Good site for instructions on wiping the HD and re-installing Win XP?

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

My DH got a new computer for work, and they don't seem to want the old one back. The bad news is that the anti-virus has not been updated for months, and it got totally hosed the first time we went online. There is some nasty adware/spyware that we have not been able to eliminate. So, looks like reformat and re-image is the only way to go. There are no files that we need to keep, so I would just (?!) need to reload Win XP and Office.

Do any of you have a good site to go to to get instructions on how to do this? Do I need to get all of the license keys for the software I will be reloading?

Thanks!

[ChromeFoundry]

1. You can grab the current product keys...

with a tool such as Magical Jelly Bean... http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

5. That's cool, thanks! n/t

[hobbit709]

2. Do you have the original disks?

If you do, then it's relatively easy. You may need to install the drivers for the motherboard and other hardware. You can get those at the manufacturers' websites. What brand is it?

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

6. We do not have the original disks used to set up the machine.

I believe it was imaged by corporate and there never were any original disks. DH thinks it is a Dell Latitude 610? I can go into Device Manager to get the info on Motherboard and other H/W. Do you load the OS first and then the drivers?

[PennDem]

3. If you have the original install disk

there may be a sticker with the XP license key on the outside of the case.

You will need a key to install MS Office too, one way or another. Open Office is a good option if you don't have the MS Office install disk and license key.
http://www.openoffice.org/

Re-installing XP is fairly easy.
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

You may want to download chipset, network, video and sound card drivers before you begin if you don't already have the driver disk for the computer.

Your system may have a restore partition on the hard drive it which case you wouldn't need the CD. You should see an option to 'Return the drive to its factory condition' during the boot process before Windows starts, if it is available.

It is my preference to do a clean install from the CD rather than a system restore due to all the crap normally included in factory builds.

[Gore1FL]

4. the advice in the above posts is good

1> DL the drivers you need and put them on a CD or Flash Drive.
2> Make sure you have the Product Key and a CD with the installation software.
3> I recommend repartitioning your HD to make sure all the nasties are really gone, so if you don;t have one, you'll need to get a utility for that.

Loading from CD is pretty straight forward.

4> When done install/update the drivers from your CD/Flash drive.
5> Go to Windows update. Get Microsoft update from there.
6> Install all updates except for the hardware ones and the search one (it just eats resources). You will have to install, rsestart and install until none are left.
7> Find a firewall and AV product to install.
8> Load Firefox (optional)
9> Install Adobe Acrobat Reader, and update. (optional)
10> Install Adobe Flash (on both IE and Firefox) (optional)
11> Install Shockwave (optional)
12> Install Java (optional--but required if you use open office)
13> Download and install 7zip (optional)
14> install your other apps.
15> Defrag, Defrag, Defrag

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

7. Thanks! Another dumb question:

After I backup whatever I need backed up, and I am all set to reimage, do I just do a format:c?

Also, I have installation CDs for XP and Office, but not the original disks that were used to set up the machine. Will I be able to reuse the license keys that are already on the machine if I use my own install disks?

[PennDem]

8. No...

RE: After I backup whatever I need backed up, and I am all set to reimage, do I just do a format:c?
No...just boot the computer with the XP CD. Formatting is part of the installation process.

RE: Also, I have installation CDs for XP and Office, but not the original disks that were used to set up the machine. Will I be able to reuse the license keys that are already on the machine if I use my own install disks?
No...you must use the license keys for the XP and Office disks that you plan to use for the re-installation.

[Gore1FL]

9. Thge license keys should work

XP will format it for you as an option.

The caveat being if it is an XP upgrade or XP install disk.

Since it is the same hardware the same key should work.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

10. If you do not have the install disks...

As the gentleman said above, run keyfinder, copy down the product key exactly, then search on one of the bittorrent search sites like Pirate Bay or BTJunkie for an 8-in-one or 9-in-one disks. These are not pirating disks. These are windows installs that must have a key to function. I have one of those disks here, and I cannot tell you how many times it has stood me in good stead, when the machine had a valid key on it or in it.

[Duer 157099]

11. I would add one more step to the mix

I would make an image of the current disk before you do the wipe/reinstall. Go get a copy of Drive Image XML

http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm

and make a full copy of your disk, burned to DVD or stored on a separate partition of the current drive.

That way, if during reinstall, you find you need something that was on the old drive, you still have access to everything (drivers, keys, registry, etc)

Can't be too careful about some of these things.