HP Laptop with XP Home

[Fingolfin269]

I just received a free HP laptop (about two years old) that is loaded with XP Home. The computer is extremely sluggish and based on the fact that I see a limewire icon on the desktop I'm pretty sure I know why. I can't even get the thing to download updates to windows defender or spybot so I am just going to wipe it.

Here is the problem. I do not have the OEM/HP restore discs. I can right click on my computer and get the key but I am not sure if I would be able to type in an OEM key if I did a reinstall using a full/upgrade version bought in a store OR if I use someone else's OEM copy.

Does anyone have any ideas short of purchasing a new copy of XP? I would also like to avoid ordering new restore discs unless it is the only possible way since I would like to have use of the laptop this weekend.

Thanks.

*****UPDATE******

XP Home may be a no go. I could try it but since I can't find the damn CoA on the machine I don't feel like going through what will probably be a lot of trouble to get this going.... SOOOO.......

Linux? I've never used it and have always wanted to. All I want this thing to do is surf the net via wireless adapter and that's it. How tough will this be? Where can I go to get started?

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
I just received a free HP laptop (about two years old) that is loaded with XP Home. The computer is extremely sluggish and based on the fact that I see a limewire icon on the desktop I'm pretty sure I know why. I can't even get the thing to download updates to windows defender or spybot so I am just going to wipe it.

Here is the problem. I do not have the OEM/HP restore discs. I can right click on my computer and get the key but I am not sure if I would be able to type in an OEM key if I did a reinstall using a full/upgrade version bought in a store OR if I use someone else's OEM copy.

Does anyone have any ideas short of purchasing a new copy of XP? I would also like to avoid ordering new restore discs unless it is the only possible way since I would like to have use of the laptop this weekend.

Thanks.

Search for a Torrent link to HP Windows XP Home CD. I did the same for a Dell Laptop I needed a disk for when I had a good key COA and license. If you get the proper CD Home or Pro it won't even ask for a key during the reinstall. Good Luck.

pcgeek11

 

[bruceb]

If you have an OEM XP CD then yes, you can use that with the HP Key and it should
work fine as long as the CD you have is the same version (OEM Home or OEM Pro)

You may need the drivers for the HP to reinstall them .. suggest you visit the HP site
and download and burn to a cd all the latest drivers for your machine before you
try to reinstall the OS

 

[Fingolfin269]

I downloaded all of the system drivers last night in anticipation of finding a work around so I am set there.

So, based on what I'm reading here, if I reinstall using any OEM XP Home disc I will be okay? Or do I need to get an HP Xp Home disc to be safe?

 

[bruceb]

Any OEM XP Home cd will work ... if you do get the HP Restore cd's
then it will reinstall everything to an "As Shipped" condition complete
with all the extra junk that pc makers like to install ... most of it not needed

You can buy Original Restore CDs from here .. not too costly:

http://www.restoredisks.com/

 

[jscarrozzo]

download the nic card driver or modem(whichever way you get on the net). reinstall windows, install the driver, got to device manager and see what your missing, get onto hp.com and download the rest. Sometimes XP takes care of the drivers, and this could save you some time. Remember to get the drivers before activating. I believe your key is tied in with what hardware is installed on the machine.

 

[TG2]

Yep, you should be able to use any XP Home OEM CD to install using the CDKey on the bottom of the laptop.
You probably wont be able to activate over the INternet, but a quick call to MS will get it activated

 

[Fingolfin269]

Well, I ran into an issue. All I have is the laptop and a bunch of crap has been scraped off the bottom. I know my xp copy currently on here is legit but bleh I can't even get anything cleaned off enough on it in order to even install a spyware remover. It has enough trouble just allowing me to pull up the start menu.

Anyway, I want to be legit but do not want to buy yet another copy of xp. So, does anyone have any Linux suggestions? This thing is 2.0ghz or so and 256mb of ram. All I want to be able to do is surf the net. I've never used Linux but this seems like as good a place as any to start assuming I can find drivers. Anyone have any pointers?

 

[TonyRic]

Ubuntu, it will pick up everything automatically, except for *MAYBE* your wireless. For that, you can go to ubuntuforums.com for that. Not difficult, just be plugged into your network when you install so you can download your updates.

 

[bruceb]

Try booting into SAFE Mode .. run Everest Home Edition or Belarc Advisor
both are on majorgeeks.com and other sites ... you may be able to recover
the Windows Key from the hard drive .. the system still boots into XP right ? ?

Belarc Advisor will give you the PRODUCT ID of XP and also the installation
License Key that was used when it was installed

Once you have the key & product ID then you can reinstall the os

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: bruceb
Try booting into SAFE Mode .. run Everest Home Edition or Belarc Advisor
both are on majorgeeks.com and other sites ... you may be able to recover
the Windows Key from the hard drive .. the system still boots into XP right ? ?

Belarc Advisor will give you the PRODUCT ID of XP and also the installation
License Key that was used when it was installed

Once you have the key & product ID then you can reinstall the os

I'll give this a try even though I'm enjoying reading up on ubuntu in those forums. And yes, the system does still boot just fine it's just that I could run a marathon by the time I'm even able to pull up a command line.

Yes, it's that bad.

 

[phisrow]

If you boot the latest Ubuntu install CD, it will give you a standard liveCD environment. If you poke about in there you should get a better idea of what hardware you have, and how it plays with linux.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Umm lame. I installed Ubuntu because it seemed fairly straightforward but this thing is kind of annoying. Just how much work does someone have to do to get WPA enabled wireless that will work with a USB adapter? I mean really, this should be one of the most sold USB adapters on the market (it's a Linksys) so you would think.....

Okay, this is a slight vent coming from a person who used to think that Windows sucks but now understands just how nice a streamlined system can be. It's easy to pick on the big guy. Ugh I want this freaking headache to go away.