XP, need to format, no disc, help greatly appreciated.....

[waxwabbit]

Hi guys

First, thanks for reading.

I have had my pc for over 2 years now, and I'd like to format it, as
theres a lot of stuff I do not want, it is slow, infected etc.

I have never formatted a pc before, and after looking online for help,
I am not in much of a better position.

I have XP installed, but have lost the disc (doh!). I know my first
step is to get hold of it. What I am wondering:

If I get hold of a friends disc, can I use my original XP code to
verify it and then install? I am also considering buying one off Ebay,
but I'm thinking I will want Longhorn when it comes out, so don't wanna
waste my money, when a loaned Xp can hold me out until Longhorn is
available.

Does anyone have any simple to follow (XP for dummies) instructions on
how to format?

Lastly, does anyone information on how to implement a system restore. I
want to find a way to avoid having to keep formatting when my pc goes
arigh?

If I can not grasp the answers from you, I may end up paying someone to
format my pc for me. I want to obviously avoid the cost, but also, I'd
like to know more about my pc.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Lee

ps - I shall be buying anti-virus etc for after my new format

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You'll have to order a replacement of your
missing Windows XP CD before you can
proceed unless your friend's Windows XP
CD is identical to the one you lost. Otherwise,
your Windows XP Product Key may not work
with your friend's CD or if it should, you may not
be able to activate Windows XP properly after installation.

How to replace lost, broken, or missing Microsoft software or hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246/en-us

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

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

:

| Hi guys
|
| First, thanks for reading.
|
| I have had my pc for over 2 years now, and I'd like to format it, as
| theres a lot of stuff I do not want, it is slow, infected etc.
|
| I have never formatted a pc before, and after looking online for help,
| I am not in much of a better position.
|
| I have XP installed, but have lost the disc (doh!). I know my first
| step is to get hold of it. What I am wondering:
|
| If I get hold of a friends disc, can I use my original XP code to
| verify it and then install? I am also considering buying one off Ebay,
| but I'm thinking I will want Longhorn when it comes out, so don't wanna
| waste my money, when a loaned Xp can hold me out until Longhorn is
| available.
|
| Does anyone have any simple to follow (XP for dummies) instructions on
| how to format?
|
| Lastly, does anyone information on how to implement a system restore. I
| want to find a way to avoid having to keep formatting when my pc goes
| arigh?
|
| If I can not grasp the answers from you, I may end up paying someone to
| format my pc for me. I want to obviously avoid the cost, but also, I'd
| like to know more about my pc.
|
| Thanks for any suggestions.
|
| Lee
|
| ps - I shall be buying anti-virus etc for after my new format
|

 

[Ted]

Even if you had the original disc, do you realize how much work it will be
to restore two years worth of Windows updates, driver updates, helper add
ons like Adobe reader, flash player, etc.? Unless there is something more
going on that what your post indicates, I would recommend simply fixing the
problem instead of reloading XP. Just my two cents worth. BTW, if you find
the cause of your pc going "arigh" you can probably keep it from happening
again; reformat, and you will spend a lot of time and not really fix
anything.

 

[Rock]

Hi guys

First, thanks for reading.

I have had my pc for over 2 years now, and I'd like to format it, as
theres a lot of stuff I do not want, it is slow, infected etc.

I have never formatted a pc before, and after looking online for help,
I am not in much of a better position.

I have XP installed, but have lost the disc (doh!). I know my first
step is to get hold of it. What I am wondering:

If I get hold of a friends disc, can I use my original XP code to
verify it and then install? I am also considering buying one off Ebay,
but I'm thinking I will want Longhorn when it comes out, so don't wanna
waste my money, when a loaned Xp can hold me out until Longhorn is
available.

Does anyone have any simple to follow (XP for dummies) instructions on
how to format?

Lastly, does anyone information on how to implement a system restore. I
want to find a way to avoid having to keep formatting when my pc goes
arigh?

If I can not grasp the answers from you, I may end up paying someone to
format my pc for me. I want to obviously avoid the cost, but also, I'd
like to know more about my pc.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Lee

ps - I shall be buying anti-virus etc for after my new format

Yes you can use a borrowed CD provided the CD is for a form of XP that's
the same as the license you have, e.g. Home v. Pro, Retail v. OEM,
Generic OEM vs. Manufacturer specific OEM such as Dell or Compaq, etc.

Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/before_you_plug_in.html#III

http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html

Protect Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/

THE PARASITE FIGHT
Finding, Removing & Protecting Yourself From Scumware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Richard Harper’s Guide to Cleaning Pests
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm

 

[Plato]

Dont get a pirated disk off ebay. Get a real XP2 disk from a real store.

 

[waxwabbit]

Thanks for your replies folks,

I have a load of crap on my PC, with nothing too special on there, so I
do not mind starting over again - it would be nice to go back to how my
pc was when I bought it.

