Topic: Re-installing XP - no cd - How?

[Ian]

The HD on my laptop just died. I just performed the necessary surgery and fitted a new one.

It's a Sony Vaio and comes with 2 'Recovery Discs' - which upon booting give the error message

 'Cannot use this utility for your computer. Confirm the model type.'

XP Pro was previously pre-installed - the license label is on the base. I purchased the laptop from a maistream retailer so everything's legit.

How can I get XP back without having to purchase another OS?

[Simon]

Until someone more technical comes along, my first thought, Ian, is to see if you can borrow an installation CD.  I believe there are other ways to create a bootable installation CD, but I think you need to be able to copy the files from an existing installation.  Do you have another working PC with XP Pro on it?

[Sandra]

You need to acquire a copy of XP pro, then use the serial key off the sticker on the base.

Bit Torrents is your friend, if you know what I mean 

[Ian]

  Do you have another working PC with XP Pro on it?

Yes - how do I make the cd?

Sandra - I did the bittorrent thing but it doesn't like my product key.
I downloaded a key generator and it's installing OK as I type. Can I change the key later to my legit one?

[Simon]

Do you have another working PC with XP Pro on it?

Yes - how do I make the cd?

It's all way beyond me, Ian, but this may help:-

http://www.easydesksoftware.com/recovery.htm

Also, the version of XP you downloaded is probably a newer one than was originally installed, so will have service packs, etc, included.  This is possibly why your existing product key doesn't work.  I'm afraid I don't know how to change it, but Sandra may be able to help.  The problem with 'generated' keys is that you may not be able to activate Windows once it's installed, or it may stop working after activation.  Again, Sandra may be able to help there.  The best solution might have been to borrow a CD of the same version you originally had installed.  The link above might help, but unlike me, you'll need to have some sort of clue what you're doing. 

[Sandra]

I dont know if this method works for all versions of XP or just the corporate one :

To change the key in Microsoft Windows XP Corporate Select without reformatting, do the following:

1. Run RegEdit and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Cu
rrentVersion\WPAEvents.
2. Double-click "oobetimer" and change one digit to deactivate Windows.
3. Go to Start, Run, and type in "%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a".
4. Use the second option to change your product key and type in your new volume license key.
5. Close the window, reboot, and run the command in Step 3 again to verify activation (you should see "Windows has already been activated").

It wont be because its a different "age" of XP with updates as I recently instaled XP home in SP 2 on a pc which only had a serial for XP home with SP 1 on it.
More likely its a corporate version or one of the other XP pro variants.

You could try using the phone option and see if they give you the activation code that may work with your legit serial number but I am not sure if that will work if its a different version of XP pro thats installed or not 

[davy51]

To change the key in Microsoft Windows XP Corporate Select without reformatting, do the following:

1. Run RegEdit and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Cu
rrentVersion\WPAEvents.
2. Double-click "oobetimer" and change one digit to deactivate Windows.
3. Go to Start, Run, and type in "%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a".
4. Use the second option to change your product key and type in your new volume license key.
5. Close the window, reboot, and run the command in Step 3 again to verify activation (you should see "Windows has already been activated").



this works for xp pro
they will probably have to make the call if he changed any hardware

or find a new key

[Ian]

Well it's good news here.

Cutting a long story short, I eneded up phoning MS (amazing really as it was the middle of the night at the weekend)
and going through the manual validation process. They were slightly bemused to hear that XP was already up and running, but eventually gave me the green light at their end.

I did attempt the registry fix first, but got a bit lost at 'change one digit to deactivate Windows' - which one digit?

Anyway alls well and all that...

Thanks to all who helped.

Now it's off to validate Office - Hi Ho and all that   

[Simon]

Glad it's sorted, Ian, and Merry Christmas to you!   

[Sandra]

Good news Ian.
The change one digit is any of them, I think I used to change the first one, just changed it from 1 to 2.
That was back in the pre SP 1 days so I may have forgotten exactly which one.