XP Install Disk

[Guest]

I have an old HP computer that had XP pre loaded and did not come with a
restore disk. The computer has a lot of junk on it and I would like to do a
clean install of XP. I have the XP license key, but how can I get a disk to
complete the task?

Many Thanks!

 

[crazyal]

you could try borrowing a disk from someone but the licence key may or
may not work with the disk.

 

[crazyal]

you could try borrowing a disk from someone but the licence key may or
may not work with the disk.

 

[crazyal]

you could try borrowing a disk from someone but the licence key may or
may not work with the disk.

 

[crazyal]

sorry about to many replys i clicked the post message button to many
times by mistake

 

[Nepatsfan]

message

I have an old HP computer that had XP pre loaded and did not
come with a restore disk. The computer has a lot of junk on
it and I would like to do a clean install of XP. I have the
XP license key, but how can I get a disk to complete the
task?

Many Thanks!

If your HP came with XP pre-installed then they had to include
a method of restoring the operating system. Here are some
articles that you may find helpful.

HP and Compaq Desktop PCs - Performing an HP System Recovery
in Windows XP
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=bph07145#bph07145_doc

HP and Compaq Desktop PCs - Obtaining a Recovery CD or DVD set
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=bph07143

HP and Compaq Desktop PCs - Troubleshooting System Recovery
Problems in Windows XP
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?cc=us&docname=bph07144&lc=en

Bottom line is that your first source for a solution to this
problem should be the manufacturer.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Check the user manual of your pc. It should give you information on creating
a recovery disk. if yuo didn't get recovery disks to start with then one
assumes the operating system is on an hidden partition on your hard drive.
The manual will tell you howe to create the relevant disk(s)

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Poprivet]

I have an old HP computer that had XP pre loaded and did not come
with a restore disk. The computer has a lot of junk on it and I
would like to do a clean install of XP. I have the XP license key,
but how can I get a disk to complete the task?

Many Thanks!

Start by reading the documentation that came with the computer.

 

[Poprivet]

I have an old HP computer that had XP pre loaded and did not come
with a restore disk. The computer has a lot of junk on it and I
would like to do a clean install of XP. I have the XP license key,
but how can I get a disk to complete the task?

Many Thanks!

Did you ask HP or are you going to rely on all the guesses and trials you
find here?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Obtaining HP Recovery CDs: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...3&lang=en&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&docname=bph07143

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

:

| I have an old HP computer that had XP pre loaded and did not come with a
| restore disk. The computer has a lot of junk on it and I would like to do a
| clean install of XP. I have the XP license key, but how can I get a disk to
| complete the task?
|
| Many Thanks!

 

[John Barnett MVP]

If you are creating a recovery disk from the partition setup by the
manufacturer then no you can't remove the garbage they installed. What you
can do is create the recovery disk and use it to do a clean install on your
PC. Once this has been done you can remove all the applications you don't
need (via add/remove programs) and then, by using a third party imaging
application (Norton Ghost, Paragon Drive Copy, Casper, Acronis True Image or
somthing similar - these, unfortunately you will have to buy if you don't
already have a copy) re-image the drive so that the new image only contains
the applications you need. If you then ever need to re-install again, you
can use the 'updated' image instead of the HP recovery disk.

I set up my system how i want it and then image the drive using Acronis true
Image 10. I've had my machine 2 years and have only used the manufacturer's
recovery disks once. Everytime i re-install (which is quite often being a
software beta tester) i use the acronis image.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have an old HP computer that had XP pre loaded and did not come
with a restore disk. The computer has a lot of junk on it and I
would like to do a clean install of XP. I have the XP license key,
but how can I get a disk to complete the task?

OEM vendors are required by their agreement with Microsoft to give you a
means of reinstalling, should it be necessary. They can do this in one of
three ways:

1. An OEM copy of Windows
2. A restore CD
3. A hidden partition on your drive, with restore information.

If you don't have 1 or 2, you should have 3, but you should contact your
vendor to find out.

