Formatting Computer question

[Guest gohome190]

I'm sorry that this is off topic, but I could not find a better/more reliable forum site. Anyway. My computer has XP, and I want to erase the disk and start from the basic Windows. It has a lot of spyware and whatnot. This would be a simple fix of inserting the system restore disc... but, I lost it. So, is there any way for me to "format" the harddrive and things so that my computer is like it just came out of the box? I tried System restore, but the earliest save point would still bring me to spyware. Thanks in advance so much!

[Guest Laser_iCE]

If you have the Windows XP CD that come with your computer, then you are able to boot from the CD and install Windows again.

I would write you a guide on how to do it, but I'm not the best at explaining things...

http://www.theeldergeek.com/formatting_dri...using_xp_cd.htm

If you don't know how to boot from the CD, simply pop the CD into your computer while its booting up, and when it says Load from CD/DVD Device, hit any key when prompted to :D Then the above guide will come in handy ^^ If you have any questions about the guide, it'd be much easier to answer rather than explaining how to do it from scratch :D

[Guest gohome190]

Thanks for the reply. I don't have the boot CD that came with my Compaq. It got lost when I moved, and know I have a major problem. Anyone have a suggestion?

[Guest noodles-21]

before you resort to formatting the hard drive, why not try downloading and installing ad-aware, crap cleaner and a free virus scanner like AVG?

Restart your pc in safe mode and then scan it.

If you format and you havn't got an operating system to install, you'd be up the creek without a paddle.

[Guest fluffcat1]

Thanks for the reply. I don't have the boot CD that came with my Compaq. It got lost when I moved, and know I have a major problem. Anyone have a suggestion?

Speak to Compaq / HP customer services. If you are within the warranty period they usually send restore CDs out for free, outside of warranty they are about

[Guest gohome190]

Okay, wonder how long the warranty lasts?

[Guest fluffcat1]

Okay, wonder how long the warranty lasts?

Usually 1 r for home PC's, 3yr onsite for business units.

Richard

[Guest jimbouk]

Some pc's that come without the cd's, come with a software app that allows you to make your own system cd. With this app )which is usually branded by the manufacturer), you can create a bootable windows cd.

[Guest tonywalk]

Hiya,

I'm guessing you have the licence key on the holographic sticker thing. Might be stuck on the case somewhere.

Armed with that, you just need to borrow a CD of the correct version of XP. Then you can install from scratch. If you need any odd drivers for getting on the internet, then get them now and burn them onto CD (or an external storage device). As long as you can get on the net then you can get any other drivers you need from there.

:grin: And don't forget to back up your data before you format the drive (done during setup). :grin:

Good luck and happy playing,

Tony.

[Guest fluffcat1]

Hiya,

I'm guessing you have the licence key on the holographic sticker thing. Might be stuck on the case somewhere.

Armed with that, you just need to borrow a CD of the correct version of XP. Then you can install from scratch. If you need any odd drivers for getting on the internet, then get them now and burn them onto CD (or an external storage device). As long as you can get on the net then you can get any other drivers you need from there.

:grin: And don't forget to back up your data before you format the drive (done during setup). :grin:

Good luck and happy playing,

Tony.

HP oem's, from experience, don't work like that. They are specific to the machine's bios and are usually ghost images rather then actual install CD's, so the key is useless as it is never asked to be entered with the official ghost disks, and invalid for any other builds.

Richard

[Guest tonywalk]

HP oem's, from experience, don't work like that. They are specific to the machine's bios and are usually ghost images rather then actual install CD's, so the key is useless as it is never asked to be entered with the official ghost disks, and invalid for any other builds.

This (HP) OEM full copy of XP Pro (with key) that I'm using on my *ahem* HP doesn't exist then? :rolleyes: I always though I was the figment of a very warped imagination. :(

If I'm remembering right, then yes, an HP version of the Opsys on an HP computer won't ask for the key. However, another version (OEM or retail) would (should?) simply ask for this key, which AFAIK comes with every version of windows sold. I've just gone and checked my HP TC1100 tablet and that indeed has the licence key sticker for XP Tablet Ed. (in the battery compartment of all places) with the 5-groups-of-5 licence key.

Just thought fluffcat1, you're talking restore disks. I'm talking proper install disks. Wouldn't trust a restore disk further than I could throw it. Got me thinking now; is my TC1100 a full CD or a restore image. Is it only on the disk. Eeek!

Anyway, make sure it's a proper installation CD. Mine says "Business Desktops, Operating System CD".

Should he wish to play safe then moderately sized hard-disks are dirt cheap these days so he could buy on and use that to install to, and if all is happy then he can format the old drive for extra storage. If not, then he's still got the original install plus some extra storage.

If you need help with drive installation then give me a shout.

Regards,

Tony.

P.S. I'm probably going to have a full re-install myself in the next few weeks - I'll probably try using my Dell laptop (proper) install disk with my HP key.

[Guest fluffcat1]

Just thought fluffcat1, you're talking restore disks. I'm talking proper install disks. Wouldn't trust a restore disk further than I could throw it. Got me thinking now; is my TC1100 a full CD or a restore image. Is it only on the disk. Eeek!

My 3 official TC1000 disks are defo ghost images. They are password protected very cleverly by HP with the password of...'password' and I can browse and extract them using Norton Ghost.

As are my NC6120 disks...my TC4200 disks....my old Deskpro EN SFF disks...

Don't have a TC1100 as I skipped to the 4200, but assume they'll be ghosts also. The keys printed on labels on the HP's I have although 'valid' in as much as they are not fake, do not work for installations of Vanilla Win XP retail or OEM, and the HP restore disks never ask for them

P.S. I'm probably going to have a full re-install myself in the next few weeks - I'll probably try using my Dell laptop (proper) install disk with my HP key.

Our survey says.... EEEEh Uuuurgh...

It won't accept it during the initial installation but if a valid individual key and not a clone OEM you'll be able to use a key changer and then activate it.

Tablet keys will not activate XP Pro.

Richard

(MCSA, MCDST, MCSE, CCEA, CCNA.) :rolleyes:

[Guest genaldar]

Compaqs generally come with a restore partition. To access it I think you can hold F10 while the machine is booting (if its a different key the initial bootscreen will tell you what it is).

[Guest tonywalk]

Well, whadda-y-know!

Found my tablet PC's (TC1100) bits and pieces this evening.

I've got the full monty! (Trans: the lot).

I've got restore CDs for both XP Pro and the tablet version. But! I've got a full install CD too for the tablet edition.

My XP Pro re-install got sidetracked with the release of RC1 of Vista. It wouldn't have worked using my Dell full CD as that's the media centre edition.

Good luck with your re-install as and when you come to do it.

Regards,

Tony.