Windows XP Recovery Disk

[dirtybuck]

As I said in the "First Computer" topic, I recently acquired a "new" HP DC5100. So far, this computer had been absolutely GREAT! No problems whatsoever.

Like most older used computers, it didn't come with a recovery/back up in the form of CD/DVD. The serial number for the version of XP being used is on the side of the computer.

As luck would have it, I also have my own copy (legitimate) of XP, but with it's (of course) own different serial number (I used it once in the 256 Dell I owned, and that computer is now history at the computer recycling center).

Here's what I'd like to know...If something should happen and I need to bring things back up or do a reformat, can I use the XP disk I have and enter the number it has or the number on the side of my computer? Would it be better to make a recovery disk from the files I have in my computer now? If so, could someone please give me directions on how to make said disk using a DVD? I do NOT have a floppy drive on this computer, so making a 3.5 boot disk is a task that can't be accomplished.

Eventually, I'd like to get a new internal hard drive for this computer. More than likely the purchase will be with Amazon.com I've seen both new and used on there, and more than likely, it'll be a new one I buy. HOWEVER, is there any "danger" in buying a used drive?

Thanks for any help you guys can give me. If the details should be a bit in depth and you'd rather email me instead, please feel free to do so.

 

[launderess]

First, Does This Answer Your Question?

From MS:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654

 

[launderess]

Floppy Disks

Long have been phased out of desktops. Dell amoung others do not even offer them as an option when custom building one's own system.

I used a portable DVD/CD burner connected by USB to "burn" files from my old computer onto disks for use in the DVD/CD on my new system. Had to do this as Zip disks are also gone as well.

Do not know if MS "protects" boot disks the way it does Windows OS and other programs. Most if not all new computers do not even come with disks any longer from MS, but the stuff is preloaded. If you do get disks they are progammed to only allow one reload (or some such low number) of the OS or program. After that you have to contact MS and pay. MS made this switch years ago to cut down on piracy, well that is their story and they are sticking to it.

If you want to be totally sure of having recovery boot disks that will work with your new computer, and by that one means having all required system files and such, it is better to make a new set of disks from the "new" machine. Again this can be done easily via any decent portable CD/DVD burner such as Rabbit.

 

[coldspot]

Ok been a few years since I had a hp anything. lol But does this have a dvd and or cd burner?

If so get blank dvd or cd/s

turn on pc and hit F11 this will go to the recover menu.

Should be a choice to burn make recover dvd/cd's

More info on it here,

I think for reg cd it takes about 10 to 111 blanks for dvd it takes about 3 disk.

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&dlc=en&docname=c00810334&lc=en&printable=yes&product=447278#N29

 

[DADoES]

 
Any XP install CD can be used with any existing license key (if the key and the CD match for XP flavor -- i.e. Home, Professional, etc.) ... except in cases in which an OEM license key is tied to a specific OEM CD.

 

[applianceguy47]

Most versions of XP are no longer supported from Microsoft.  This can put your computer at risk.

 

You can get a whole new computer these days, laptop or desktop, for around $300.

 

You might want to consider that instead of trying to upgrade/update.

 

As for transferring older types of media to a new computer, there are various adapters and affordable cables that allow one to make transferring easy.

 

Best of luck to you.

 

What does it mean if Windows isn't supported? - Microsoft Support

Learn what it means if you have an older version of Windows that's no longer supported.

windows.microsoft.com

 

[lordkenmore]

"Most versions of XP are no longer supported from Microsoft."

To get support on an older version of XP one only would need to install some Service Packs.

XP support will eventually totally end. The last I heard the date was in 2014. I am sure that some--particularly Microsoft--would suggest upgrading at once. But I know a lot of people are sticking with XP for the moment. Waiting gives possible options of Windows 8 or Windows 7 at a good price. Or the (roughly) 2 years of support gives an opportunity to migrate to some non-Windows OS.

 

[lordkenmore]

"can I use the XP disk I have"

I don't honestly know.

