Options for reinstalling xp on laptop

[Eirgorn]

My neighbor bought a HP laptop recently second hand and didnt get any of the OS disks with it. They got some nasty viruses and the only option now is to do a clean install.

I have an XP Pro CD I am using to install from, but I have a feeling the XP Home product key on the sticker wont work. Further, Im afraid only an HP recovery disk will work and I'll have to order one?

Are there any other options that Im overlooking, or are my fears unwarrented?

Thanks!

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Eirgorn
My neighbor bought a HP laptop recently second hand and didnt get any of the OS disks with it. They got some nasty viruses and the only option now is to do a clean install.

I have an XP Pro CD I am using to install from, but I have a feeling the XP Home product key on the sticker wont work. Further, Im afraid only an HP recovery disk will work and I'll have to order one?

Are there any other options that Im overlooking, or are my fears unwarrented?

Thanks!

Only XP Home will work with an XP Home key. Any OEM reinstall disk will work, be it Dell, Compaq, HP, Gateway... you name it.

I suggest contacting HP and seeing if they will send you a disk.

 

[Eirgorn]

Ok thanks, Im on the laptop now - but it only has 30 days till it needs to register - which the key wont work for.

I'll call Compaq tomorrow and see about ordering the disks, I think I had to do that for an old Sony desktop a couple years ago and it was just a few bucks to get them to send new ones (maybe $10?) so I guess that will be the best option. At least they can play solitaire until it comes in...

Thanks!

 

[sonoma1993]

Originally posted by: Eirgorn
My neighbor bought a HP laptop recently second hand and didnt get any of the OS disks with it. They got some nasty viruses and the only option now is to do a clean install.

I have an XP Pro CD I am using to install from, but I have a feeling the XP Home product key on the sticker wont work. Further, Im afraid only an HP recovery disk will work and I'll have to order one?

Are there any other options that Im overlooking, or are my fears unwarrented?

Thanks!

just a thought, is there a recovery partition or some kind of recovery during bootuop on that hp laptop you could use to restore windows xp home edition?

 

[Lemon law]

Its time to point out to the OP, even if you get the OS to reinstall and be validated by windows, you will still be missing a pile of dell drivers. But still, such drivers can be downloaded from dell, but until you download and install those drivers, you will be dealing with a crippled computer.

 

[timswim78]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
Its time to point out to the OP, even if you get the OS to reinstall and be validated by windows, you will still be missing a pile of dell drivers. But still, such drivers can be downloaded from dell, but until you download and install those drivers, you will be dealing with a crippled computer.

I don't think that he will miss Dell drivers on his HP laptop.

 

[corkyg]

BTW - what model is the HP laptop? I have a DV1000 w/XP and recover CDs.

 

[Eirgorn]

It's a Presario 2200 - and I just got the recovery CD + drivers CD in Friday. My neighbors brought the laptop over this afternoon and after backing up thier pictures etc I started to do the reinstall.

However, it was unable to format the partition and install (which wasnt a problem when I installed the temporary xp pro).

Now Im getting errors that the media failed when trying to install, and an "error loading operating system" message on restarts.

I can still get into the BIOS, and I tried a hard drive self test which gave me a #1-07 fail result.

Is there anyway to partition out part of the HD to make it usable? I really just want to get my neighbors back a usable laptop and wash my hands of it =/

 

[corkyg]

That HDD should be replaced.

 

[Eirgorn]

I was afraid of that...

There's no way they can afford a new HDD, I think they got the laptop at a flea market.

 

[RebateMonger]

Sorry, can't be of much help. If you need a new disk, they are $50 at Newegg.com.

But I'm curious:

How old (approximately) is the laptop?

and

How much did the OS and driver recovery disks cost?

Thanks!

 

[Eirgorn]

I know the laptop is new to them - but since they got it at a flea market Im sure there's no chance of a warranty. The laptop itself is probably a couple of years old though? Not sure..

The recovery disks were $16 including shipping. I dont think I can find it in myself to collect the money from them though (I ordered the disks using my bank card) since I wasnt able to fix it.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Eirgorn
The recovery disks were $16 including shipping. I dont think I can find it in myself to collect the money from them though (I ordered the disks using my bank card) since I wasnt able to fix it.

They needed the recovery disks. You got them. You already donated your time. They should pay you for the disks.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: Eirgorn
The recovery disks were $16 including shipping. I dont think I can find it in myself to collect the money from them though (I ordered the disks using my bank card) since I wasnt able to fix it.

You sound like me. I give away tons of things when I'm doing computers for family or neighbors. I don't lose any money but I'll make absolutely nothing for my time. I'm trying hard to change that...

 

[Malak]

Thousand dollar electronics are not a bargain at $100. They are a risk. Let them know that. Lesson learned.

 

[corkyg]

Bottom line . . . you get what you pay for. Caveat emptor.