where can i buy xp from at a good price ?

Dan:)_7

nah... that was a vista rumor... but vista does have "reduced functionality" if microsoft detects a pirated vista!

Jzpop

Scoobydoo,

If you are sure that you want to format the system and start afresh (you will lose every piece of data on the hard drive by doing this), then you can do this as part of the XP installation process.

An alternative is to do a 'parallel' installation of XP - in essence, you keep all of your personal data such as photos, documents etc but install a new version of XP which replaces the previous version. Note that if you have not got rid of the virus that caused the original problem, you will probably be back to square one very quickly.

These links are to illustrated XP installation guides -

http://!!!!!!!.com/79v9c

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp
http://tweakhound.com/xp/installxp/installXP1.htm
http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_home_install_-_graphic.htm

The one thing that you cannot skimp on is a decent antivirus program. I strongly recommend Nod32, available for download from https://www.eset.com

Jzpop

Not too sure what happened to the first link that I posted. Simply substitute '!!!!!!!' (without quotes) for the exclamation marks.

Jzpop

OK, I give up. Each time I try to type
t i n y u r l it gets converted into exclamation marks.

The full address is
http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/#XP%20HOME%20CD%20INSTALL,%20REINSTALL%20&%20REPAIR%20GUIDES

GoofyGAT

Jzpop wrote: »

OK, I give up. Each time I try to type
t i n y u r l it gets converted into exclamation marks.

That's because URL-shortening sites are not allowed at MSE - from here:

SHORTENING LINKS

Shortening links using sites such as T1nyurl, Snipeurl and Makeashortlink etc is not permitted. Links have been posted using these in the past to hide affiliate links, which are not permitted anywhere except on the Referrals Board. If you feel a link you want to post is overly long please use the Vbulletin link-shortening method. (Use Sra’s Unofficial A to Z to see how).

Anyway, as you can see there's no need to shorten links when posting here. G

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elektra

Thanks Rockabilly and Toasterman for your comments, apologies to Scoobydo for hijacking this thread. We will probably take the easy option and pay the £95 and worry about the other software as and when it becomes a problem.

rockabilly_spike

well xp home is a cheaper option but it will mean formatting your pc first.

as for who told me about the plans for windows wga in the future, it came thru a microsoft rep who talked to my bosses when we became a microsoft partner company.

it puzzles me that folk will shell out mega bucks for a mobile phone & be proud of it and games consoles but begrudge paying money for a PC O/S like windows xp. especially as vista is so darn expensive.