Windows XP reinstall

February 29, 2008

Hi there,

my laptop is a second hand IBM x30 which has its oem copy of windows

XP... which is dying a sorry death thanks to a variety of viruses. I

have attempted to clean the computer but have come to the conclusion

that it would be much more time effective to just copy my files off,

scan them on my other computer and then reinstall windows.

The problem I have is I don't have the IBM install disk. Now the

laptop obvioulsy has its own lisence attached to the case (microsoft

sticker on the underside with product lisence key). I do have a non

OEM copy of Windows XP with Service pack 2 (i.e not a manufacturer or

machine model specific install disk but a microsoft windows xp disk)

but this is lisenced for my desktop. Therefore - the question I have

is, can i use this disk to install windows on my laptop, then use the

code on the sticker on the base of the laptop to lisence the install

correctly.

Secondly, if this is the case... the sticker states 'microsoft windows

xp 1-2cpu edition'. Is this a special version of windows xp or will I

be able to install my normal copy of XP with that lisence.

I would be very grateful for you input.

Thanks - Jon :)

February 29, 2008

Re: Windows XP reinstall

jonmsm@googlemail.com wrote:

> Hi there,

>

> my laptop is a second hand IBM x30 which has its oem copy of windows

> XP... which is dying a sorry death thanks to a variety of viruses. I

> have attempted to clean the computer but have come to the conclusion

> that it would be much more time effective to just copy my files off,

> scan them on my other computer and then reinstall windows.

>

> The problem I have is I don't have the IBM install disk. Now the

> laptop obvioulsy has its own lisence attached to the case (microsoft

> sticker on the underside with product lisence key). I do have a non

> OEM copy of Windows XP with Service pack 2 (i.e not a manufacturer or

> machine model specific install disk but a microsoft windows xp disk)

> but this is lisenced for my desktop. Therefore - the question I have

> is, can i use this disk to install windows on my laptop, then use the

> code on the sticker on the base of the laptop to lisence the install

> correctly.

>

> Secondly, if this is the case... the sticker states 'microsoft windows

> xp 1-2cpu edition'. Is this a special version of windows xp or will I

> be able to install my normal copy of XP with that lisence.

>

> I would be very grateful for you input.

>

> Thanks - Jon :)

Your retail version will not work. You should have a hidden partition on

your drive to put the computer back to factory specs. Look at your

laptop's manual to see how to restore.

Alias

February 29, 2008

Re: Windows XP reinstall

On 29 Feb, 10:37, Alias <al...@aliasmail.com> wrote:

> jon...@googlemail.com wrote:

> > Hi there,

>

> > my laptop is a second hand IBM x30 which has its oem copy of windows

> > XP... which is dying a sorry death thanks to a variety of viruses. I

> > have attempted to clean the computer but have come to the conclusion

> > that it would be much more time effective to just copy my files off,

> > scan them on my other computer and then reinstall windows.

>

> > The problem I have is I don't have the IBM install disk. Now the

> > laptop obvioulsy has its own lisence attached to the case (microsoft

> > sticker on the underside with product lisence key). I do have a non

> > OEM copy of Windows XP with Service pack 2 (i.e not a manufacturer or

> > machine model specific install disk but a microsoft windows xp disk)

> > but this is lisenced for my desktop. Therefore - the question I have

> > is, can i use this disk to install windows on my laptop, then use the

> > code on the sticker on the base of the laptop to lisence the install

> > correctly.

>

> > Secondly, if this is the case... the sticker states 'microsoft windows

> > xp 1-2cpu edition'. Is this a special version of windows xp or will I

> > be able to install my normal copy of XP with that lisence.

>

> > I would be very grateful for you input.

>

> > Thanks - Jon :)

>

> Your retail version will not work. You should have a hidden partition on

> your drive to put the computer back to factory specs. Look at your

> laptop's manual to see how to restore.

>

> Alias- Hide quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

HI, thanks for the reply. It doesn't appear to have the partition

(althought I know what you mean, I have seen it on previous laptops I

have owned) so maybe the previous owner has reinstalled it without the

original CD :-S

Is there a way round this short of getting a new copy of windows

altogether with a new code as it would seem a bit crazy being that the

laptop does own its own liscence.

Thank you again - I look forward to hearing from

Jon :D

February 29, 2008

Re: Windows XP reinstall

jonmsm@googlemail.com wrote:

> On 29 Feb, 10:37, Alias <al...@aliasmail.com> wrote:

>> jon...@googlemail.com wrote:

>>> Hi there,

>>> my laptop is a second hand IBM x30 which has its oem copy of windows

>>> XP... which is dying a sorry death thanks to a variety of viruses. I

>>> have attempted to clean the computer but have come to the conclusion

>>> that it would be much more time effective to just copy my files off,

>>> scan them on my other computer and then reinstall windows.

>>> The problem I have is I don't have the IBM install disk. Now the

>>> laptop obvioulsy has its own lisence attached to the case (microsoft

>>> sticker on the underside with product lisence key). I do have a non

>>> OEM copy of Windows XP with Service pack 2 (i.e not a manufacturer or

>>> machine model specific install disk but a microsoft windows xp disk)

>>> but this is lisenced for my desktop. Therefore - the question I have

>>> is, can i use this disk to install windows on my laptop, then use the

>>> code on the sticker on the base of the laptop to lisence the install

>>> correctly.

>>> Secondly, if this is the case... the sticker states 'microsoft windows

>>> xp 1-2cpu edition'. Is this a special version of windows xp or will I

>>> be able to install my normal copy of XP with that lisence.

>>> I would be very grateful for you input.

>>> Thanks - Jon :)

>> Your retail version will not work. You should have a hidden partition on

>> your drive to put the computer back to factory specs. Look at your

>> laptop's manual to see how to restore.

>>

>> Alias- Hide quoted text -

>>

>> - Show quoted text -

>

> HI, thanks for the reply. It doesn't appear to have the partition

> (althought I know what you mean, I have seen it on previous laptops I

> have owned) so maybe the previous owner has reinstalled it without the

> original CD :-S

>

> Is there a way round this short of getting a new copy of windows

> altogether with a new code as it would seem a bit crazy being that the

> laptop does own its own liscence.

>

> Thank you again - I look forward to hearing from

>

> Jon :D

You'll need to call IBM and get the restore disk. Nothing else will work

that's Windows anyway. You could use Ubuntu, an excellent Open Source

operating system. Check it out at http://www.ubuntu.com/ Run the live CD before

installing it to make sure it will work with your hardware.

Alias

February 29, 2008

Re: Windows XP reinstall

jonmsm@googlemail.com wrote:

> HI, thanks for the reply. It doesn't appear to have the partition

> (althought I know what you mean, I have seen it on previous laptops I

> have owned) so maybe the previous owner has reinstalled it without the

> original CD :-S

>

> Is there a way round this short of getting a new copy of windows

> altogether with a new code as it would seem a bit crazy being that the

> laptop does own its own liscence.

The best solution is to call IBM (Lenovo) tech support and get the restore

disks. If this doesn't work, you can use a generic OEM install disk that

matches the version of XP preinstalled (Home/Pro/Media Center). With a

generic OEM you will use the Product Key from the sticker on the bottom of

the laptop. If you don't want to purchase XP, a local computer professional

will have a generic OEM and be able to install Windows for you using your

key. Of course, this will not be free.

So I would call IBM first.

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com

Don't Panic!

February 29, 2008