"Greg" <Greg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1F6E0B62-B14E-4CEA-B417-3D4D1BDEACDD@microsoft.com...
>
> Is it possible to restore the HD back to factory condition without a XP
> cd?
> My current restore point goes back only a couple of months. If I remeber,
> the
> old 98 version gave you the opportunity to do so without the disk. My HD
> is
> also a mess from the kids but a CD was not provided when i bought the
> system
> 3+ years ago.
> Am I SOL?
>
> Greg
You can't reinstall, clean or repair, without some sort of install media
that matches your install key. System Restore will not help you with
this, its purpose is different.
If there was no disk, there is probably a recovery partition. This is a
terrible concept, only slightly less bad than none at all. Its flaw, of
course, is that it depends on the hard disk being in operation, and drive
failure is one of the reasons for needing it.
Power down the system, and restart it, watching carefully as the system
restarts. You may see a message about booting for recovery.
There's a company called
www.restoredisks.com that seems to offer
replacement install media for OEMs. You might check them out - I have
never used them.
If there is a recovery partition, you could clone the entire disk to a new
drive, and then run the recovery install on the new drive. Use the free
trial version of Acronis True Image, or cloning software that comes with the
drive, to do this.
HTH
-pk
>
> "peter" wrote:
>
>> You realize that no matter which method you use the programs will need to
>> be
>> reinstalled........not just copied/restored from another drive.
>> Saved work/files /data can be copied back.
>> If you have a dvd you can backup all of your saved data to DVD.......then
>> using your retail XP CD format the HD during a new install.Once that is
>> done
>> and working you will need to reinstall all of the mobo and assorted
>> hardware
>> drivers...video/sound/etc.Then reinstall all of your programs..hopefully
>> you
>> have the CD's for them..incuding your
>> anti-virus/adware/spyware..........then connect to the net and run the XP
>> updater
>> At this stage you have a "clean" machine.
>> If the kids are coming back and you expect them to "mess" it up again
>> then I
>> would buy a new HD and clone this "new clean" installation to the new HD.
>> So that the next time you can just swap HD.......
>> peter
>> "pheasant" <kiavan02@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:1YCdnZTNBNUftQvbnZ2dnUVZ_g-dnZ2d@midco.net...
>> > The box is REALLY starting to crawl. The kids have left, and I'd like
>> > to
>> > format and start fresh.
>> >
>> > Debating between an external hard drive to copy everything to, format
>> > the
>> > installed drive, adding desired programs and data back; OR just buying
>> > another hard drive removing current one, install XP on it, then put old
>> > hd
>> > back in as a second pulling off desired programs and data then
>> > formatting
>> > it.
>> >
>> > This box is 5+ years old, P4 Northwood 2GHz with 512 RDRAM and an 80GB
>> > hd.
>> > Also pre USB2 so external drive transfer would be extremely slow. Don't
>> > need anything newer/faster for us, and would like to tinker again after
>> > being away from building since the Athlon Barton pre-locked core days.
>> > Still have a couple mobile XP 2500's collecting dust.
>> >
>> > Thanks for your ideas.
>> >
>> > Mark
>>
>>