Win XP licence but no disk....how to reinstall?

D

Dutchuncle777

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2012
Messages
202
Reaction score
0
Location
Cape Town
I have received an old HP Compaq NX9010 laptop circa 2003. It came with WinXp pre-installed and has a licence key on the underbody.


As I could not get any help from either Microsoft or HP, I have formatted the drive and installed Ubuntu 11.10, which is fine as I was using LibreOffice on Windows already, until the Windows installation became corrupted.


I really do miss Nokia PC Suite and wanted to have my Windows fixed. I was offered a CD with Win XP SP2 on it and it was said not to need my licence key. As I was unsure about the legal aspect, I did not accept the CD at all.


Even though retired/disabled and not using the laptop for commercial ends, what does the WinXP licence allow for? Is there anyone with a legit, cost free solution? I am in Cape Town.

I use no pirated software, no illegaly copied media, etc. The laptop has a Pentium4M CPU 2:8GHz, 1gig RAM and a 40gig hard drive.
 
Nope, if you are unwilling to get yourself a copy (needs to be the right version for the key you have, you can check this on line) you are screwed.
 
If it is an OEM version of XP you will only be able to install from the OEM version, forget trying the retails versions - Try and locate an XP disk that came with different HP laptop and see if that helps. This would be the XP install that looks identical to the retail XP. It is NOT the Recovery Disk.
 
Here are your options...

1. Struggle to get (and pay for a) key or a copy of XP
2. You could just ask me for a key...
3. Download a copy off the internet (yes I know its illegal but you have no other choice)
 
Same here.
Had original packaging and key of legally bought disk but disk is lost.
When I picked up a boot virus I had to format and reinstall with 'disk free' Win 7.
If I could get a replacement disk I would have gone that route instead since you are essentially paying for the licence to use the software and not the actual disk.
 
there is a site that will tell you what version of windows it is and then just torrent the cd/dvd
 
Thanks for all the advice. My other laptop came with 7 ultim8 but I disliked it and formatted with Linux Mint. As I intended to get an iPhone, I would have used myphoneDesktop as a ''pc suite'' app. Apple peeved me and I decided to stay with Nokia instead. Apple & Android's user tracking and unsafe ''approved'' apps aren't to my liking.

if only Nokia will wake up and port OVI Suite to Linux. At least it now supports Lumia on Windoze so my next buy will be a Win laptop and a Lumia.
 
Provide the copy you are using whether downloaded, acquired off an enterprise software server, copied from a friend, is not "cracked" and you use the legitimate key provided with the machine there is nothing illegal at play. The EULA is what licenses not the media itself. Hell Microsoft ships vista and 7 DVDs which are general Oem installations and the correct edition is selected and checked by serial key.
 
You can use any version of the Home or Pro discs. Simply enter in the key and use the automated number Microsoft's Activation service pop-up will give you to phone the machine, punch in the numbers required and enter in the code given to you to activate the software. So long as the disc you're using has no viruses or trojans, which is usually the case with a lot of downloaded ISOs, then you'll be fine. You can even install the OS on a new hard drive and then pay R300 for a brand new copy of Windows 8. Might as well beef up the RAM as well. Make sure you use a 32-bit disc, as Windows XP was the second-last OS to require separate keys for the different bit-versions of the software, but then again only Professional had 64-bit as an option anyway. Vista also had this issue but Windows 7 and 8 allows you to swap keys between 64 and 32-bit installs, provided they're on the same machine.

Oh, and if you wanted PC Suite to badly, you can install VMWare player, use the XP license key to install XP in a virtual machine and work with PC suite through there, with the virtual machine able to access your USB ports directly.

But that's a long-winded way to do it. Just install XP and use LibreOffice in there.
 
Last edited:
UncleDutchie, you can buy legal copy of XP Pro from me for R0,01 "giggle"

I had it on a machine that died. Can send to you. What area are you in?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X