I may try that clean install help guide, it looks long, but do-able (I
hope).

Now just to get hold of that disc.

On another note; I know my hard drive is made up of 2 x 80gb in a RAID
format (I think RAID 0), I just wondered whether or not I should create
partitions when I start over? What are the advantages to them? If one
partition got infected, could a seperate one get infected too?

Lastly, what is the simplest way to set up a system (for after Ive
cleaned my HD) so that I could restore my settings to brand-new again?

Cheers guys

L

 

[waxwabbit]

Forgot to ask, could I then use a new Win XP with SP2 disc and use my
original product code, or would it have to be a XP home edition WITHOUT

the SP2

(my original did not have SP2)

cheers

L

 

[Ron Sommer]

You need to explain your hard drive setup.
You say drive, then you say 2 in a RAID format.

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/perf/raid/levels/singleLevel0-c.html
http://www.overclockercafe.com/Articles/RAID/

If you are RAID 0 and one drive goes down, then you lose both drives.

 

[Malke]

Forgot to ask, could I then use a new Win XP with SP2 disc and use my
original product code, or would it have to be a XP home edition
WITHOUT

the SP2

(my original did not have SP2)

To do a Repair Install or Clean Install, you must use the same version
as the Windows you have installed. Ex. XP Home retail, XP Home OEM, XP
Pro retail, XP Pro OEM. The new XP CD can have SP2 included.

Malke

 

[Alias]

To do a Repair Install or Clean Install, you must use the same version
as the Windows you have installed. Ex. XP Home retail, XP Home OEM, XP
Pro retail, XP Pro OEM. The new XP CD can have SP2 included.

Malke

I would agree on the Repair Install but not on the Clean Install. My
understanding is you can clean install any OS, regardless of the OS
currently installed, yes?

Alias

 

[waxwabbit]

I have Maxtor 80gb serial ATA x 2, in RAID 0 (data stripping)

Hope that helps.

Does that make any difference to the format?

Whats the difference between a clean and a repair install? Which is
easier to perform?

Thanks for your help guys

Lee

 

[Steve N.]

I would agree on the Repair Install but not on the Clean Install. My
understanding is you can clean install any OS, regardless of the OS
currently installed, yes?

Alias

Yes, but what she meant was that the CD and the code need to match.

Steve N.

 

[Steve N.]

You'll have to order a replacement of your
missing Windows XP CD before you can
proceed unless your friend's Windows XP
CD is identical to the one you lost. Otherwise,
your Windows XP Product Key may not work
with your friend's CD or if it should, you may not
be able to activate Windows XP properly after installation.

How to replace lost, broken, or missing Microsoft software or hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246/en-us

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Good advice, Carey. I love it when you do that.



Steve N.

 

[Steve N.]

Thanks for your replies folks,

I have a load of crap on my PC, with nothing too special on there, so I
do not mind starting over again - it would be nice to go back to how my
pc was when I bought it.

I may try that clean install help guide, it looks long, but do-able (I
hope).

Now just to get hold of that disc.

On another note; I know my hard drive is made up of 2 x 80gb in a RAID
format (I think RAID 0), I just wondered whether or not I should create
partitions when I start over? What are the advantages to them? If one
partition got infected, could a seperate one get infected too?

Lastly, what is the simplest way to set up a system (for after Ive
cleaned my HD) so that I could restore my settings to brand-new again?

Cheers guys

L

Lose the RAID-0 array. It's a recipe for disaster; if one drive goes bad
you've lost everything. RAID-0 is one of the stupidest storage ideas and
the so-called "performance" increase is negligable.

Steve N.

 

[Alias]

Yes, but what she meant was that the CD and the code need to match.

Steve N.

OH. That's different, of course.

Alias

 

[Malke]

Yes, but what she meant was that the CD and the code need to match.

Steve N.

Yes, quite right. Since I thought that was one of the main issues of
this thread I didn't specify. I thought it was implied. Thanks for
reading my mind, Steve! I'll be more precise next time.

Malke

 

[Ron Sommer]

Are you saying that you only have one physical drive?
There is no advantage to RAID 0 on a single drive.

 

[waxwabbit]

I have 2 x 80gb maxtor HD'sd in a serial ATA Raid 0 format

I am a little confused now, are you telling me that I can not use my
original XP code on a borrowed version of XP for the install - even if
they are the same XP home edition?

I am still wondering about the Clean/Repair install. What are the
pros/downs?

Thanks for trying with me guys

Lee

 

[Rock]

Forgot to ask, could I then use a new Win XP with SP2 disc and use my
original product code, or would it have to be a XP home edition WITHOUT

the SP2

(my original did not have SP2)

cheers

L

Yes it should work as long as it's the same base "flavor".