But I am under the impression that there is one limitation--some CDs included with a computer with Windows preinstalled will only work on that brand of computers. The Windows license does not allow those CDs to be used on other systems. Basically, the idea is that the copy of Windows is a lower cost, but locked to a specific machine forever.

"HOWEVER, is there any "danger" in buying a used drive?"

There would be some risk. The used drive would be used, after all. It may be "very used."

However, I have had pretty good luck with used hard drives. I have had exactly one new hard drive my whole life--the one that came with my first computer. Most hard drives have given me more than acceptable service. But one did seem to fail pretty fast. It wasn't a complete failure, but I installed it and in less than a few months I was getting an error message saying "your hard drive will fail soon." The drive continued to work, but I did replace it just to be sure. And get rid of that annoying error message. I don't think I'd gamble on a used hard drive that cost a lot, unless it had a warranty of some sort. But when I get the hard drive cheap, I'll happily gamble.

 

[washer111]

As long as the versions are the same (i.e. same version [as in Home/Profession] and same Service Pack) you should be perfectly alright reinstalling Xp from your own disk.

HOWEVER - you may want to go to HP's own website to download the drivers for your model, or use 3rd party sites. I had an old laptop from around 2002, and the vendor still supplied the drivers for it. My old 1998 PC used Intel MB etc and they still provided Windows 98, 2000, Xp (etc) drivers!

So, preparation before disaster is the key. Get the drivers NOW, and burn them to CD (or get a friend to). THat way, when your HD or Xp installation go haywire, you have an excellent backup plan.

By the way, I know of Supermarkets who use older Toshiba TEC equipment that are still running Windows 2000 (they require rebooting if the EFTPOS/Credit Card system disconnects from the PC for whatever reason - so I've seen the boot up - a little slow though!). I'll be asking the guys in management if I'll be able to have one when they are finally replaced.

 

[qualin]

<ul>
<li>If something should happen and I need to bring things back up or do a reformat, can I use the XP disk I have and enter the number it has or the number on the side of my computer? </li>
</ul>
Microsoft has a few different "hidden" editions of Windows XP. OEM Editions (Original Equipment Manufacturer) disks use different keys than retail versions. I have encountered issues where using the CD Key stuck on the side of the computer didn't work with a retail disk.

<ul>
<li>Would it be better to make a recovery disk from the files I have in my computer now? If so, could someone please give me directions on how to make said disk using a DVD? </li>
</ul>
I personally recommend using imaging software, like Acronis True Image. Alternatively, You can use Norton Ghost. Both can make a complete image of your machine so in the event where your computer dies, you can re-image it onto a new hard drive. I also recommend buying the extra "Universal Restore" package so you can actually restore that image to different hardware if you want.

I've never been a big fan of "recovery disks" per say. Most "Big name" brands like HP, Lenovo, etc recovery disks do the following:
1. Completely wipe the entire hard drive.
2. Install the operating system. (ie. Windows XP)
3. Pre-load the drivers after the OS installation.
4. Install some bloatware (Sometimes.)

A recovery disk is not a solution for backing up your data. There are multiple solutions for backing up your data, such as:
1. Connecting up an external USB hard drive and imaging your computer to that.
2. Purchasing a cheap NAS (Network Attached Storage) device, like a D-Link DNS-323 and using that to image your computer to.
3. Burning your data manually to DVD disks using a DVD burner and CDBurnerXP.

The first option is the cheapest. The second option is a bit more expensive but much more flexible and easy to use. The Third option is tedious and manual.

<ul>
<li>I've seen both new and used on there, and more than likely, it'll be a new one I buy. HOWEVER, is there any "danger" in buying a used drive? </li>
</ul>
I would never purchase a used hard drive, just like how I would never purchase used toilet paper. Hard drives are cheap these days, it doesn't make any sense to purchase a used one.

To me, hard drives are pretty much disposable items, they're not something which should be refurbished, especially when you are trusting your data to them.

I just thought I should mention, yes, Windows XP is going out of support and will eventually no longer be supported by Microsoft. However, if the system you are using is working just fine and you are happy with it, there's no point in upgrading unless you want to use it to play the latest games.

I have two ways of protecting my data...

