Format PC

albertross_2

What does happen when you boot from it, what comes on screen, you keep saying it doesn't install, but we need to know what happens to help

recovery disks are either self contained, and should restore it to factory condition when you boot with the CD in, or are XP disks, which should allow you to format the c: drive and install XP, or are dependent on a restore partition, if it is this type, and you have formatted the whole hard disk, then you are a bit snookered.

spakkker

Try getting k-lite codec pack -its free . I wouldn't go to the ms site with a dodgy xp copy but there are other ways to skin a cat

espresso

Drinda wrote: »

YES this is the original RECOVERY disc that came with the PC, but as I said it does not install or even get as far as putting in the code number.

I would guess that if his friend really has formatted the PC and then installed the illegal copy of XP Pro, this is why the original recovery CD no longer works. This recovery CD may simply be a small program (not an installation disc) to make use of files stored in a recovery partition, which has now been erased. If you can get or borrow a standard XP CD, you should be able to re-install using the valid product key on the side of the case.