Factory Restores: how can you tell which files are the original ones?

pww2004

It is. You will need an office 2007 install disc as well.

Can be obtained via :

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/w/microsoft_os/3321.2-4-microsoft-office-2007-official-download-links-digital-river.aspx

Kernel_Sanders

I've found that system restore won't go back earlier than last month. I don't want to mess about with doing reinstalls, so is there another way? Pressing F8 or F10 on startup doesn't produce a screen with a 'destructive recovery' option.

grumpycrab

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

I've found that system restore won't go back earlier than last month. I don't want to mess about with doing reinstalls, so is there another way? Pressing F8 or F10 on startup doesn't produce a screen with a 'destructive recovery' option.

2 questions. 1. when using the desktop is there a RESTORE or RECOVERY partition? (may be hidden)
2. Failing that just boot with "original recovery disk" you mentioned in your first post.

Kernel_Sanders

grumpycrab wrote: »

2 questions. 1. when using the desktop is there a RESTORE or RECOVERY partition? (may be hidden)

I'm not near that PC ATM but it showed 2 partitions (C and D). However, I do recall that they totalled an odd 117GB, so maybe there is a hidden one. Is it easy to discover? Presuming there is one, what's the procedure? I absolutely have to have that machine working this evening, so don't want to risk making things worse by messing up a reinstallation.

grumpycrab

Best way to find out if you have a restore partition is to do "properties" of Computer and run disk management. But the main problem is using any recovery partition. Google "xp restore partition <pc make>" to see if there are any specific instructions for your pc. Otherwise its back to your "recovery disk" from post1.

bluesnake

Don't wipe it. Do a backup macrilum reflect or clonezilla the whole drive first.

There is nothing like reinstalling to only then find out you have no nic drivers, no licence key for the specific version you are installing, your old version s not downloadable, as it is too old (or the company has gone bust), and loosing those special holiday snaps you put in a unique folder.

Sometimes the drivers are on a separate cd

Kernel_Sanders

grumpycrab wrote: »

Best way to find out if you have a restore partition is to do "properties" of Computer and run disk management. But the main problem is using any recovery partition. Google "xp restore partition <pc make>" to see if there are any specific instructions for your pc. Otherwise its back to your "recovery disk" from post1.

"Properties" of My Computer just produces the same as 'system information', and Windows cannot find disk (or disc) anything.
I already did what you suggest and found this http://techtips.salon.com/restore-sony-vaio-factory-specifications-1474.html
However the search window never appears from the start menu of this PC (one of several faults I'm trying to correct). 'VAIO Recovery Center' also does not appear in 'all programs'.

grumpycrab

Sorry - I think I'm wasting your time. Provided you have the XP key (sticker on the side of your brother's desktop) and "recovery disk" you mentioned in your post 1, just recover from disk. (and see bluesnake's post above).