Performing a clean install on a XP Media Version

  I have a 2 year old Pavilion on which I would like to re-install the XP Media
OS. I do have a copy of the OS (no key though) on a second drive.
How can I proceed?

Thanks
Doonie


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~ every 100 years, all new people ~

 What do you mean by "a copy of the OS on a second drive"
HP's usually have an onboard recovery system which you can access via
keystroke during POST to reinstall the system back to factory. Consult your
documentation to determine how to reload your OS.

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Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

  HP identifies the F10 key as able to a system restore, but it does nothing
when I hit it (repeatedly), rather it simply launches right into XP. I have
also been offered a replacement disk for the tidy sum of $40 from HP. This I
cannot afford. Blame it on the Old Age Security debacle...

I did however obtain a copy of the OS which was copied and is now residing
on a second drive. I have no intention of pirating or anything of the sort. I
was hoping I could get the PC to cough up the key (which I paid for quite
legally) and use both it and the copy OS to conduct a re-install. God but I
feel like I'm a criminal but surely this is both reasonable and possible? I
ask you? I would also be open to other cost effective and intelligent
solutions, in that order...
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~ every 100 years, all new people ~


"David B." wrote:

 Depending on what you mean by "a copy of the OS which was copied and is now
residing on a second drive" (you still haven't explained what this is a copy
of), If you are currently running on the original factory install you can't
use the product key that the key finders will show (this is a type of volume
key used by OEM's when they create their disk image, if you try to use it
when installing from an actually installation cd it won't accept the key)
you have to use the key that's on the COA sticker on the PC, if you don't
have that your probably SOL.

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Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 
You can find the product ID here:
Start>Run type regedit, find this key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
Look at the value ProductId.



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