You really need to read whatever documentation came with the system. Many systems have a 'recovery partition, but:
That partition may include any combination of: OEM Windows install CD image Image of the installed, but not specialised OS partition ( which will be used to overwrite the existing contents of the normal OS partition) A list of drivers appropriate for the hardware used to make-up the PC system A set of drivers needed for a normal Windows OS install to control the hardware If you have any windows 2K or Xp OS disk then you should be able to get the system to boot from it, and use that to see what partitions there are on the hard drive Expect a 'recovery' partition to be about 2Gb max, and possibly hidden You will probably find that the CD labelled "The software is already installed on your computer. Us this CD to reinstall the software". contains either an OEM windows CD, or an image of the required OS installation If it also says "One says Drivers, Utilities and Applications" then it is probably just the extra bits needed for an install from a windows CD onto that particular hardware. Next clue - is there a sticker on the system that gives a windows code If not, then you will probably need to have a windows CD. If so that indicates that there was no windows CD supplied with the system, and the recovery files were/are on the hard drive - some systems allow the user to move the recovery files from the hard drive to a DVD, or set of CD's Expect to have to enter a windows code when you re-create the OS partition. If your system is still working enough to use Windows Explorer and/or Manage - Storage Management (right click My Computer ) then you can probably use those to look at what's on the hard drive and CD's BUT - You should NOT format the partition The restore facility will do whatever is needed, JimB ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Dykes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 5:09 PM Subject: Re: Can't Access Microsoft Page > When I opened the message, I found that Carl Houseman had written: > > > You should have another CD for re-installing the OS. If not, you may have > > to ask Dell to send you one. And possibly pay for it. (If you didn't > > receive an OS "restore CD" you should have been prompted to create one when > > the system was first turned on.) > > > After installing the OS, you install the add-on software from "drivers > > utilities and applications". > > I remember once that I changed the OS on an HP and it never worked > correctly since......I think I still have the sucker. > > I'm wondering if this would also be true of the Laptop? > > If I wiped it out, installed XP and the rest of whatever I want on it, if it > would work correctly? > > Thanks for your help, Carl. > > Regards, > > Jim > > -- > ---------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Is your picture included in the Official Win-Home List Members Profiles Page? > http://www.besteffort.com/winhome/Profiles.html > If not, write to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -- ---------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Is your picture included in the Official Win-Home List Members Profiles Page? http://www.besteffort.com/winhome/Profiles.html If not, write to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