Personally, I find both 2 and 3 unacceptable (especially 3; a hard drive
crash can leave you with nothing), and would never choose to buy a computer
that came with an operating system unless I got a complete generic
installation CD for that operating system.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thank you everyone.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

Since I bought this system, I built 2 additional computers for my
house and bought XP. I will never again buy a system from an OEM.

I think that's much too strong a reaction. Depending on your needs, OEM
systems can often be good values. Not all OEM vedors provide no installation
CDs. For example, Dell provides an installation CD for only an extra $10,
and it's well worth it.

Even though I removed as many programs as I could with Add/Remove, I
still feel like there is a lot of junk on the drive, I just don't
have the expertise to identify and remove it with confidence.

If you had bought a system with an OEM installation CD (such as a Dell) one
option would be to format and reinstall from scratch whatever you want
installed.

Perhaps MS could be a bit more forceful in the future and insist a
clean install option would be included.

If it were up to me, *all* systems would come come with plain vanilla
installation CDs, and there would be no difference between retail licenses
and OEM ones. Unfortunately, I don't get to decide. )-;

I feel since I bought the
software in the purchase price of the computer, I should have access
to it without the junk.

I don't think there are really any "shoulds" here. As long as the vendor
makes it clear what you are getting, so you have the choice whether or not
to buy what he offers you, he is free (and should be free) to offer what he
wants. If you don't like his offering, find a different vendor.

 

[unclepeteDEL]

Even though I removed as many programs as I could with Add/Remove, I
still feel like there is a lot of junk on the drive, I just don't have
the expertise to identify and remove it with confidence.

With the storage, memory and speed available nowadays, I just turn off
anything that actually gets in the way and forget it.

What I hate worse than extraneous software is the Q@#$%@$# thing
demanding to get on the internet at every turn, and not just system
stuff. I left my laptop for a few minutes and when I came back it had
got onto the internet all by itself. I installed ZoneAlarm and it
catches them calling the internet. I tell it to deny access and nothing
seems to blow up...... I ran a spy remover the second day after I got a
laptop with XP and found 6 cookies already reporting to various
companies about my operations. ZoneAlarm has intercepted and killed
over 400 commercial attack attempts in a week.

Jim L via the eCS 1.2r version of OS/2

 

[JS]

Yo have to backup all relevant data to an external or network drive (or to
CD/DVD).

Then you use the HP restore CD's that came with your system to return your
HP to it's original configuration. (Drive will be repartitoned, reformated
and a clean XP image will be restored.)

Then all you have to do is reinstall applications and restore the data
previously backed up.

If your system has a lot of crap don't use files and settings migration
wizzard. A lot of crap will also be migrated that way.

Good luck

JS

 

[Guest]

Unfortunately, I bought a computer with number 3 provision. The computer
suggests that I make a recovery copy using their recovery program. It calls
for either 12 CDRs or 2 DVDRs. The program doesn't work. It gets ready to
burn the recovery discs, but does not do it--probably because I've removed
the DVD burner that came with the computer and substituted 2 different
burners that I vastly prefer. So my question is:

How can I copy the recovery to my external hard drive, which already
contains all my important files. The original files are on a partition
called the D: drive, and are about 8GB in size. How much of that 8GB is
actually the operating system and how much is a bunch of games that came
with the computer, I don't know, since exploring that drive simply says "Do
not delete or alter these files."

I will be grateful for any and all recommendations I receive,

Norm Strong

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Unfortunately, I bought a computer with number 3 provision. The
computer suggests that I make a recovery copy using their recovery
program. It calls for either 12 CDRs or 2 DVDRs. The program
doesn't work. It gets ready to burn the recovery discs, but does not
do it--probably because I've removed the DVD burner that came with
the computer and substituted 2 different burners that I vastly
prefer. So my question is:
How can I copy the recovery to my external hard drive, which already
contains all my important files. The original files are on a
partition called the D: drive, and are about 8GB in size. How much
of that 8GB is actually the operating system and how much is a bunch
of games that came with the computer, I don't know, since exploring
that drive simply says "Do not delete or alter these files."

Sorry, I can't give you any information about that. As far as I know, each
OEM does this sort of thing differently, and you really should check with
your vendor to find out.