UPDATE, PLS HELP! I''ve wiped my NetBook using dban now I can't reinstall windows xp!

Claireybear

Oh no, please don't say that, I was just feeling relieved because it has installed ok and is working!

So as soon as the person who buys it goes on the Internet it will deactivate it?!

I couldn't get an xp disc from anywhere, or I would have used xp! I'm not trying to cheat the system or anything, just got in a mess.

Does ccleaner work as well then, the guide I read said that wouldn't work as well? If only I'd known!

Claireybear

Just had a thought, is there anywhere I can download xp from so I can use the proper key?

If the is, how do I change from vista to xp - do I have to wipe it all of again, or can I just install xp and it changes to that?

Sorry, I'm not very techie, I should never have got into this!

closed

if you do a factory restore, and wipe free space afterwords, it's effectively the same as using dban (ie undelete utilities aren't going to be able to recovery any old info), without the messed up recovery partition.

how is the xp disc you have labelled, what files are on it

you'd have to delete or format the partition, and install xp on top.

23n1th

If you're referring to the Product Key on the bottom of the laptop/netbook you may be out of luck. That will not be the actual product key. Before doing the wipe you should have run a keyfinder to get the actual one from the registry.

There are certain places you can download an xp installation disc. This might sound illegal but Micorsoft sell licences so if you have a valid product key you're not breaking any rules. You'll need to be sure there are no nasties within but thats the risk.

Claireybear

I wish I had known that before! I just hated the thought of my mum being scammed!

The disc I have got says "system software media Samsung n130" then it says "this media is provided to restore the applications and drivers provided by Samsung if they do not run properly"

I assumed this meant windows, but as it didn't boot from this disc I'm thinking it probably didn't? I'm an idiot!

closed

check she hasn't got another disc (system recovery media xp)

Claireybear

I've FOUND A XP DISC from an old computer!

How do I get rid of the vista so I can put the xp on instead? Sorry, I didn't understand what you meant by the partition?

closed

boot from disc, you will be asked where to install it, where there is a delete partition (ie c: drive) option, then quick format the partition, and install

macman

Claireybear wrote: »

I wish I had known that before! I just hated the thought of my mum being scammed!

The disc I have got says "system software media Samsung n130" then it says "this media is provided to restore the applications and drivers provided by Samsung if they do not run properly"

I assumed this meant windows, but as it didn't boot from this disc I'm thinking it probably didn't? I'm an idiot!

No, that is just a disk containing the specific drivers for that machine-it does not contain an operating system. Very few laptops come with an original OS disk these days.
If you are still using the old XP machine, you will not have a licence to install it on a second machine.

TakeThis

I have the Samsung XP disc, but I am on holiday at the moment. The person buying the Netbook may require the XP disc, especially if you have wiped the Factory Restore partition.