reinstalling windows without disc

hi I have a packard bell imedia pc which i am having various problems with windows and i think the time has come for a full reinstall of windows . The problem i have is that it came with xp media center preinstalled and im at a loss how to get started with a reinstall i have a cd key on the windows sticker on the side of the pc so if some one could give me a hand just to get started it wouldbe greatly appreciated .
thanks al

 

hi no i dont have any folders called back up ive had a good look and run a search but no luck . cheers

 

righty ho cheers mate thought that might be the outcome seems a pretty crap system to sell them preinstalled then its leaves you high and dry . one last question i can borrow a windows xp installation disc off a friend but the product key i have is for xp media center do yu think this will work ( probably no chance im thinking ) . cheers for your help

 

ok thainks very much .

 

Hang on a minute, Im almost sure you mean hp, packard bell has been gone long enough that media center is not likely. If it is a hp there will be a restore partition on the hard drive, in your start/programs/ hp there will be directions to restore, you want destructive restore if you want to wipe out everything. Some one correct me if im wrong about packard bell. ed

 

Ha you beauty it is a packard bell but ive just looked at startmenu>packardbell and theres a smart restore in there , thanks for that mate seems pretty obvious now i know , wood for trees i suppose. thanks alot tunered .

 

Well to be honest i didnt know Packerd Bell was still around, glad you found it. ed

 

Also there should be an optition in the same section to burn a restore disc, this is a good idea for future problems. ed