Computer wipe issue

Justyntym

The Pessimistic Optimist
Donating Member
Registered
This bites...Have quite a few issues with an older compaq computer.
Figured it was time for a wipe and restart.

I get my computer disks and reformate HD and re-install XP.

Mind you the product code is on the side of the compaq.

Apparently the disk I used, a XP home edition...
exactly like the version originally installed in the Compaq...
is not the exact disk that goes with the Compaq
(I have had quite a few computers over the years)

So now I've got a product code snafu and can't find the
"Compaq" disk.

:banghead:

I don't get it...If the Compaq was bought and paid for
including the xp software with a valid product code...
why the *&#$ does it matter if I got an XP disk from my
other computer (of which I bought including it's software)

What the heck is the difference, XP home is XP home and I'm just
trying to put in what it originally had with it's original number.

What a bunch of crap.

Hey Microsoft....:moon:

Yeah, this'll be fun to get of hold of someone at micro...
 
There are OE installer and Retail versions.. probably the snafu.. on the upside, if you find the original install disk, it does all the work (format etc) for you..

are you sure that there is not a protected partition on the hard drive that had all the restore files?
 
The disc I had was an oem installer version...even said the product code was on the machine, that's why I thought I had the right disk.

I can not find the other one...got lot's of HP stuff and Dell but can't find any
Compaq :banghead:
 
update? did you even need the key? (download Magic Key Finder from Jellybean and save the output.. could save you some trouble down the road)
 
DOh....found the right disk

Older prebuilt rigs like the Compaq have proprietary restore disks that include motherboard, peripheral and whatnot drivers; they are specific to your model of computer and are not transferable to other machines. OEM XP/Vista is just the operating system with base drivers only.
 
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