legal copy of xp corrupted

i bought my pc from pcworld and have had no problems with it until a friend
started messing with it trying to fix it after i messed it up. he ran a copy
of xp which a already had and i guess it was a illegal copy, how do i get my
original xp back, i have had the pc for 2 years and have no idea what he has
done or how to get it back to the original state

Backup your data, format and reinstall with the WinXP CD(s) that came with
your machine.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Security, Shell/User)

aquabloke wrote:
> i bought my pc from pcworld and have had no problems with it until a
> friend
> started messing with it trying to fix it after i messed it up. he ran a
> copy
> of xp which a already had and i guess it was a illegal copy, how do i get
> my
> original xp back, i have had the pc for 2 years and have no idea what he
> has
> done or how to get it back to the original state

Hi,
the machine came with xp preloaded so i dont have that option im afraid

"PA Bear" wrote:

> Backup your data, format and reinstall with the WinXP CD(s) that came with
> your machine.
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Security, Shell/User)
>
> aquabloke wrote:
> > i bought my pc from pcworld and have had no problems with it until a
> > friend
> > started messing with it trying to fix it after i messed it up. he ran a
> > copy
> > of xp which a already had and i guess it was a illegal copy, how do i get
> > my
> > original xp back, i have had the pc for 2 years and have no idea what he
> > has
> > done or how to get it back to the original state
>
>

Visit a local store and purchase a new "Full Version"
of Windows XP. If you're interested in an OEM version,
consider the following:

Examples:

Microsoft Windows XP HOME Edition With Service Pack 2 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16837102151

Microsoft Windows XP Professional With Service Pack 2 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16837102153

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"aquabloke" wrote:

| Hi,
| the machine came with xp preloaded so i dont have that option im afraid

Hi.
i think i will revisit the store i first purchaced the pc with the serial
no. or even take it in and ask them if they would be able to find the
original OS key, i dont really want to buy xp again, more as a matter of
principal than anything else
regards AQ

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:

> Visit a local store and purchase a new "Full Version"
> of Windows XP. If you're interested in an OEM version,
> consider the following:
>
> Examples:
>
> Microsoft Windows XP HOME Edition With Service Pack 2 - OEM
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16837102151
>
> Microsoft Windows XP Professional With Service Pack 2 - OEM
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16837102153
>
> --
> Carey Frisch
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows - Shell/User
> Microsoft Community Newsgroups
> news://msnews.microsoft.com/
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> "aquabloke" wrote:
>
> | Hi,
> | the machine came with xp preloaded so i dont have that option im afraid
>
>

If the WinXP CD (or "Recovery" CD) wasn't included, it may have a "recovery"
partition. Check with Tech Support at the mfr's website or at PCWorld.
(Now you know why it was so cheap.)
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Security, Shell/User)

aquabloke wrote:
> Hi,
> the machine came with xp preloaded so i dont have that option im afraid
>
> "PA Bear" wrote:
>
>> Backup your data, format and reinstall with the WinXP CD(s) that came
>> with
>> your machine.
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Security, Shell/User)
>>
>> aquabloke wrote:
>>> i bought my pc from pcworld and have had no problems with it until a
>>> friend
>>> started messing with it trying to fix it after i messed it up. he ran a
>>> copy
>>> of xp which a already had and i guess it was a illegal copy, how do i
>>> get
>>> my
>>> original xp back, i have had the pc for 2 years and have no idea what he
>>> has
>>> done or how to get it back to the original state