the right version, Home vs Pro,
preferably at the matching SP level. And never
trust "restoration" CD's or partitions -- they'll
likely just reset your system back to factory
condition, wiping out all your data files and
any programs you added since.

-BC
 
THanks for the suggestions, BC--there's a whole bunch of XP CDs around me
right now, but unfortunately they are all brand specific. And I've done a
complete backup of all my data, so I'm resigned to loosing it all if I
restore.

Greg
 
DamaskFalcon said:
THanks for the suggestions, BC--there's a whole bunch of XP CDs around me
right now, but unfortunately they are all brand specific. And I've done a
complete backup of all my data, so I'm resigned to loosing it all if I
restore.

Greg
Click to expand...

If any of them are XP Reinstallation CD's and not
just restoration ones, and you have access to to
PC with a CD-burner, you could try this:

1) Make a slipstreamed XP installation CD -- this
should also create a generic XP installation CD
as a side effect:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm

2) Then try this Repair Installation process:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Good luck.

-BC
 
Back
Top