rebooting windows xp?
 

Tomorrow I shall be buying a maxtor 250gig External HD. Like I was explaining before my PC was not set up with NTFS file compression activated. I am thinking of maybe 2 choices wondering about your opinions on the matter. Situation 1: I clean up my system of all files that aren't windows related, back up whatever I need to CD/DVD, and change my folders and files left to NTFS. Situation 2: I wipe my hd clean and reboot windows. The thing that I'm wondering is if I do step 2 I don't have a backup cd of windows it's the type that was already installed on my system. Is it really difficult to restart windows? I've never done it. Can anyone recommend that I take this on are there literature or web reference for a guy who wants to do it himself. Thanks to all my helpful homies at file forums!:D

If you go 'Situation 2' and wipe (format) your hd, then you wont be able to just 'reboot' windows!! Windows will need to be reinstalled and you wont be able to do that if you dont have a proper Windows CD!

Is your machine a branded PC? i.e. Dell, HP etc


If not how did you get Windows in the first place?

Its a hP pavillion
 

Yeah bought it at futureshop and its an HP. I know the last time I had it in the shop to have the motherboard switched it cost me 90$ cdn. to reset windows. If I have a proprietary windows shoudn't I be avle to call microsoft and say I'm reseting it?

Look in the start menu > all programs


There could be a backup disc option there to burn your OS etc to discs.


If not you should have your backup discs, they should be black since its HP (or Blue).


Your cd-key for windows should be on the side of your case anyways.

Just as DABhand says. Either you can make a backup CD from a program that HP put on your computer or it would have come with the computer. It may not say windows on the disk. Maybe something like System Restore Disc. I just bought a Sony Vaio laptop and you have to make your own backup with the program provided. It tells you how much data there is to backup and how many discs you need. I think it does a backup of the entire drive as everytime I install something the backup size gets bigger.

True dat.
 

Yeah my product code is on the side so what steps would I need to take? I can't use my HP system restore because I got rid of all that HP OS crap and now I can't reboot from those discs. I should still be able to restart my windows or not? Have you guys rebooted windows before? Where do I start?

Well since you don't have a restore disc and you got rid of the program to make one you will have to contact HP for a new disc. You can't install Windows without it.

thats not going to happen
 

Unfortunately when I bought this PC it only came with a 128mb intel integrated graphics. So I called HP and said "look I like this PC but its fundamental problem is no open graphics slot" when I informed them I was having the motherboard replaced their response was we dont want anything to do with this PC after this. Which was OK from my perspective because it had only a ****ty 3 month warrenty. What if I use my windows system restore point for a few months back when I had way less files on it and erase eveything from there?

There is only one option left, and thats to purchase a Windows XP disc, bear in mind that Home is cheaper than Pro.


If you do have any CD's that came with the PC, if I remember correctly through my shop workings, I think you press F11 during Post to start the Restore Boot Up with the CD in the drive.


Most of the time, companies like HP split your HD partition into 2 parts a huge 95% for normal use and a 5% backup partition, if you have lost that also then it will be difficult to restore.

But if you have the CD try the F11 option during POST (i.e when PC has been started)

back up XP with Nero?
 

DABhand like you were saying I have a product key for XP. Could I use like nero or something to copy XP right off my HDD?

No..

If your XP is on your hard disk it will be fragmented with your i386 folder and setup files all over your HD.

The only way of putting on the cd is to use the restore option that HP machines come with, in windows under the Start > All Programs..


If its not there then its lost.


But you did say you got a new Motherboard, so how did that windows get installed (the one you have now) onto your machine?

I would bet you could get that program from HP. Might try looking on their web site or contact customer service. There is no other way to backup Windows from your computer.

HP either ...

1. Keep an I386 folder, and several others on the main partition. Their backup software makes the cd's from this data.

2. They have a backup partition that a backup CD reads for information, like cd-key, drivers, other product information, and owner information.

I phoned HP today!
 

I called HP today heres the thing they will send me a set of system restore discs for $33.00 Cdn. I only have one reservation and didn't think of it until just now. Other than the fact my tower says HP its now got an asus motherboard and I added 2x512k ram (for a total of 1536). Will their system restore discs work with this system?

Good question.

I dont think it will be a normal windows disc they will send you.

It will be a generic restore CD which will try to recover data from the little partition I was talking about.


Shame you dont have anyone near you that you know has an HP, as the restore CD's are generic and work on all HP machines.

It's not going to worry about the extra memory, it will only look at what is on the hard drive. Yep when it installs it will do a system check to ensure all your hardware works with xp but then it will go about it's business of reinstalling

The discs they will send you for your $33 cnd will be recovery discs only and then will use your hard drive to rebuild windows for you. I think your best bet is to buy a copy of windows XP home from a computer store, they are going for approx $80 US on ebay.

personally bought windows xp from my local computer store.

Ohhhh and format NTFS when it gives you the option mate