Recovery XP CD ROM....advice on how to use & back up documents?!!!

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hi...some may have seen on previous posts me struggling with Malware etc on my ancient XPnsp3 unit (I know I should get rid but so nice to use and a little nostalgic.... Please don't shoot me down in flames lol). Have tried all suggestions you guys have offered to no avail. Urber sloe....Chinese pop ups etc.

Had a clear out recently & found ORIGINAL product recovery CD for computer model & XP. Realise apps will go.

Anyone tell Mr how to back up docs for free prior to trying to reinstall XP? I've plenty of pen drives with loads of storage. Any 'baby' language instructions for this?

And will the CD recovery dish delete all nasties and work (will of course put on malware/antivirus if it works, any suggestions for free ones that will cover XP SP 3....more than aware XP Is no longer 100% secure but have a windows 7 downstairs, this would be a backup to print & for G/F to do the odd Google....no gaming or anything hard core).

Any idea help from anyone in 'baby' talk lol!!!! Would be very much appreciated!:beer:

Neil_Jones

Goo goo ga ga goo

Seriously though, easiest solution is to get a replacement hard drive for the computer (post your computer brand and model) and recover it onto that. you can then connect the old drive up to copy your documents across. Some brand recovery disks do everything (Dell for example), others don't.

You will need to reinstall the drivers (if this disk doesn't do it for you) any apps you use, anti-virus, printer and whatever else afterwards.

that

I concur with Neil Jones - new drive, However MS and many other companies have pulled all updates, patches and information. You may not even get back what you have now got, especially driver wise.

to be honest in your position I would rather copy all my data on to a usb stick than back it up, as when you restore it will bring back everything, warts and all.

put in an usb stick and use file manager (file explorer) and the search function and copy files and directories manually, they will not be kept that many locations. a better way would be to put your old disk into a usb caddy and copy them back from that,

if it wont convert to win 10 you could convert it to linux .

dipsomaniac

xp and baby talk!!

as above you are going to run into so many problems with drivers if installing a fresh copy of xp.

I thought 'classic shell' was the solution for people a little nostalgic?

EveryWhere

Many ways to do it. The way that you would likely want is through a 'live CD'.

This is a CD that you create and subsequently boot . This will give you access to the files that you want to access and copy.

Example; https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

This is the image that you need to download; http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/lucid/ubuntu-10.04.4-desktop-i386.iso

Download and save it to the Windows 7 PC. Once downloaded, place a blank CD in the optical drive and then right click on the downloaded image icon and choose Burn Disc Image.
Now you can use it with the XP PC to retrieve your data files.

EveryWhere

I'm not sure why people are suggesting that you will have issues with Drivers. It is very unlikely. There are almost always back ups available or you can back up your own before moving forward.
Also, forget about using the 'original disc' for an install, unless it indicates that it is XP with Service Pack 3.
Does the thing have a brand name?

DEBTMONKEY1A

The recovery disc original I have is for Fujitsu Siemens
The disc is for now but system is sp3. Off to take g/f to Leeds so will answer tomorrow am. THANKS for your Invaluable assistance!

jshm2

If you have an external HDD then download and run a copy of macrium reflect -free - and do a backup. Then you can do a factory reset from the restore disc and get your stuff back from the HDD. Else do a full restore if the install goes wrong and ask here again,

macman

If XP is the original OS on it, then it's 2008 or earlier build. So the hard drive will be on borrowed time, unless it's been replaced. So if you have no back up, do it now. It will fail, not if but when.

18cc

In answer to your specific question you have to obviously copy off the hard drive anything you want to keep

once that is done put the CD in the drive turn the PC on and hopefully it will boot from the CD if it doesn't power off and then power on again and this time press F12 continuously until you see the boot menu and choose boot from CD
If you still don't see the boot from CD happening then Google your computers make and model and find out how to boot from CD it maybe F2

once the CD has booted you can then format the hard drive and reinstall the XP system

depending on the level of XP you may well then wants to download service pack 3 from the internet and install that you will then be up-to-date

Obviously will then have to reinstall your apps and copy back your data

If you have any driver problems then you should also have a driver CD That Will contain them that would have come with a PC or alternatively if you know your make and model you should be able to download them from the internet these are for things like audio, Wi-Fi driver chipset etc

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hi....to update.Re formatted & re-installed XP. Burnt docs to disc (thanks to a member on here for the heads up, seems to have worked but not checked it yet, checked docs & to be honest so old probably not needed).

Computer urber fast....but can't for the life of me get BT Super Hub to connect! Have a windows 7 PC downstairs......issues with temperamental USB socket on XP PC, so that may or may not work.

Does anyone know of any BT wizard or similar that I can download to USB.....or if easy enough & not to take up too much of forum posters valuable time an easy step by step guide to get it working? Fine on hard wired Windows 7 downstairs & wireless. Out later on so may not be able to reply straight away. Thanks if anyone can help!