Rob, The system probably came with a booklet detailing how to copy the recovery data ( including special drivers) from the hard drive to CD's Those are the things you need to find and use for the serial number on the case.
You may find that a full version of XP will install with the key from that CD, and if you do, you may find that the hardware all works but - you still will not have the software that was pre-installed If you cannot find those CD's then it'll cost you money Next question - Is it worth trying to fix a 3 year old? (few years) PC ? Consider buying a new one, and using the new drive you have for backups Tell the group where you live for shopping advice ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rob Sharp" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 1:53 PM Subject: Reinstalling XP Home > Morning all, > > A colleague of mine bought a Packard Bell PC a few years back that came > preloaded with XP Home. No installation media was provided (just a > Restore floppy disk). > > (I wonder how many of you can guess where I'm going here.....?) > > The hard disk had a complete failure and so he has bought a replacement. > Its all fitted and is working just fine. > > There is a sticker on the side of the case with an XP Home Product Key, > but when we enter that during the installation process it tells us that > the key is invalid. I am using a regular XP Home installation disk. > > He has the option of ordering a set of install disks from Packard Bell > (at an unknown cost at present). Do we *have* to use these disks or is > there a way to get the product key we have to be accepted by another XP > Home? > > Thanks, > > Rob > > -- > ---------------------------------------- > WIN-HOME Archives: http://PEACH.EASE.LSOFT.COM/archives/WIN-HOME.html > Contact the List Owner about anything: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Official Win-Home List Members Profiles Page > http://www.besteffort.com/winhome/Profiles.html > > -- ---------------------------------------- WIN-HOME Archives: http://PEACH.EASE.LSOFT.COM/archives/WIN-HOME.html Contact the List Owner about anything: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Official Win-Home List Members Profiles Page http://www.besteffort.com/winhome/Profiles.html
