Xp cd missing. How to reinstall system?

  • Thread starter Thread starter spirit
  • Start date Start date
S

spirit

I have a computer problem. The XP is not starting anymore. I have too much
rubbish on the computer.
Do someone know where I can get the win xp cd/dvd? Is it downloadable? I
lost the CD and my computer needs to be reinstalled. I have still the
activation code sticking on my computer though.
Thanks

Dann
 
Buy a new Windows XP CD? Amazon etc.

Do you have important data you need to recover?

What is the computer make and model?

Reinstalling will not fix your computer if the problem is failing
hardware!

Describe what happens when you try to boot?
http://www.pcguide.com/ref/mbsys/bios/bootSequence-c.html

Posting a complete copy of the Stop error report would help.

Disable automatic restart on system failure. This should help by
allowing time to write down the STOP code properly. Keep pressing the F8
key during Start-Up and select option - Disable automatic restart on
system failure. Do not re-enable automatic restart on system failure
until you have resolved the problem. Check for variants of the Stop
Error message.


--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
if you have the product
key stuck to the computer,

then you may have the
ability to initiate a factory
restore.

go to your computers
home site and look up
the model number and
the faq's on how to restore.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen
 
I have a similar problem -- computer will only boot in Safe Mode. I want to
do a repair install of XP, but don't have a CD. Emachines (the computer
manufacturer) no longer supports this model. This was originally Windows XP
Home Edition. Can I use a Windows XP Professional Edition CD to do a repair
install?
 
spirit said:
I have a computer problem. The XP is not starting anymore. I have too much
rubbish on the computer.
Do someone know where I can get the win xp cd/dvd? Is it downloadable? I
lost the CD and my computer needs to be reinstalled. I have still the
activation code sticking on my computer though.
Thanks

Dann
Click to expand...

The XP install CD is not legally downloadable.

If you have a COA sticker - it's not an "activation code" - you have an OEM
version and you can probably find an OEM CD and use that with the key code
on the COA sticker.

The license is represented by the COA sticker, not by the CD.

However, you won't find out if the key code matches the CD till you're well
into the install, so you might want to pop in a spare hard disk and install
to that, to the point where the key is accepted or not.

And of course, if you have data that is of value, you need to back it up
first. If you can't do that, get a new hard disk and install to that,
leaving the old drive disconnected during the basic install.

You will also need the drivers for your system, normally available from the
system or motherboard manufacturer's site.

HTH
-pk
 
Jamie said:
I have a similar problem -- computer will only boot in Safe Mode. I want to
do a repair install of XP, but don't have a CD. Emachines (the computer
manufacturer) no longer supports this model. This was originally Windows
XP
Home Edition. Can I use a Windows XP Professional Edition CD to do a
repair
install?
Click to expand...

No, you can not use a different version for a repair install, only to get to
the Recovery Console.

However, it's likely - but not guaranteed - that you can successfully use
another OEM CD of the same version if you have a friend with one.

Often, however, repair installs will *not* fix problems that are actually
located in the registry.
 
unfortunately, you
can't utilize different
versions of windows
to do a repair installation.

the only tool that can
be used by any windows
from any cd is the recovery
console.

however, even though
makers do not provide
support for their machines,

there is likely archived
troubleshooting instructions
still available via their
website.

the most common practice
in affect by the makers is
to provide the recovery files/
restoration files to the consumer
on a hidden portion on the
hard disk, aka hidden partition.

they do this because it is
just another method to avoid
the additional costs of making
and providing cd's with the
restoration files.

perhaps, you can use the
recovery console to make
the necessary repairs to your
installation.

however, if you can boot
into the safe modes and
windows functions fine,

then you won't need to do
a repair installation.

just some reconfiguration.
--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen
 
Ignore everything you have read so far. I suggest try to get hold of
either an HP or a DELL CD with either Windows XP SP1 or SP2. Then you
can use this CD with your serial number which you say is stuck at the
base of your system.

Please make sure that if your XP was home edition then you need home
edition CD as professional edition will not accept the serial number you
have [stuck] on your system.

It doesn't matter whether you use HP or Dell CD as both accept any
serial numbers supplied by other OEMs!

Hope this helps and let us know if it worked.
 
ANONYMOUS said:
Ignore everything you have read so far. I suggest try to get hold of
either an HP or a DELL CD with either Windows XP SP1 or SP2. Then you can
use this CD with your serial number which you say is stuck at the base of
your system.
Click to expand...

There's a problem with that idea.
Please make sure that if your XP was home edition then you need home
edition CD as professional edition will not accept the serial number you
have [stuck] on your system.

It doesn't matter whether you use HP or Dell CD as both accept any serial
numbers supplied by other OEMs!
Click to expand...

Actually, it can most definitely matter.

Many Dell-branded CDs check for a DELL BIOS signature and will halt if it's
not found.

Generic OEM CDs don't have this feature, but I think that all of the Dell
CDs I have seen do.
 
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