windows XP system recovery?

[Black Sunday]

So I got this laptop used but the guy doesn't think he has the recovery disc for Windows XP.

Is there a way to clear the hard drive without clearing Windows from the computer?

I want to set the computer to how it was when it was first purchased, is there a way to do this without a disc?

I found this:

http://windows.about.com/od/tipsarchive/l/bltip555.htm

but wasn't sure if it will work.

It is a gateway solo 9550 and It has a removable cd burner so I want to make sure I will still have the drivers for the cd-r drive.

thanks for any help

[SomeDanGuy]

Personally, I would just wipe the hard drive completely and then install a fresh copy of Windows. I can send you an .iso of an XP Pro bootdisc

[Black Sunday]

Personally, I would just wipe the hard drive completely and then install a fresh copy of Windows.  I can send you an .iso of an XP Pro bootdisc

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

how does that work?

I am sorry but I am used to mac osx.

so you send me a .iso, do I just burn it and use it to load xp from scratch?

what about the drivers for the cd-r drive? i also have a wireless internet card in it.

also, don't i need a serial number to load Windows XP?

thanks for your help

[Marblez]

I have restored my XP numerous times without the aid of a recovery disc. I do something like hit F10 at a certain part of start up and it wipes it back to store bought condition. I think this is a standard XP feature.

[Marblez]

I have restored my XP numerous times without the aid of a recovery disc.  I do something like hit F10 at a certain part of start up and it wipes it back to store bought condition.  I think this is a standard XP feature.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, just like thearticle - NUMEROUS times.

By the way, you get a new crack at all the free trial softwares

[Black Sunday]

I have restored my XP numerous times without the aid of a recovery disc.  I do something like hit F10 at a certain part of start up and it wipes it back to store bought condition.  I think this is a standard XP feature.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

if you could give me a step by step way to do this as simple as possible it would be awesome. even if it is done by phone....or do I just follow the article instructions? It seems complicated. Your F10 way sounds easier.

[The_Dark]

The F10 System restore is a standard feature on newer HP and Compaq computers. For their laptops, they supply Restore disks.

If your XP COA sticker in on the bottom of the laptop where it is sopposed to be, you can use any XP cd to reiinstalll your OS.

[Black Sunday]

The F10 System restore is a standard feature on newer HP and Compaq computers. For their laptops, they supply Restore disks.

If your XP COA sticker in on the bottom of the laptop where it is sopposed to be, you can use any XP cd to reiinstalll your OS.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can not use the cd because the idiot who sold it to me does not have a CD.

I need to restore it without a CD.

[Daevion]

I can not use the cd because the idiot who sold it to me does not have a CD.

I need to restore it without a CD.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wow, he didn't even have the courtesy to burn you a backup copy...that is really lame.

There is a way to restore XP to a previous system state without using a cd. Try doing a search on the microsoft website for some detailed instructions. Also, if i remember correctly, XP will save the state right after it was first installed.

After reading over the link, that will work if a restore point is already created, so assuming that the above is correct you shouldn't have any problem.

The only problem you might run into is the fact that your using a gateway and because they suck, often they require you to use the "special" gateway windows recovery disk or whatever its called that came with the POS in the first place.

I would check the gateway website and see if theres any useful info on there....maybe you can DL some type of recovery files for that particular model.

[Black Sunday]

Thanks. So anyway, what is the F10 thing? Maybe that will work for me.

[The_Dark]

It would if it were a desktop PC. The feature doesn;t even exist on laptops. There are a couple ways to go about this..

A. Contact HP and purchase a set of restore CDs. They charge about $60 for them.

B. Borrow an XP cd froma friend and use your CD Key. (Assuming ther eis one on the bottom of the laptop)

C. You can create another User account, log in under that account and delelte the old one. That will remove most if not all the old user files. Though not a clean install, it will set things back to pretty much a clean install.

D. Get your hands on a hacked copy of XP.

[Black Sunday]

my friend has a disc for xp but he says you cant put xp on 2 computers, is that true?

[Daevion]

my friend has a disc for xp but he says you cant put xp on 2 computers, is that true?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

heh, depends..i've done it with xp pro, though not sure about xp home. The problem with that is , you may not be able to DL updates like sp2 from the MS site

[The_Dark]

You can use any XP Home CD as long as you have a uniqe Product Code. Is there a sticker onthe bottom of thelaptop with a 25 digit product code?

[SomeDanGuy]

Yeah, I think they started doing some licensing stuff with XP now or something. I wouldn't know...I have a pirated copy. Shhhh!

The 'System Restore' thing is not a wipe of data or return to factory state. Periodically, Windows takes a survey of all the settings (the registry, installed programs, drivers, start menu, etc) and backs that up. I don't think that would really remove data from the previous owner.

As far as the .iso I was talking about - yes, you have it right. You'd burn that to a CD, then tell your computer to boot from the CD-ROM instead of the hard disk. (hit whatever key it says for 'Enter Setup' during startup and change the boot option there.) The XP setup utility will load. You won't need to worry about CD-ROM drivers. I've never had any problem with those no matter how old or new the drive.

I'm trying to remember now what the options are when you boot from the install CD... Can't remember if there's an option to reformat the drive or if you'd have to get to a command prompt and type "fdisk".

If you want the .iso, I can also just give you the key I use. I got it from deluxserials.com anyway, and have installed XP on several computers with it. I hope the feds aren't reading this board....

[Vater Araignee]

Hey if you don't mind giving me your snail mail I can send you a copy of XP corporate and about 200 keys. 1 corporate key is good for what? 1000 different comps I think. I also have xp tablet, pro, home, media, maybe I even have a laptop flavor.

[Vater Araignee]

oops sorry I forgot to add...

You should back up you system and system32 directories. That way if when you are reinstalling windows and the drivers can not be found you have them backed up someplace on a cd and you can make windows search for the best driver on that cd. :grin unless an idiot programer has the drivers install someplace different. It has been known to happen but not often. :fear

[Marblez]

Dude - Call Gateway. Seriously. See what they say. I am sure it happens ALL the time. Don't install a pirated copy of XP on an already legit XP system, that (to me) seems silly.

[Daevion]

Hey if you don't mind giving me your snail mail I can send you a copy of XP corporate and about 200 keys. 1 corporate key is good for what? 1000 different comps I think. I also have xp tablet, pro, home, media, maybe I even have a laptop flavor.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

heh, I could use one of those keys for my xp pro.

[Daevion]

Dude - Call Gateway. Seriously.  See what they say.  I am sure it happens ALL the time.  Don't install a pirated copy of XP on an already legit XP system, that (to me) seems silly.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

pirating is fun. arrrrrrrr

[Vater Araignee]

I need a treasure chest so big I can put my wife in it.

Every pirate needs a place to stash his booty!

ARRR ARRR ARRR

heh, I could use one of those keys for my xp pro.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

will do

[Daevion]

I need a treasure chest so big I can put my wife in it.

Every pirate needs a place to stash his booty!

ARRR  ARRR  ARRR

will do

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

LOL :laughing :pirate

PM me that loot

[Black Sunday]

thanks alot everyone for all your help....turns out the idiot FOUND the recovry cd so I am all set! I am now running my own laptop finally!