Need help, perhaps even mental help after this.

[Victor_ffx]

Guys I have quite a big problem. The other day I formatted my PC (Thanks PC_eye for all your help)
Yesterday my brother installed a whole load of programs to "see what they did" and they made the internet stop working. He uninstalled them but they didn't come with uninstallers so there were files left behind and the internet was still going really slow. So I thought it would be easier to just format again.

This is where the problems start, I inserted my XP Home CD and formatted my harddrive, when it finished formatting it resetted to start the installer and just then my CD cracked in the DVD Rom!?!?!?! I now have a computer with nothing on the HD and I don't have a CD to install Windows on it.

I'm busy using our old computer with 56k dialup,
(I tried using the router but when I make a new internet connection it says I must choose a modem, it doesn't have the option "make a connection that requires a username and password") the thing sounds like it's running on empty it's so old.

Can anybody help me out, I've heard of boot discs that can be downloaded but I doubt they can be used to install Windows? Is there any way I can get a replacement copy? I'm really desperate.

Thanks guys,
Vic

P.S I'm gonna post this in Operating Systems and Desktop Computers as I don't know which one this problem fits in. If this is against the rules could one of the mods delete the one posted in the wrong section. Thanks

 

[footballdude2k3]

oh god i feel your pain, my best guess is because you paid for a license of xp, not just the cd that you would be able to call and get a new disc for a small fee, but that would be a guess, and you can download xp cds, but with a 56k it might take years.....sry i hope it works out for you

 

[Trizoy]

Give MS a call, as long as it is a valid copy there is no problem.

 

[Victor_ffx]

Yeah it's a licensed copy. I'll contact MS and post how it turns out. thanks.

 

[Victor_ffx]

Okay I phoned the Microsoft office in my area and they said they have a seperate company that deals with replacement CDs. They're closed on the weekends though, I still don't know how long it'll take me to receive it.

Oh well, it'll give me time to catch up on some hobbies I've been neglecting