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Recovery Disc

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fifeken
fifeken Posts: 2,738 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
A friend's PC has crashed following a power surge and won't even reboot in Safe Mode. Can I make a recovery disc that will work for him on my system - both are running XP? If this is possible, any instructions would be appreciated. If not, any other ideas to help him out?
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  • kwikbreaks
    kwikbreaks Posts: 9,187 Forumite
    No.

    You could download Ubuntu to see if it will boot from the live CD and you can read the hdd.

    If that won't work then it seems that the hardware is trashed.

    If it does then it probably just needs windows repairing but you'll need an install disk to do that (even a less than legitimate one of the identical operating system will do the job but obviously you'd be on your own finding one as we can't post links to hookey software)
  • mongoose2009
    mongoose2009 Posts: 248 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    it might work
    depends on the hardware (chipset is the most important)
    most recovery disk are designed for a specific hardware
    but XP is pretty tolerant and it will probably load up and you will will get at least a working system
    remember you'll lose all your data on the system
    if it does work then you'll need to download all the drivers from the manufacturers website
  • Donnie
    Donnie Posts: 9,862 Forumite
    fifeken wrote: »
    A friend's PC has crashed following a power surge and won't even reboot in Safe Mode. Can I make a recovery disc that will work for him on my system - both are running XP? If this is possible, any instructions would be appreciated. If not, any other ideas to help him out?

    Home or Pro?
  • John_Gray
    John_Gray Posts: 5,844 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    You might consider buying a USB external disk caddy to hold the hard disk removed from your friend's machine, so that you can look at it from your PC. You'll then be able to tell whether it is in a fit state to have Windows reinstalled on it...
  • fifeken
    fifeken Posts: 2,738 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Donnie wrote: »
    Home or Pro?
    Mine is Pro - not sure about the other system.
  • Donnie
    Donnie Posts: 9,862 Forumite
    fifeken wrote: »
    Mine is Pro - not sure about the other system.

    You'll need to know. Has it got a Windows XP CoA sticker on the outside? Which brand of PC?

    Hiren's Boot CD is useful. Make sure that you click on the correct download link.
  • fifeken
    fifeken Posts: 2,738 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Donnie wrote: »
    You'll need to know. Has it got a Windows XP CoA sticker on the outside? Which brand of PC?
    Will try to find out tomorrow.
    Donnie wrote: »
    Hiren's Boot CD is useful. Make sure that you click on the correct download link.
    I've just been on this site but can't find the links I think I'll need. They might be staring me in the face but can you give me a pointer in the right direction?
  • googler
    googler Posts: 16,103 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    John_Gray wrote: »
    You might consider buying a USB external disk caddy to hold the hard disk removed from your friend's machine, so that you can look at it from your PC. You'll then be able to tell whether it is in a fit state to have Windows reinstalled on it...

    Seconded.

    It will also allow backup of data files from the HDD, if it should still be in working condition.
  • Donnie
    Donnie Posts: 9,862 Forumite
    fifeken wrote: »
    Will try to find out tomorrow.
    I've just been on this site but can't find the links I think I'll need. They might be staring me in the face but can you give me a pointer in the right direction?

    Go to the Download page...

    hiren.jpg
  • Toxteth_OGrady
    Toxteth_OGrady Posts: 3,958 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    If you have a spare bay in your case take his disk out and put it in yours as a slave. Saves buying a caddy.

    :cool:

    TOG
    604!
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