How can I re-load Windows XP

[Woodbug]

My computer is all over the place and takes ages to respond to anything and displays pages at random. I saved everything on an out-drive, but cant re-load Windows XP. The message says the version I'm trying to load is older than the current one, but its the same one.

How can I clear the whole system and reload windows to start over? Any help will be greatly appreciated

[PseFrank]

Hi Woodbug,

 

Your details say your operating system is Windows Vista...is this an error, or is this another computer?

 

What is the make and model of the computer in question?

 

Is the operating system disk you are trying to use the same disk that was used to load the current operating system?

 

Sorry about the questions, but please supply the details asked for.

[Woodbug]

Hi Frank, Thanks for your reply. My system is XP and not Vista - no idea where this came from! My computer is a DELL Optiplex GX280. It is slow and constantly freezing so I need to clear it and reload the XP disk again. It is not the same disk that came with the computer, as it was already loaded it's one I already have.

Can you help from here please?

[PseFrank]

Thankyou for the pointers in your post Marcelus, but I'm afraid that unless the operating system disk that Woodbug has is licenced to that particular computer (Or is brand new...never been installed) then a clean install will probably not be possible.

 

Others here may wish to comment further on the above point.

 

Woodbug....There are other things that you can try to get your computer running properly again..

 

1) Clean out temporary files: Click Start > Run and type %temp% in the box provided. Select all of the files and delete them.

Note: If any of the files are in use, you will not be able to delete those particular ones. Don't worry about those...just leave them.

 

2) Run a full scan with your resident Antivirus program (I'm assuming you do have AV installed)

 

3) Run the Windows disk defragmenter tool: Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter

Note: This can take a long time...Maybe several hours!

 

4) Clean out the temporary files from your browser: You'll find an option to do this via the Tools menu.

 

Let us know if the above suggestions improve things for you. If not you may well have malware on your computer. If this is the case then we can hand you over to our resident malware expert.

[Synapse]

I agree, you should only use the Windows CD that came with the computer, its Microsoft's rules!

 

Also, your machine was shipped with either XP Home or Pro depending on its intended use. Both have two versions, OEM and Retail, and the serial number printed on the COA will only work on correct version. Your spare CD could be any of those and once the install has started there is no going back - you could end up with a part install and a serial number that will not work.

 

Dell's often have a recovery partition, accessed by pressing Ctrl and F11 together on boot up - give it a try. If that doesn't work, try a company called Gennersales (cheaper than Dell and legit) if you are in the UK, or Dell for a recovery CD.

[Woodbug]

Hi All,

 

I have the code for the XP that was loaded in the computer when I bought it, but don't know how to re-install as I didn't get a disc with it. The disc I have is a genuine one with a code that I purchased and installed on a different computer. I don't doubt those greedy s*ds at Microsoft will consider it a crime if I use it in another machine, so can anyone tell me how I can re-activate the existing windows programme using the code I have for the installed version. Sorry if I appear a bit dim, but computers are really not my thing. Thanks for all your help.

 

Woodbug.

[RandyL]

Hi.

The support manuall for your DELL Optiplex GX280 makes no mention of a rcovery partition. It does however state that you need the CD to reinstall XP on page 30.

 

To reinstall Windows XP, you need the following items:

• Dell™ Operating System CD

• Dell Drivers and Utilities CD

You must use Windows XP Service Pack 1 or later when you reinstall Windows XP.

 

As it appears there is no recovery partition on your hard drive to reinstall from and you don't have the recovery/reinstallation disks that should have come with your computer then there are only two or three options.

 

1. Contact Dell to get the disks if they are still avaialable.

2. Buy a full retail XP version which will cost more.

3. Buy a legal recovery/reinstallation disk for your particular computer from a third party.

 

As your code is tied to this particular machine you will probably need the Dell disk for the code to work. This is the way most OEM computers work. You can only use the code on that computer and only with the original OEM disk which you don't have.

 

To summarize:

You need the Dell disks that match your code or a full version.