The first way is that I run a RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) 1 configuration which mirrors the hard drives together, so that if one should fail, I can still use the machine until I replace it.

The second way is that I back up my computer to my NAS nightly. One full backup and five incrementals. (An incremental backup is all of the files which have changed since the full backup or the last incremental taken.)

If your data stays fairly static, then burning it onto DVD's is a must. (ie. Pictures) If your data changes frequently, then using a NAS is my suggestion.

Good luck!

 

[passatdoc]

I have a computer at work that is a 2006 XP model that I use at my own desk. We also have a network in the office running Windows Server 2008 connected by thin clients. The computer I now use at my desk, not part of the network, had some file corruptions and needed to have its XP Professional system restored.

I had one copy of Win XP on CD, which I had purchased just before MS stopped selling XP---I had to reinstall this computer in August 2010 and I think I bought the XP disk in late 2008 or early 2009. After backing up important files, I reinstalled XP using the CD---and the serial number on the disk---to do a fresh install. This system still works fine.

I did not know about the Recovery Console method outlined above by Laundress. I had tried System Restore and it didn't work. The earliest Restore Points also contained the corruptions, and the previous user of the computer (before it migrated to my desk) didn't recognize the problems in time to rescue the computer with System Restore. I noticed the problem only after it became my daily driver.

Anyway, I used the CD's serial number and there were no problems. The disk was not an "upgrade" disk but rather the whole OS (you could install to a DOS computer with no OS).

Windows 2000 allowed reinstallation of the OS on multiple computers, there was no limit to the license. There used to be a store here that would sell you a computer without an MS OS (I think it was Linux) and, if you had a disk, you could install Win 2K on multiple computers. I must have installed 2K on half a dozen computers. The disk came with a new Win 2K computer purchased in 2002, and I used it to upgrade/repair/or install on a Linux computer at least half a dozen times, no problem. But with Win XP they began to limit how many installs you could do on one serial number.

 

[DADoES]

 
XP "phones home" to register and activate at MS.  License keys are not allowed to be used on multiple active systems, they won't register into MS's database.  For example, XP will detect the change and usually require re-registration/re-activation if an installation of it (boot hard drive) is moved to a different system (different hardware, motherboard).  Most cases it will do this automatically via Internet, but in some instances MS must be contacted by phone to get a key.  This may also happen if a system's motherboard goes bad and is replaced, even if it's physically otherwise the same machine.  There's a detection algorithm regards to how much hardware change can occur before re-registration is required.

Win2K does *not* "phone home" to register/activate, which is why the same license key can be used simultaneously on multiple active systems (although that does *not* mean it's legal to do so).

 

[lordkenmore]

What I'm wondering is what will happen with XP activation and registration down the road when XP is completely unsupported. Will there come a day when Microsoft refuses to allow activation?

Admittedly, once XP is unsupported, it would be a good idea for people to move to something supported for Internet. But I can see people keeping an old XP system that's isolated from the Internet for legacy software support of some sort.

 

[launderess]

MS Has To Be One Of The Most

Money greedy companies. Its no wonder Windows days as the dominate OS are numbered.

One and many others have grown weary of MS's attitude that every two or three years one *must* upgrade to whatever new OS, browser or software version they are offering *or else*. It doesn't help matters that usually these upgrades are to deal with problems and or failures in their buggy and bloated codes.

We are only on our second computer. The first system came from Dell after college (1997), and was gobsmacked to see this "no disks" and *only one* reinstall nonsense from MS. So what happens if one has major system failure or otherwise needs to reinstall the OS more than the alloted amount? Suppose MS wants you to pay, pay, and pay. But again if they fixed their buggy/bloated code and stopped releasing "new" versions of software that merely are nothing more than a group of patches and updates....

From day one every time one boots up this computer there is a message from MS's "auto-update" feature regarding "important" and "critical" updates. Tons per day. This has been going on now for over the year we've owned this new computer. Persons who've owned European built cars don't have this much trouble.

 

[washer111]

Actually, I have used the same XP disks for a 3 different systems in my house. MS doesn't mind as long as you don't try to activate more than 6 or so times per year (which I'm sure I did back in 2007 when messing around with an old(er) pc!)

