Time to nuke & pave... but no Windows XP cd

[VeloceMoto]

I bought rather nice Core 2 Duo Sony laptop on Craigslist that came pre-installed with Windows XP, but I was never given a restore CD I think I have a virus or some kind of malware/spyware and am considering nuking and paving.

There's a Windows XP product key sticker on the bottom of the laptop. Is there a way to save my windows key and use it with a copy of windows xp from the internet? Or will I have to go full-pirate? :p

[RydTher]

contact sony, they should be able to send you an install disc, most likely just for the cost of shipping it. I know Dell sends them out free.
OEM product keys typically will not activate a retail copy of WinXP, so using someone else's disc most likely wont work.

you might also check if Sony has a utility to create rescue discs from a hidden system partition. With these discs you can sometimes reinstall the system as it came from the factory

[VeloceMoto]

contact sony, they should be able to send you an install disc, most likely just for the cost of shipping it. I know Dell sends them out free.
OEM product keys typically will not activate a retail copy of WinXP, so using someone else's disc most likely wont work.

you might also check if Sony has a utility to create rescue discs from a hidden system partition. With these discs you can sometimes reinstall the system as it came from the factory


Thanks RydTher!

Well, I am in South America so I'm not sure that shipping me a CD is an option.

How would I find out more info on the "hidden rescue discs"?

[RydTher]

oh, heh, didnt even check your location.

check in the start menu for something sony labeled or that indicates rescue or backup, something along those lines. The IBM I am on has a folder labeled Thinkvantage (an IBM thing) that has a variety of utilities, among which is rescue media creator

[Dopesick]

IF you haven't nuked it yet... Get a progam called "Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder". Run it on that laptop.

ANYONE with a "restore cd" for your model laptop, you can use the key in your laptop on. It's an OEM key.

[RS250 Chester]

Go to My Computer and see if there are 2 partitions. Usually if you see a small second partition, its an image of the factory setting. Then as RydTher said, check your programs list for software pertaining to restoring your drive. I've had a couple of laptops with this feature built in.

[HeavenzJai]

try dl'ing:
keyfinder thing
rockxp

[VeloceMoto]

THANKS EVERYONE!!!

I downloaded/installed the free Norton System Scan (?) from Google Pack and it found a few viruses and repaired them all! Everything works perfectly now. No need to reinstall.

Maybe this is a good time to do a Ghost backup of my system to a DVD or an external drive! ;)

[VeloceMoto]

Ok guys UPDATE:

I cleaned off all those nasty viruses but as is usual with windows, my system feels bloated and slow. I'm once again toying with the notion of a nuke & pave.

I still don't have a Windows XP recovery disc so I am investigating other options.

As many of you alluded to in the thread above, I may be able to do a reinstall from another partition. When I go to my computer, I show the C: drive as being 97.3 GB. I find this an odd size for a hard drive, so I am guessing there is another (hidden?) partition.

How do I tell?

I've got a Sony VGN-C140G which appears to have a 120GB hard drive.

[Dopesick]

Ok guys UPDATE:

I cleaned off all those nasty viruses but as is usual with windows, my system feels bloated and slow. I'm once again toying with the notion of a nuke & pave.

I still don't have a Windows XP recovery disc so I am investigating other options.

As many of you alluded to in the thread above, I may be able to do a reinstall from another partition. When I go to my computer, I show the C: drive as being 97.3 GB. I find this an odd size for a hard drive, so I am guessing there is another (hidden?) partition.

How do I tell?

I've got a Sony VGN-C140G which appears to have a 120GB hard drive.


Again, if you purchased the unit, you can call Sony and get a copy of it. OR, you can read the product key label on the bottom... Get a copy of that version... install, use key, head to sony's website and download drivers.

[VeloceMoto]

Again, if you purchased the unit, you can call Sony and get a copy of it. OR, you can read the product key label on the bottom... Get a copy of that version... install, use key, head to sony's website and download drivers.

After some digging it looks like there *is* a recovery program on my machine that pulls an image from another partition. Requires a CD and 2 DVDs. It's too bad my DVD burner is jacked and only burns coasters. I'll give it a shot though and then create some of my own images (ghost, etc.) so I don't have to mess with this again.

[Sane_Man]

Ok guys UPDATE:

I cleaned off all those nasty viruses but as is usual with windows, my system feels bloated and slow. I'm once again toying with the notion of a nuke & pave.

I still don't have a Windows XP recovery disc so I am investigating other options.

As many of you alluded to in the thread above, I may be able to do a reinstall from another partition. When I go to my computer, I show the C: drive as being 97.3 GB. I find this an odd size for a hard drive, so I am guessing there is another (hidden?) partition.

How do I tell?

I've got a Sony VGN-C140G which appears to have a 120GB hard drive.

If you got to Control Panel, Administrative Tools, then run Computer Management. It will show you if you have a separate partition for restoring your OS.

[insyder]

Try booting to that recovery partition. It may start up and do the recovery without any optical media needed. I know that HP's will do that.