Reinstalling XP without the disk, possible?

projectmayhem

My computer has a ton of problems that I won't bore you with. I've been reading all of these forums that re-installing your OS can fix a lot of problems including the speed that your computer runs/boots/shutsdown. I've had my computer for almost 6 years and I have never reinstalled XP...I figure it should happen.

However the problem is that I don't have (dont even recall ever having) the XP install disk nor do I have the license key for XP. Is there anyway to legally download windows and install it or am I sol?


Sorta off topic, I know Macs let you keep everything on your harddrive when you reinstall OSX does windows do this as well?

Hardtarget

do you have any of the documentation that came with your computer?

projectmayhem

Hardtarget wrote: »

do you have any of the documentation that came with your computer?

All I have are the disk to install Microsoft Works.

Hardtarget

you're screwed unless the OS was backed up on a hidde partition from the factory instead of on a physical CD. What brand PC is it? Do you have any sort of drive imaging/restore software installed that you never noticed before?

I would try the www.brandname.com/support page for that product and see what they say about restoring the OS

bigwah

http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

That will find your XP key and any Office keys aswell. Just borrow the disc from someone or download it from torrent.

Buttcleft

bigwah wrote: »

http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

That will find your XP key and any Office keys aswell. Just borrow the disc from someone or download it from torrent.

This.

Just use your legit key with another disc.

OremLK

bigwah wrote: »

http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

That will find your XP key and any Office keys aswell. Just borrow the disc from someone

Was about to post something just like this.

Hardtarget

oh man i completely forgot about utilities like that, good suggestion!

ZackSchilling

I got jailed once for suggesting someone borrow a friend's disc or use a torrent to download Starcraft to use with their original key. So I guess that solution is against the rules here. If you get the key, call up Microsoft and tell them you lost your discs. You'll have to pay shipping and $5 to $10 or something, but you'll get a "genuine" Windows disc to use with your key. Details here: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;326246

"Genuine" is such bullshit. An illegal copy of Windows is just as genuine as a legally licensed copy. It's exactly, bit-for-bit, the same. That's as genuine as it gets! And the "genuine advantage", please. All you get is a chance to be genuinely annoyed as Microsoft takes advantage of you.

taliosfalcon

but...its completely legal.. You don't actually pay for the physical disc for any software you pay for a license to use the software contained on it. As long as you have a license you can legally obtain the media from anywhere

ZackSchilling

From a PM attempting to appeal the jailing:

apotheos wrote:

ZackSchilling wrote:

apotheos wrote:

Back to our roots. So you would not agree that if you saw some random forumer say that someone should "find" a copy that they are not clearly implying the aquisition via illicit means?

It depends on the context. Whether something is illicit or not depends on the situation surrounding it. There is nothing inherently illegal or illicit about downloading a game off of a peer to peer service. The problems arise from not possessing a license for the downloaded game. I would never encourage someone to download a game with intent to run it unlicensed, nor would I provide specific information about doing so in a public forum such that other people in less legitimate circumstances might be able to follow and get the thing for free. Someone who does either of those things deserves to be jailed or banned.

Simply using the non-specific "find" in the context of a legitimate use is not, in my opinion, encouraging anyone to perform any illicit activity.

So are you telling me that it comes as a total surprise to you when I tell you that in common parlance 99.9% of people who would use that phrase are advising software piracy? Because that is what I'm trying to tell you. I'm not so presumptuous as to tell you what you meant, but I've been doing this for a while, and every time someone says that they mean software piracy.

So I hope you would begrudge me my presuption in jailing you, but its not like I could read your mind. And, in the future, if you said it again, you'd be jailed again. Once you understand and agree to abide by that - and while I always like it when users can see the value in our rules, its not mandatory that you like it - we can move on with life.

OremLK

taliosfalcon wrote: »

but...its completely legal.. You don't actually pay for the physical disc for any software you pay for a license to use the software contained on it. As long as you have a license you can legally obtain the media from anywhere

This is the way I view it too, but that's a discussion for D&D, I guess.

EskimoDave

taliosfalcon wrote: »

but...its completely legal.. You don't actually pay for the physical disc for any software you pay for a license to use the software contained on it. As long as you have a license you can legally obtain the media from anywhere

thats also official microsoft stance. I saw something on their website saying that fact.

Buttcleft

While on one side of the argument I can see the point, You don't pay for the media, you pay for the license that comes with the CD Key, making where you get the media as long as you are using legitimate, purchased licensed keys a moot point.

On the other side, I can see why it'd be frowned upon because some of those packages might also contain items of an illegal nature.

So perhaps it is best to err on the side of caution in this matter, especially when its being discussed on PA forums where they might be liable. I'm going to edit my previous post and suggest we move on.

Gdiguy

FYI, regarding that program to get your XP registration key - you can also get it out of the registry, which is a bit (if you know how to open the registry you can easily find it) more comforting (or at least was to me instead of running a random exe from the internet)

http://v2.tlab404.com/articles/detail.asp?iFaq=272&iType=20

The Windows XP CD Key is required to reinstall the operating system.
If you have lost it, you can retrieve it from the Windows registry:
1) Open the Registry Editor
2) Navigate to HKEY_LOCALMACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ WindowsNT\ CurrentVersion.
3) Find ProductId. The CD Key is digits 6 thought 15.

projectmayhem

Awesome, thanks. When I get home tonight I will try that out.

Morskittar

EskimoDave wrote: »

taliosfalcon wrote: »

but...its completely legal.. You don't actually pay for the physical disc for any software you pay for a license to use the software contained on it. As long as you have a license you can legally obtain the media from anywhere

thats also official microsoft stance. I saw something on their website saying that fact.

I'd love to see that.

That I know of, there are very few MS resources that give or deny explicit use of a media kit not supplied with your license. Volume programs have some specific guidelines (it's built in as a formal reimaging right), but that's about it.

exoplasm

Morskittar wrote: »

EskimoDave wrote: »

taliosfalcon wrote: »

but...its completely legal.. You don't actually pay for the physical disc for any software you pay for a license to use the software contained on it. As long as you have a license you can legally obtain the media from anywhere

thats also official microsoft stance. I saw something on their website saying that fact.

I'd love to see that.

That I know of, there are very few MS resources that give or deny explicit use of a media kit not supplied with your license. Volume programs have some specific guidelines (it's built in as a formal reimaging right), but that's about it.

While it's legal to obtain the media, it's most likely not legal to distribute it. It's pretty much a non-issue, though.