Microsoft XP installation help

--Tony--

Hi all hope you can help.

I bought a desktop from a large company some time ago it only sits in the spare room for non-internet stuff (have laptop for internet downstairs).

The HDD has failed an I have lost my operating system XP (and you guessed no back up). It has the Microsoft sticker of authentisity sticker on the case with the codes etc and says for one copy of WIN2000 or XP. I have never registerd this code to gain updates (like I did with my laptop) as it never been connected to the internet.

I backup my laptop all the time but never bother with this one as its not important (or so I thought!).

Is there anything I can do or am I goning to have to buy a new operating system?

I own a genuine win98 disk but don't really want to go back to this.

PS, I dont have a copy of XP, the laptop is a Toshiba and it came with XP already loaded from new but it only has a reinstallation disk with it which I assume is only good for a Toshiba laptop, and assume is a backup of the HDD.

millwalll

there 2 things you can do when you got your pc it should have come with a backup disk that would install xp if any problem happened. look at the disks you got with pc if that fails i would suggest contacting Microsoft.

--Tony--

millwalll wrote:

there 2 things you can do when you got your pc it should have come with a backup disk that would install xp if any problem happened. look at the disks you got with pc if that fails i would suggest contacting Microsoft.

You right it probably best to talk to the horses mouth, I don't have any disks with this PC so I think in snookered. I guess the price of XP will be through the floor shortly and its not urgent with this PC.

BillScarab

You could speak to whoever sold you the PC and ask them for an OS disc.

Alternatively you could ask friends if they have a copy of XP, use their disc to install it and register it with your key as you have a valid license.

When you buy XP you are paying for the key so the above would be perfectly legal. The license key is not tied to the disc.

You just need to make sure it is the same version i.e. XP Home and preferably the same service pack. I seem to remember reading that some people had trouble doing this if their OS was originally loaded with XP SP1 and they tried to use a XP SP2 disc for example.

It's worth trying anyway as ti won't cost you anything. If it works make a backup copy of the disc for future use.

You certainly shouldn't have to buy another copy of XP.

millwalll

BillScarab wrote:

You could speak to whoever sold you the PC and ask them for an OS disc.

Alternatively you could ask friends if they have a copy of XP, use their disc to install it and register it with your key as you have a valid license.

When you buy XP you are paying for the key so the above would be perfectly legal. The license key is not tied to the disc.

You just need to make sure it is the same version i.e. XP Home and preferably the same service pack. I seem to remember reading that some people had trouble doing this if their OS was originally loaded with XP SP1 and they tried to use a XP SP2 disc for example.

It's worth trying anyway as ti won't cost you anything. If it works make a backup copy of the disc for future use.

You certainly shouldn't have to buy another copy of XP.

But surely if he has already registered when he got the pc if he use a mates disk the will have to use his key code to use it but soon he use he key code they say its invalid as it already been registered wont they ?

j_davies

millwalll wrote:

But surely if he has already registered when he got the pc if he use a mates disk the will have to use his key code to use it but soon he use he key code they say its invalid as it already been registered wont they ?

If he uses a friends Disc and shoves that in his PC he will have a genuine XP OS as he already has a genuine COA and that means he has paid for the Licence on that 1 particular machine, he may get a WGA validation problem but thats easy to fix as all you have to do is phone MS and say that the MoBo has been changed and the quite helpfully and freely hand out a new 25 digit code.

BillScarab

Like what J Davies said, just explain to Microsoft you had to re-install due to a hard drive failure and they'll give you a new code.

Contrary to popular belief Microsoft are usually very good in situations like this.

millwalll

ok cool i never knew that what about if you sell a pc on can the buyer do that then install xp and then ring them and get a new code

crox

(correct me if I'm wrong but) Might be worth noting that different versions of xp have different keys so if you have xp pro licence no point borrowing xp home or corporate disks

--Tony--

crox wrote:

(correct me if I'm wrong but) Might be worth noting that different versions of xp have different keys so if you have xp pro licence no point borrowing xp home or corporate disks

All sorted. Thanks guys.

The above was the problem I came up against, the only pro I could get my hand on was an old copy when XP first came out and the key did not match this copy.

As luck would have it Microsoft have issued a keychanger on their website, I think its aimed at all those people with XP corp installed who fail or dont use Genuine Advantage program. Anyhow this program will update the key and sort your installation out.

As long as you have a genuine key and an internet connection Microsofts program sorts it all out.

Thanks all, time for a disk image me thinks.

BillScarab

Excellent, glad to hear you got it sorted.