Will use Recovery CD in a moment.

Well I have a question I'm not sure if this is the right CD from Compaq, it says "Recovery CD" and their is no other CD. I have another CD which is in pure french so I'll leave that out....I just want to make sure is the Recovery CD going to reformat and reinstall my OS?

Also if it doesn't (as a backup plan) would this be legal...could I find my serial, burn winxp home install it using my cd key and like delete winxp home from the CD?

Thanks in advance....

 

burn winxp home from what?

and no its illegal to make any copies of winXP disks....even for backup..... i belive

 

Well about the Recovery CD, that was just a backup anyhow...Yeah so will that one Recovery CD fix my computer up to Day1?

 

It will just do a repair. If the PC problems you are having are OS or driver related, it may help, may not.

Everything that was on your HD should still be there when your done. I have always had bad luck with repairs and just ended up reformating.

 

So basically I need to buy a WINXP CD?

 

You are legally allowed to make ONE backup copy of any “original” media in you possession. This means that if you own music, films, games or software; you can make a single backup for personal use only.

However, If you have a Windows XP (HOME) product key associated with your Compaq PC (normally located on a holographic sticker which will be attached to the PC’s chassis), then you can use any XP (HOME) CD to install from; making sure you use YOUR key when prompted.

As for the "Recovery CD"; I’m afraid I’m not familiar with Compaq’s policy and can only guess that this CD will also contain the necessary drivers for the version of Windows your system came pre-installed with.

 

I know where that holofoil is.... Can I just d/l it off some site burn it format install and use my CD key? Oh yeah my friend has an Xp pro CD, could I use that :-\

 

No. You can’t use an XP Professional CD to install from.

(a) Because that IS illegal. You don’t own XP Professional.

(b) Because your product key will only work with XP Home. Microsoft has finally got their preverbal act together and has actually released a key system that stops the casual user from pirating their operation system.

I would never recommend downloading any dodgy software off the web. Your best bet would be to borrow a mates CD and use YOUR key. Therefore, when it comes time activate it with Microsoft, you know you’re 100% legal.

 

I would if I could but I don't think I know anyone with XP home...:-\...I'll ask around...see what turns up...Oh well thanks anyway, all I need is an xp cd now...Think I could rent one from a store, hehe?

 

Whoa Whoa Whoa!!

Compaq CD will REFORMAT. and will install the OS that your computer came with. The Restore CD i used had 2 CDs, the restore CD and the OS CD, BUT it may not be the case if the computer didnt come with 2 cds!
There is usually a bit of paper floating about with stuff about it.....

 

It has basically one restore option that I can use which is factory restore which seems to be a normal reformat...

 

yep the front page will just say "are you really really sure you want to reformat? you sure? positive? really?" kinda thing, and as you go thru the whole thing it asks you things like What operating system did your computer come with? and you select the one relevant.

Just thinking you dont want to end up s*** creek after reformatting and then you dont have an OS CD or somthing annoying like that.

 

Not sure with XP, but I had a Compaq with WinME and the entire restore was on one CD..

but as others said... it WILL reformat and start from scratch..

NO previous data will remain

 

errrr, sorry, i was wrong.

 

Mine doesn't have OS...what do I do....unless it is the CD which is in french on the cover O.O.....man am I screwed.

 

I have had to full restore twice now. the disc for my "Built For You" Compaq did not restore all drivers and programs to orginal settings. Was able though, to find on my "D" drive under folder CPQDRV.

 

"Was able though, to find on my "D" drive under folder CPQDRV."

Yeah I have that, what can I do with it?

 

Your harddrive might have two partitions, let say you have 80gb harddrive and c:\ is around 75gb and d:\ is around 5gb, it probably hidden. When you boot on restore cd, it ask you if you want to restore, it would bring your system back from day one like same day you brought it. It like reformat and reinstall. When restoring system, it should reinstall window from d:\ or hidden partition. If you delete that partition using FDISK, you lose window and restore cd wont work, it happened to me before (just for kicks) I dont know newer restore cd if it has full window installation on it without needing extra partition, but older compaq has window set up in smaller partition, some partition on some pc are hidden like Dell. Dont mess around with D:\, you need all files on that partition for restore to work. Restore cd will read that parition when you boot on it to restore.

 

If there is a hidden partition you should be okay. My IBM had one of them, buut i got rid of in favour of insalling winXP and a bit more hard drive space. No big really i think we have the IBM setup disks which make the partition.

If you got any special devices with your machine (like a matrox G450 which i know they use if you ask for "good graphics") then you'll need to download the drivers for them. But windows usually comes with failsafe drivers so you can see what your doing and install the updated drivers.