Format Format Format....

P

PotGuy

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ok im going to sound a right idiot but i have never actually formatted me hard drive in nearly 4 years of having the computer :p

im guessing all you do it right click the drive and click format, like a floppy disk or whatever.

But i am wondering what i want to put to disk. Will my xp install disk work again with the same registration key? And what information do i need from my internet to connect it up again?

i know nothing. sorry :p
 
im guessing all you do it right click the drive and click format, like a floppy disk or whatever.
Click to expand...
no it is diff erent tell me what discs you have XP or what then I can tell you ;)
 
oh dear im gonna muck this up :)

right. digging into my old box of stuff, i have found i dont have an xp install disk; i think it came pre installed and i just had a cd key. which i havnt found yet.

i do have a drive called hp_recovery, which i am thinking is some kind of recovery drive.

i am very perceptive like that
 
PotGuy said:
oh dear im gonna muck this up :)

right. digging into my old box of stuff, i have found i dont have an xp install disk; i think it came pre installed and i just had a cd key. which i havnt found yet.

i do have a drive called hp_recovery, which i am thinking is some kind of recovery drive.

i am very perceptive like that
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Dont try anything unless you have the KEY Hewlett Packard wont let you have a replacement thats for sure, as your PC is old?
Now let me know when you find it, you can however restore to factory settings but you still need the KEY;)
 
If XP was pre-installed by HP, then you will have a 'sticker' on the side of the case ... somwhere.

That is your 'key'. ;)


Before you screw it all up, download Suse 10 EvalDVD ... that way you'll have a new PC. :D
 
!

i cant find a cd key

where would it be? :/

if i cant find it im buggered arent i?
 
PotGuy said:
!

i cant find a cd key

where would it be? :/

if i cant find it im buggered arent i?
Click to expand...

as mucks said is it on the side panel of the PC I dont think so but have a look as I had HP with no key even on the side panel. Thats why I build PCs now you could buy an XP disc and then do the format let us know what you find??
 
Me__2001 said:
is there not a way to get it from the registry ?
Click to expand...
you could scan with belarc that will give the key but with HP PCs they are very fussy??? if you format I know I had one:(
 
Download a program called Rock XP from www.majorgeeks.com

It will find and display your XP key and your passwords for you. Very good program.

no you format your PC from the CD, you will lose everything.
 
PotGuy said:
so would the key definately be on the insidE?
Click to expand...
WHAT!

... and invalidate your guarantee ... have a look on the back or bottom of the case.


:D
 
but i don't have a cd to format from?

i found a product key on the outside of my case - a 25 digit combination of letter & numbers :D
 
Last edited:
christopherpostill said:
Find the XP CD :)
Click to expand...

I don't think HP supply one Chris, they use a recovery partition - I think most major manufacturers like Dell etc do that these days to save on costs and copying of the CD:rolleyes:
 
ok this is the partition folder. inside the preload is just a load of random files, and when i double click the recovery it says

Recovery Partition

Warning!



This area of your hard disk

(or partition) contains files used

for your system recovery.



Do not delete or alter these files.



Any change to this partition could

prevent any recovery later.

and doesnt let me do anything :/
 

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