Windows XP install question - help 2

guaranteed · Joined: Mar 29, 2005 Posts: 9

I have a Compaq S3010CL System with Windows XP Home installed. 1.8 GHZ AMD Ath XP 2200 with 224 megs ram. I need to re-install windows XP Home on it but do not have the original Compaq CD that came with it. I do have another original copy of Windows XP Home from a friend that I can use and I do have the sticker on the side of the system with the CD Key. Question is, can I get XP installed with the above items? I do beleive that the copy of XP Home I have is old enough that it will match the CD Key.
Any help appreciated.

User: inactive Posts:

It should work OK if the version of XP is exactly the same as what was installed on your PC. If not, it just won't work. No problem.
Give it a try.

Good Luck,
Shadow Cool

PS: You're reinstalling windows, WHY?

Edited to correct the typo's.

Claymore · Joined: Mar 09, 2005 Posts: 2034

It may not be that simple. Each Windows XP installation CD contains a file that indicates which type of Registration Key it will accept. For example - and this is may be the opposite of your situation - you cannot use an OEM Windows XP CD to install using a full retail Registration Key; or, you cannot use an Upgrade CD using a Full installation Registration Key.

It may work if you are using an OEM installation CD to install using an OEM Registration Key.

This file can be "hacked" to make it accept the type of key you have, but it's not strictly legal. Also, some OEM versions are tied strictly to the motherboard, and these versions came pre-installed, so that no activation is ever required.

You could try the CD with your key and try installing either on another drive, if you have one to temporarily replace your current drive, or on another partition. You will find out if it "takes". However, if it does work, in this latter scenario, you would wind up with two installations of XP, and then have to delete one, and the possible dual-boot that may result.

Another option, that might be easier, would be to do a repair install. This will ask you for your key. If it accepts it, you're good to go with a clean install from scratch. The instructions for a repair install are here

Either way, make sure you backup your important data before doing anything.

Anyway, I wouldn't go overwriting my current installation until I was sure the key will work with the CD.

guaranteed · Joined: Mar 29, 2005 Posts: 9

Thank you Shadow and Claymore. I am opting to try to install to different partition or second copy to see that it will work. The system was purchased from Circuit City and came pre-installed. The restore is not in a seperate drive/folder on system so Im sure they must have given me a disk, at least a restore. The system and I have made several moves and apparently the disks did not move with me.
I think it is a shame that even though I paid for the copy of XP and lost the disk, my fault, that one has to go this far and seek help to just reinstall an OS with a valid key. Wonder what MS would be?
Thank you again,
Bruce

User: inactive Posts:

Bruce,
That's why.....

When I set up a PC for someone or have a PC in my shop for major repairs, I always make them a Restore DVD. I often keep that DVD in my own files so the customer can't loose it. You know how that goes. Laughing

Then, if there's a foul up in either Windows or with the HD itself, it only takes a few minutes to run a Restore from the DVD and everything's back to the way I originally set it up.

Is your PC so screwed up that only a complete re-install will solve the problem? If not, fix it and make yourself your own Restore disk.
There are several programs that can be used to do this,,,,,I prefer Norton's Ghost 2003.

Cheers,
Shadow Cool

Slappy Da Clown

Im pretty sure that Compaq hides the partition you are looking for. I cant remember the procedure to access it but if you contact Compa1 they will instruct you in the restore/repair process. I helped a friend who used a Compaq once & I looked forever for the partition I knew was there but had to get them to tell me about it.

Rons · Joined: Dec 07, 2002 Posts: 5667

Another option to try - repair install link:

Repair XP

Best of luck. Cool

goretsky

Hello,

Have you tried contacting Hewlett-Packard's technical support department to see if they can ship you a media kit including the discs needed to restore the operating system and any machine-specific device drivers and software?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

usasma · Joined: May 06, 2003 Posts: 5006

FWIW - I just ordered the disks for a Compaq from HP. It took about 4 days for them to arrive (and the cost was about $12 (US)).

guaranteed · Joined: Mar 29, 2005 Posts: 9

Thanks again for all the help from all. The steps I took to get system back up were as follows.
1-I used PM to make a new partition on the C Drive. I then borrowed a copy of XP from a friend with an HP/Cpq which is an original OEM Disk from manufacturer. I was able to go into the CD and find the "unattend.txt" file and the Key that was listed. I then installed xp to new partition with out problem and was not ask for a CD Key at any time.
After install I went right to WU and downloaded all updates including WGA update. I had to go back again and get SP2 along with 56 other updates which went without a problem. After SP 2 I was able to go to MS and install Windows Defender without problem. I don’t remember seeing anything about activation at all. What makes this more of mystery is that I then noticed it was a copy of Windows XP Pro SP1 that I installed. I did not need the number I pulled off the CD “unattend” file nor do I know if it would have worked should I have been ask.
I also will be calling HP as suggested to see if I can obtain a new media packet for hopefully not a large fee. I still have my original XP Home key
Again I appreciate all the help and suggestions and have learned a lot, thanks again.
Bruce

Rons · Joined: Dec 07, 2002 Posts: 5667

Glad you got it working. Cool

User: inactive Posts:

[Edited by moderator to provide direct URL to application. AG]

Glad you got your problem fixed. Here is a free program that will locate and tell you what your registration key numbers are.

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Hopefully anyone that might come here can utilize this program. It works. I tried it and it came right up with my key numbers. Wink

User: inactive Posts:

Magicjellybean includes a virus!

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747

User: inactive Posts:

Well, whether it does contain a virus or not is immaterial, because there's a ton of other programs that will display all registry Keys that are encoded on the PC, including O.E. accounts and passwords.
And those programs are clean and legal.

I have one I like that tells you everything you never wanted to know about your PC. I've put it on my download site at:
http://tools.house-tech.net In the "Computer Tools" section.

The program name is SIW.exe
If that little program doesn't tell you what you want, you don't need it. Wink

This little program replaces dozens of other programs that only give you one piece of information or another. Give it a look-see.

Cheers!
The Shadow Cool

goretsky

Hello,

Your anti-virus software probably classifies the Magic Jelly Bean Software Keyfinder program as a potentially malicious application because it can be used to locate the product ID keys to re-install various applications. In the right hands, e.g., someone who has lost their PID keys for some reason, that is a pretty useful thing to have. However, there is the possibility someone could go around using the program for less legitimate reasons, e.g., to attempt to pirate software by stealing the PID keys for it.

Regards

Aryeh Goretsky