obtaining a copy of my windows?

aka_wood · 09-11-2006, 09:30 AM

I purchased a HP Pavillion about a year ago. My buddy who was shipping out to Iraq sold it to me figuring it would be worthless by the time he got home(I think it was worthless before he left LOL). It was a only about 5-6months old and I believe purchased from walmart. I let the kids play "COMPUTER" with it for a while, since I had no need for it, until a slightly older nephew managed to plug it in & turn it on for real. By the time I realised the kids were playing "COMPUTER" for real they had managed to screw the registry up pretty good. I decided to throw them a real computer together(one Ill monitor them on)(they are all girls ages3,5,&6 ArrrGGhh) and screwed up by wiping the harddrive. It never came with a copy of winxp, in true HP fashion, just some boot discs the kids lost playing frisbee. I still have my geniune sticker and product key probably most of the original hardware maybee minus some ram & dvdrom. I would use my other computers cd to install but its a real copy not an "HP" copy though it is win xp home edition just not a HP edition. Now my HP copy was legitimately purchased & should not be in use anywhere is there anything I can do? Can I download a copy legally to apply my legal product key to? Or am I going to have to bend over for Mr. Bill again?(last copy of winxp home edition cost me $130). Hell the windows was actually the biggest selling point of the HP i bought. What was I thinking......

**The_Other_One** · 09-11-2006, 10:00 AM

I know if you have problems getting a key to work while installing windows, you can usally call Microsoft and they'll sort it out. I'd imagine you could also call them and request a copy of Windows without the key... Otherwise you're pretty much out of options. You can purchase XP for around $90 now if I remember correctly.

Why were the kids playing frisbee with the CDs? They don't even fly that well

SirKenin · 09-11-2006, 03:39 PM

If you can't find your CD, use the following contact information to order a replacement:

From Microsoft:

If you are calling from the United States, contact the Microsoft Order Desk at the following phone number:
(800) 360-7561, Monday through Friday, 5:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. Pacific time.
If you are calling from Canada, contact the Canadian Order Desk at the following number:
(800) 933-4750, Monday through Friday, 5:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. Pacific time.

You might find that they tell you to go to HP though.

PC Hobbyist · 09-11-2006, 03:58 PM

First of all, how do 3, 5 and 6-year olds mess up the registry? And couldn't you try a restore point if the problem was a messed up registry?

aka_wood · 09-13-2006, 02:33 PM

I had the registry open deciding if I was going to clean it up or reinstall. I left for a couple hours intending to be gone only 10 minutes. The ole lady let the kids play on the machine. I'm sure I coulda saved it but I like to periodically reformat anyways so I thought nothing of it as I formatted away. Hey what can I say, I'm a carpenter.

All this technology both frightens & confuses me...

PC Hobbyist · 09-13-2006, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aka_wood

I had the registry open deciding if I was going to clean it up or reinstall. I left for a couple hours intending to be gone only 10 minutes.... Hey what can I say, I'm a carpenter.

All this technology both frightens & confuses me...

Ouch!

yeah, that'll do it.

Oh and there is no reason to be frightened about computer stuff. The times you learn the most and remember it forever are those when things don't go the way they are supposed to.

09-11-2006, 09:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
aka_wood New Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 2	obtaining a copy of my windows? I purchased a HP Pavillion about a year ago. My buddy who was shipping out to Iraq sold it to me figuring it would be worthless by the time he got home(I think it was worthless before he left LOL). It was a only about 5-6months old and I believe purchased from walmart. I let the kids play "COMPUTER" with it for a while, since I had no need for it, until a slightly older nephew managed to plug it in & turn it on for real. By the time I realised the kids were playing "COMPUTER" for real they had managed to screw the registry up pretty good. I decided to throw them a real computer together(one Ill monitor them on)(they are all girls ages3,5,&6 ArrrGGhh) and screwed up by wiping the harddrive. It never came with a copy of winxp, in true HP fashion, just some boot discs the kids lost playing frisbee. I still have my geniune sticker and product key probably most of the original hardware maybee minus some ram & dvdrom. I would use my other computers cd to install but its a real copy not an "HP" copy though it is win xp home edition just not a HP edition. Now my HP copy was legitimately purchased & should not be in use anywhere is there anything I can do? Can I download a copy legally to apply my legal product key to? Or am I going to have to bend over for Mr. Bill again?(last copy of winxp home edition cost me $130). Hell the windows was actually the biggest selling point of the HP i bought. What was I thinking......

09-11-2006, 10:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 25 Posts: 13,297	I know if you have problems getting a key to work while installing windows, you can usally call Microsoft and they'll sort it out. I'd imagine you could also call them and request a copy of Windows without the key... Otherwise you're pretty much out of options. You can purchase XP for around $90 now if I remember correctly. Why were the kids playing frisbee with the CDs? They don't even fly that well __________________ Primary- i7 920 \| 6GB RAM \| 9800GT \| 160+160+500GB Secondary- Athlon X2 4200 \| 2GB RAM \| 7600GT \| 80+250GB Netbook - Atom N280 \| 2GB RAM \| GMA945\| 160GB

09-11-2006, 03:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
PC Hobbyist Platinum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 718	First of all, how do 3, 5 and 6-year olds mess up the registry? And couldn't you try a restore point if the problem was a messed up registry? __________________ TV for computer geeks: Revision3.com Dual-boot Vista + XP Free HDD diagnostic GWScan + HD Tune Free RAM diagnostic Free recover files: Recuva

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09-11-2006, 03:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
SirKenin banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4,711	If you can't find your CD, use the following contact information to order a replacement: From Microsoft: If you are calling from the United States, contact the Microsoft Order Desk at the following phone number: (800) 360-7561, Monday through Friday, 5:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. Pacific time. If you are calling from Canada, contact the Canadian Order Desk at the following number: (800) 933-4750, Monday through Friday, 5:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. Pacific time. You might find that they tell you to go to HP though.

09-13-2006, 02:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
aka_wood New Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 2	I had the registry open deciding if I was going to clean it up or reinstall. I left for a couple hours intending to be gone only 10 minutes. The ole lady let the kids play on the machine. I'm sure I coulda saved it but I like to periodically reformat anyways so I thought nothing of it as I formatted away. Hey what can I say, I'm a carpenter. All this technology both frightens & confuses me...