Losing my hard-drive virginity

April 9, 2009 5:14 AM

n00bfilter: formatting hard drive, need all the help I can get! Specifically with Windows XP. everything inside...

So I have a nice computer that is about 5 years old and is in dire need of a fresh start. I'm relatively tech-savvy but have never done this before.

Here is what I need:
1. My brother formatted this computer sometime in the distant past, or did something, and for this reason my computer is running an unvalidated copy of Windows XP Pro. I do not have a windows installation cd. How do I get one without paying? (Maybe this is a politically incorrect question to be asking; if so, I apologize).

2. Because of the explained reasons, my computer doesn't have Office, and I would really like to have office after I reformat, how do I do this if I don't have a CD?

3. You guys probably have a lot more experience, so other than following a lot of internet guides, what should I know going into this? What problems might I encounter and how do I know how to handle them?

4. My house is linked up with a wireless router. My computer is hooked up via cable, but there is another laptop in the house that accesses the internet wirelessly. Will it be able to surf the web even while I format my desktop computer?

5. Related internet question: How problematic is it going to be to get the internet up and running again on the computer after I format? Specifically, what are the steps to getting reconnected to the web?

Important information:
I have 512mb installed memory, 80 gig hard drive, 2.4 gigahertz Pentium 4, I have my current XP version's CD key but as I mentioned it's not a legit copy and I don't have it on a cd.
I do have all the cds for the hardware that's currently connected to my computer (mainly my printer). Also used Belarc adviser to figure out everything I need, and burned all the stuff I want to back up onto DVDs.

So, now what?

posted by alona to computers & internet (15 comments total)

Sounds legit. So now what you do is go to Walmart and steal a WinXP CD. Then insert it and run through the installation.

Or maybe you should download a Ubuntu install CD.
posted by McGuillicuddy at 5:28 AM on April 9

It's *totally* not what you asked, but in this brief period when you're willing to trash your disc to start afresh, please burn a Ubuntu CD and install it for one day, just to try. When you're done with the experiment, you can go back to Windows.

But, you may just decide not to. It would solve or avoid problems 1 through 5, all without paying a dime or ever having a virus again.

Download. Burn to CD. Boot the CD. Let us know how it goes.
posted by cmiller at 5:29 AM on April 9 [2 favorites has favorites]

MS Office is a separate suite of programs, not part of the operating system. You get Office by installing Office, but it doesn't sound like you have it to install, and it's not free. You might look at OpenOffice, which is a free alternative.
posted by jon1270 at 5:32 AM on April 9

I don't think we can help you validate a pirated copy of XP. If you know someone in college, I would suggest asking them to buy you a version at their school. I know at my university we used to be able to buy (very legit) copies of XP at the school store for something ludicrously cheap like $10.

Your other computer should be able to surf the internet while you reformat, yes. It can surf when your desktop is off, yes?

A lot of the trouble in getting back up & running after a reformat is finding and installing all the necessary drivers (especially if you want to get internet connectivity), so make sure you have all your networking drivers...
posted by gushn at 5:39 AM on April 9

Firstly, tried ubuntu and for my needs it's not 100%.
Secondly, I work with office a lot in Hebrew and I've tried OpenOffice and it does not make nice with Hebrew.
posted by alona at 5:41 AM on April 9

3. You guys probably have a lot more experience, so other than following a lot of internet guides, what should I know going into this? What problems might I encounter and how do I know how to handle them?

IF you have an XP install CD, the process of reformatting your computer is really simple. It might take hours, and you'll have to answer several questions and stuff at various prompts (the defaults should be just fine).

Also: after you format, depending on the age of your hardware, you may need to install hardware drivers (though when I formatted my laptop most of my stuff worked out of the box, but this is a desktop, so YMMV). If it's 5 years old you shouldn't have a problem, but bear in mind that your hardware might not all work without some time updating online. Better yet, make sure you have any CDs that came with the desktop and keep them handy.

(Note: on preview, what gushn said. )

Go to (IIRC) Control Panel > System > Hardware Options > Hardware Manager and see if there's anything that says 'disabled' or similar, if not, you're good to go. If not, pop in the relevant CDs and stuff.

4. My house is linked up with a wireless router. My computer is hooked up via cable, but there is another laptop in the house that accesses the internet wirelessly. Will it be able to surf the web even while I format my desktop computer?

Shouldn't be a problem. The router should not be dependent on your desktop for internet access, but the other way around.

5. Related internet question: How problematic is it going to be to get the internet up and running again on the computer after I format? Specifically, what are the steps to getting reconnected to the web?

Again, shouldn't be a problem. Just plug in (you may have to answer more prompts, but nothing complex). If your network card isn't detected you're in trouble, but I don't know how likely that is.
posted by Xany at 5:51 AM on April 9

Looks like you're going to HAVE TO rob WalMart then. You should grab the MS Office CDs while you're at it. That's how real tech savvy folks roll.

ברוכים הבאים לאתר העברי של אופן אופיס OpenOffice.org.il
posted by McGuillicuddy at 5:53 AM on April 9

Ah, I'm eating a lot of shit for the pirated winxp thing. And I guess I kinda deserve it, but like I said this is my first time doing a lot of these things so I don't really know what's out there, which is why I am turning to you guys. So as for the openoffice hebrew thing, that is very very helpful so thankyou :)
posted by alona at 6:00 AM on April 9

(PS: No WalMart in Israel, so even THAT's not possible)
posted by alona at 6:00 AM on April 9

Call/email your computer manufacture and see if they can send valid copies of the original software for a nominal fee. It won't hurt to try at least...

If you have the serial number for XP, call up microsoft and explain your situation. Next time you format, download magical jellybean key finder and jot down your serials before you wipe http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

If all else fails I do second the idea to try Ubuntu. The OS is free, it includes open office which will read/write office files.
posted by glenno86 at 6:04 AM on April 9 [1 favorite has favorites]

To be clear, I don't object to pirating MS or robbing Walmart.

You could try downloading the Opera browser on your laptop and doing a google search for something like "windows xp torrent". Opera has a built in BitTorrent client. Check the comments at isohunt or whatever tracker site you use and look for an install CD that people say is good and download it. It's probably as reliable as any legitimately ganked WinXP.
posted by McGuillicuddy at 6:13 AM on April 9

[To be super clear, "help me pirate XP, and, hey, Office too" is not an okay question. People here trying to help you with alternate approaches there and trying to answer your other points are being awfully nice and I'm gonna leave this up, but let's cut the "pirate/steal it" stuff right now.]
posted by cortex at 7:13 AM on April 9

yeah, pirating wasn't my direct intention, i was looking more for what glenno86 said, or solutions like ubuntu but something which i haven't tried (although people are starting to convince me ubuntu is a good idea)
posted by alona at 7:15 AM on April 9

What is the brand and model number of the machine? If it is a Dell, you might be in luck, so long as you can get your hands on a Dell Windows Recovery Disk. The Dell versions of Windows XP do not require activation when installed on Dell machines (I assume it's some kind of license agreement between Dell and Microsoft). Furthermore, drivers for the onboard hardware for Dells are generally easy to find.

If you don't have access to one of those disks, I'd say either buy a legit copy of XP or give Ubuntu a shot.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 8:37 AM on April 9

The computer probably has a "Windows Proof of License" sticker on it somewhere with the product key for the version of Windows that shipped with the computer

You need to get that version; call the manufacturer, they should be able to issue you a replacement installation CD at a nominal cost
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 9:34 AM on April 9