View Full Version : I have a Windows Xp question
Microwave
17 Apr 2005, 10:09 AM
I am embarrased to ask this but I have never used windows Xp until today when i bought a laptop from a friend. I usually use Mac OSX or OS9.
Here is my question: the computer has tons of crap I dont want on it, is there anyway to delete everything and set XP back to the way it was when it was new? I want to reset the computer basically, can I do that?
thanks.
Achtung
17 Apr 2005, 11:54 AM
Sounds like you want to reformat. That would wipe the entire hard drive and allow you to reinstall XP anew. Do you have a Windows XP install CD from your friend?
I want to reset the computer basically, can I do that?
The system should have come with a recovery or restore CD that would bring you back to the factory-installed configuration.
Someone else that has gone through that process should talk about the registration process. I heard that Micro$oft is rather picky about that stuff and it caused headaches for folks doing reinstalls.
Also, note that Micro$oft has a ton of updates to XP and component software. Be sure to connect to windowsupdate.com and go through the hours of downloads to get to SP2 and beyond.
G'luck.
Microwave
17 Apr 2005, 12:24 PM
well here is the problem, the idiot who sold it to me can't find the recovery cd.
apple is so much easier to work with, let me tell you that.
So there is no way to reset XP without a dsic?
Achtung
17 Apr 2005, 12:28 PM
Well, whether for OS X or Windows XP, you need a disc to perform any sort of reinstallation.
In the case of Windows XP, there isn't a "recovery disk"--its all done with the regular installation disc. If he "can't find" the disc, I'd personally be suspicious of the legitimacy of his installation of Windows XP. I mean, I've screwed over Microsoft before as well, but if you want to stick to the straight path, I'd at least pick up an OEM copy of Windows XP.
That said, if his installation is legal, he should have that disc somewhere.
Microwave
17 Apr 2005, 12:35 PM
Well, whether for OS X or Windows XP, you need a disc to perform any sort of reinstallation.
In the case of Windows XP, there isn't a "recovery disk"--its all done with the regular installation disc. If he "can't find" the disc, I'd personally be suspicious of the legitimacy of his installation of Windows XP. I mean, I've screwed over Microsoft before as well, but if you want to stick to the straight path, I'd at least pick up an OEM copy of Windows XP.
That said, if his installation is legal, he should have that disc somewhere.
but for OSX I can just burn a copy from my friend and load it up.
You can't do that for XP can you?
Achtung
17 Apr 2005, 01:24 PM
but for OSX I can just burn a copy from my friend and load it up.
You can't do that for XP can you?
Well, I've managed to copy XP install CDs and used them just fine, but you're right in that OS X doesn't require the activation process of XP. If your friend has his activation key, you should be able to reinstall with a burned copy of the XP installation CD, as long as the hardware on the computer is the same as when he installed.
Apple is a bit more trusting in that sense... for now. Hopefully Microsoft comes up with something better for Longhorn, but I doubt it.
Microwave
17 Apr 2005, 01:42 PM
Well, I've managed to copy XP install CDs and used them just fine, but you're right in that OS X doesn't require the activation process of XP. If your friend has his activation key, you should be able to reinstall with a burned copy of the XP installation CD, as long as the hardware on the computer is the same as when he installed.
Apple is a bit more trusting in that sense... for now. Hopefully Microsoft comes up with something better for Longhorn, but I doubt it.
thanks for your reply, so if the guy can find his recovery disc will it have the activation key on the CD?
I suppose I could just delete everything I don't need from the computer but that seems like it would take a while, plus I am used to apple, which is easy to get rid of programs, whereas with windows I have to uninstall things and go thru tons of menu's.
Oh well. I will figure it out I suppose. I just wish computers had a facotry default option.
Squash
17 Apr 2005, 01:48 PM
I'll say a prayer for you :) Good luck
Kryptonite
17 Apr 2005, 03:33 PM
Apple is a bit more trusting in that sense... for now. Hopefully Microsoft comes up with something better for Longhorn, but I doubt it.
I doubt it as well. They're really trying to cut down on the anti-piracy, and in a way, I can't blame them.
They're now requiring either SP1 or SP2 on a computer to be eligible for further updates and now they're going to somehow make it that pirated versions are blocked from updating.
Microwave
17 Apr 2005, 07:24 PM
can someone tell me what this is?
http://windows.about.com/od/performancetopics/l/aa020120a.htm
thank you
oh and squash thanks for your prayers, first my pope dies and now I can't get a windows xp recovery disk. Not a good time to be a catholic pole.
noaihmtch
17 Apr 2005, 10:59 PM
They're now requiring either SP1 or SP2 on a computer to be eligible for further updates and now they're going to somehow make it that pirated versions are blocked from updating.
there's already a way around. not gonna say it here though.
Achtung
18 Apr 2005, 11:51 AM
can someone tell me what this is?
http://windows.about.com/od/performancetopics/l/aa020120a.htm
thank you
That involves creating a restore point in XP and then working from there. So that can take you to a "previous time", say before you installed some application that's giving you trouble. Theoretically it could be used to do what you want, that is take you back to the time when XP was newly installed. I just don't know if its the best way.
Achtung
18 Apr 2005, 11:55 AM
thanks for your reply, so if the guy can find his recovery disc will it have the activation key on the CD?
I suppose I could just delete everything I don't need from the computer but that seems like it would take a while, plus I am used to apple, which is easy to get rid of programs, whereas with windows I have to uninstall things and go thru tons of menu's.
Oh well. I will figure it out I suppose. I just wish computers had a facotry default option.
The activation key, IIRC, is usually printed on the case that the CD comes in. Hopefully he still has it.
Yep, with Windows you have to fully uninstall each program, and even then it tends to miss things. That's why a reformatting is usually the best option. Actually I'm a little surprised your friend didn't do that before selling you the computer. If I sold my somputer to someone, I'd take all my stuff off of there first and just give them a fresh installation.