Who knows what MS will do come the day XP is not supported. I'd say they might make some sort of update which ceases the activation software - meaning you have to upgrade after 30 days, but switching off updates would work fine.

I don't know why MS didn't just discontinue the activation software after they stopped selling XP. They can't lose any more money from piracy with the OS, so why bother?

Here is my 2 cents on Windows 8. There will be some sort of feature that only allows activation up to a certain date, after which your copy of the OS is unusable. That way, they can force upgrades.

I can see Mac OS and the various Linux distro's gaining speed over the next few years. I use Linux Mint 12 in a dual boot with my XP/flight sim pc. I have a Macbook Pro too for normal internet stuff!

To the OP of the thread, try and source a very recent copy of XP Pro, download the drivers for the system you have from HP, then either Slipstream these into the disc (which means you burn your own copy) or just have the drivers on disc or separate them completely. The choice is yours. I used nLite to do this for another computer in my household, and it worked great!

 

[lordkenmore]

"I don't know why MS didn't just discontinue the activation software after they stopped selling XP. They can't lose any more money from piracy with the OS, so why bother?"

They might feel there is one advantage. While they may no longer sell XP, piracy might conceivably reduce Windows 7 sales. Thus, I suspect they won't remove activation until XP is totally and completely unsupported.

 

[launderess]

Many Businesses Both Large And Small

Have told MS in many ways from Sunday they aren't interested in playing the "must upgrade to new OS every.... year).

Many consumers both business and personal did not play along with MS and switch to Vista from XP. Indeed the latter had something like 60% of the OS market (with MS OS running) while Vista never reached more than 12% IIRC. Many simply waited and jumped from XP to Windows 7. MS for awhile and or still does sell Windows 7 with an XP overlay for those that still have software and or other hardware that does not run with pure Windows 7.

You can also bet there won't be a huge rush to "upgrade" to Windows 8 later this year either.

More to the point the world is moving on from the PC, especially desktops. Kids and young people today are using their smart phones, tablets and other devices for tasks formerly requiring a PC.

 

[washer111]

I'm not the sort of person who'd be on the cell phone all day long. Its an endless money pit, much like a washing machine that continually breaks down!
If you need to talk to people so constantly on Facebook, stay at home and use the CHEAPER home ADSL! So much smarter...

I think desktops are losing speed, but they will still have a place in movie studios, home video editing locations (i.e. HD video, where laptops just aren't good enough) and for gaming. Tablets, laptops etc will be more common.

Going off topic here, but everyone used to want a small flip phones and stuff that was easy to carry around. With smart phones, we've walked back to the 90's when phones used to be quite large (square or brick-like). How is it people can survive this?
Another intersting fact: Skaters in my town all have touchscreen phones, which are constantly breaking. All the non-skaters have more standard slide/flip etc phones - once again, most are glued to them, because of Facebook. Why not do that in the evening, and actually talk to people when you are around them?

I'm an old fashioned young person, I still use cassettes for audio (when I have a working 240-110 transformer!!!) So don't shoot me!

 

[lordkenmore]

"Many consumers both business and personal did not play along with MS and switch to Vista from XP."

One thing that hurt Vista was the reputation caused by all the problems users had. Even experts had problems. I recall even reading an article describing the Vista nightmare faced by some users...who, at the end of the article, were named as Microsoft employees. (And not entry level, either.)

Although there is no doubt that people aren't interested in upgrading. In general, I've heard it said that Windows upgrades for most users are tied directly to what comes installed on a new computer.

Deciding not to bother upgrading is also probably nothing entirely new. My first computer was a Macintosh which shipped with System 6. Despite the hype of System 7 when it shipped, I decided not to bother upgrading. It did nothing new that I really needed. And it had a real cost in requiring more memory and running more slowly than System 6. I was not the only one deciding that what I had was good enough. Indeed, a year or two later, I was reading tips in MACWORLD or MACUSER about improving your Mac's speed by going back to Sytem 6 if possible.