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restoring a computer to original
adam1985 - 26/7/10 at 06:56 PM

i have sold a old computer but i cant find the recovery disc to wipe it clean is there any other way i can restore it,
Its on win xp and is a sony tower computer if this makes any difference
Cheers adam

coozer - 26/7/10 at 06:58 PM

WinXP Disc? Format C: Install Windows.

pdm - 26/7/10 at 06:58 PM

dban.org is one I used when I sold mine - writes 0 all over the disk so quite secure.

try dban.org

ETA - might not be what you need as it will wipe everything - you wont have an operating system left after you run it.

[Edited on 26/7/10 by pdm]

mcerd1 - 26/7/10 at 07:04 PM

as above you'll need a copy of either the recovery disk for your type of machine or a generic XP disk

adam1985 - 26/7/10 at 07:49 PM

right would i be able to use a recovery disc from another computer (dell)

mcerd1 - 26/7/10 at 07:54 PM

no it needs to be one that covers your exact model

RazMan - 26/7/10 at 07:55 PM

Nope, it won't have the drivers specific to the Sony system. You can do it by installing Windoze from a proper licensed CD ...... or maybe a 'special' copy (but I didn't say that )

adam1985 - 26/7/10 at 07:58 PM

ok cheers for the help looks like im goin have to tip the office upside down for it

scottfraser - 26/7/10 at 09:55 PM

go look in WH Smiths for computer mags wirh free CD/DVD ROMS on them. You will be able to find a copy of some form of file shredder. I use Tune Up shredder and have no probs permanently deleting files I don't want found

locogeoff - 26/7/10 at 10:10 PM

quote:
Originally posted by RazMan
You can do it by installing Windoze from a proper licensed CD ...... or maybe a 'special' copy (but I didn't say that )


If you still have the product key, which should be on the PC case then any corresponding XP version even a special copy will suffice for the installation media, it's the key you enter that is important, though you must use an XP Home disk with an XP Home key for example.

[Edited on 26/7/10 by locogeoff]

Davey D - 27/7/10 at 06:12 AM

quote:
Originally posted by locogeoff
quote:
Originally posted by RazMan
You can do it by installing Windoze from a proper licensed CD ...... or maybe a 'special' copy (but I didn't say that )


If you still have the product key, which should be on the PC case then any corresponding XP version even a special copy will suffice for the installation media, it's the key you enter that is important, though you must use an XP Home disk with an XP Home key for example.

[Edited on 26/7/10 by locogeoff]



Thats not strictly true. There are different versions that will only install and register with corresponding keys i.e OEM, Corporate, Retail. the difference between the versions on a disc is only about 2 files which can be modified. Just rip the disc to your Hdd, modify the files then burn all the data to another disc to turn it into the version you need

britishtrident - 27/7/10 at 06:21 AM

However system recovery discs are different from Xp install discs. Recovery discs made from a system using a utility after install are keyed to hardware.

Your PC may have a recovery partition which you can boot from.