Reformatting Questions

SoonerMan

I don't have a SP2 CD for this computer specifically, but I do have one for a laptop. I know it doesn't matter (PC or notebook) its used on, but can I use the one that came with the notebook to reformat my PC and just use my key from the PC?

Also, as far as a drivers go... I seem to be having a huge problem with my Plug-N-Play. I simply want to reinstall all of the drivers and reformatting just seems to be a good idea anyway. Where are all of these drivers located? Are they installed WITH Windows XP or are they on another CD that came with the respective computers?

Thanks in advance.

SoonerMan

Help. Please.

Snowcone

*Deep breathe*

There are a few types of XP CDs (OEM, Retail, Volume License) and as long as the key you have for your other computer is the same as the one that came with your laptop (OEM more than likely) you can use that media with the other key.

To address your other question about drivers will require knowing if it's a custom built machine or an OEM machine like Dell, HP, etc.

If it's a Dell, etc then you can find the drivers on the manufacturers website by looking up the model number. Do yourself a favor and make a list of what type of sound, video, etc is installed in your system BEFORE you wipe it. Many Dell/HP machines have options and you don't want to be guessing what type of video card you have after you are in need of the driver. It also would be smart to go ahead and burn all the drivers to a CD so you have them. After all, let's say XP doesn't find your NIC... you'll have one hell of a time dling a NIC driver on the computer that needs the driver.

urahonky

Snowcone said exactly what I was going to say.

subedii

SoonerMan wrote: »

I don't have a SP2 CD for this computer specifically, but I do have one for a laptop. I know it doesn't matter (PC or notebook) its used on, but can I use the one that came with the notebook to reformat my PC and just use my key from the PC?

I can't say I know too much about this, but presumably if you've got the proper CD (and not a 'recovery CD), then you should be fine with the key you've got. I'm not 100% certain though, on whether they had different keys for versions of XP that shipped with PC's compared with laptops. Someone else might know more

Also, as far as a drivers go... I seem to be having a huge problem with my Plug-N-Play. I simply want to reinstall all of the drivers and reformatting just seems to be a good idea anyway. Where are all of these drivers located? Are they installed WITH Windows XP or are they on another CD that came with the respective computers?

Thanks in advance.

What specific hardware are you trying to use? In general you can get drivers for whatever hardware you're trying to use from the manufacturers website. Windows will install some default drivers for some hardware, but it's always best to use the manufacturer specific drivers if you don't have them already.

What specific problems are you having with your Plug-N-Play hardware?

SoonerMan

It's just my USB slots in front and back. After a certain point (not sure what point so a System Restore would be guessing) my computer would only recognize items that had once been on the computer. It was a hell of a time getting my sister's iPod Nano to work and that was gerry rigged. My old iPod Mini works and my old Flash Drive works still, only because it was in before the lock (lawl.) My new iPod Video worked perfectly with my laptop, not this. A few random flash drives worked PERFECTLY with my laptop, but all needed software on this PC.

Cameras have been a hell of a problem, too. Our family's digital camera, I believe, was the first thing that had troubles. Computer won't recognize it but had plenty of times before.

I want to be believe that Windows is simply missing drivers, but I don't know which ones!

ALSO, I think I did a botched reinstall of Windows because now everytime I reboot it asks me to start Windows Setup or Home Edition. It's not much of a problem, but I want to have this PC going good by the time I leave for college.

SiliconStew

Sounds like a sysprep that didn't complete properly.

Check the registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/Setup/FactoryPreInstallInProgress
If it exists and has a value of 1, change it to 0 and reboot.

SoonerMan

SiliconStew wrote: »

Sounds like a sysprep that didn't complete properly.

Check the registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/Setup/FactoryPreInstallInProgress
If it exists and has a value of 1, change it to 0 and reboot.

I'll assume that this is for the problem when I reboot?

SiliconStew

SoonerMan wrote: »

SiliconStew wrote: »

Sounds like a sysprep that didn't complete properly.

Check the registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/Setup/FactoryPreInstallInProgress
If it exists and has a value of 1, change it to 0 and reboot.

I'll assume that this is for the problem when I reboot?

For both.

SoonerMan

Not doubting you by any means, but I'm curious like... how that changes everything? Like I said I have fith its just I'm always curious how this shit works. Thanks, though I have yet to try it.