Hard Drive Crashed - Need to reload Software

AWOL_2

The otherday my Western Digital Hard Drive crashed. It was luckily under warranty and i am going to be sent anotherone from WD.

Great you may be thinking.. - I had most of my important stuff backed up however not my software.

I dont have the original XP disks - its been a few years since its been loaded and have moved house twice and must have misplaced them somewhere.

Where can i can cheap replacement windows XP operating system disks. not concerned which version just need to get it goin again.

I dont want to go out buy the full version knowing the microsoft vista is due out in a couple of months. What should i do.. any one have any reccomendations.

I have XP running on my laptop - can i not transfer this across on to a new hard drive for my desktop?

thomas01155

you could use linux http://www.ubuntu.com until vista comes out

Browntoa

ebay often has the Dell xp re-install disks

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Dell-XP-Home-Edition-CD-with-SP2-COA-Sealed_W0QQitemZ320063024512QQihZ011QQcategoryZ41887QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

will work on ANY make PC with a valid COA sticker, which I assume you have

there are more on ebay

bat999

Hi

ebuyer is one of the cheapest places for a legit oem windows xp.
There are usually also some advertised on ebay, but that has risks.
Or, as thomas suggested above, experiment with Ubuntu. Especially as you already have xp on your laptop.

This is the ebuyer link:-http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/114048

imho

If you have the number you need when you re-install windows xp,i can send you a copy of windows xp,if you like.the numbers should be on the back of the computer,then when you install it ,you put in your numbers.

imho

And i think if you call up Microsoft and tell them what happened,they will send you a copy of Windows Xp.
But if you can get it off the laptop you still have do that,your going to need the number from the back of the computer,not the laptop numbers .

epz_2

my understanding is if you have a legit xp sticker then you can legaly install any copy of windows and use the key off the sticker, so grab a mates coppy or one from ahem other sources.

AWOL_2

imho wrote:

And i think if you call up Microsoft and tell them what happened,they will send you a copy of Windows Xp.
But if you can get it off the laptop you have do that,but your going to still need the number from the back of the computer,not the laptop numbers .

Thanks for all your suggestions.
I wil have to keep an eye out on ebay it would appear. I like how some of the sellers get around the license by sending abit of harware.. (wonder what they send)

If i was to use the numbers on the laptop what impact would it have? would it simply not work? Anyone tried this.

Also, i take it there is no way of removing/transferring all the data from my laptop/operating system included on to my new desk top hard drive? There must be a bit of kit out there that can do this. My laptop has most of my personal settings and it would solve my delima in an instant if that would be possible.

imho

Acronis would do that,there is a free version of acronis 7 out .look for it. No you cant put the numbers off your laptop on to your desk top computer.You must have the numbers on your computer ? you must have bought a version of Xp when you bought the computer ! so you have the number for it on your computer.why buy another Xp disc when you have bought one ,listed to your computer !

imho

Heres Acronis 7 free version http://www.acronis.com/mag/vnu-ati7.You copy your laptop system to your desk top,dont ask me how you connect your desk top to your laptop,so acronis can see where to copy to !

imho

I am offering you the windows xp disc .You only need to buy a copy if your copy on your desk top was a dodgy serial number .You dont need to buy another disc from ebay if its all legit .