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Hack&Lube · 05-04-2008, 06:53 PM

Your laptop should have come with a "RESTORE DISK", this is your replacement for an XP CD though it might not say XP on it. The problem is that if you bought a new harddrive you've lost the restore partition that is hidden on your old laptop drive and contains most of the data for the XP disk. That's what you should have done instead of buying a new harddrive. Almost every laptop has a hidden partition that holds a clean copy of windows and all the drivers and programs specifically for that laptop. You are supposed to use the restore disk which reinstalls clean Windows and drivers from that hidden partition.

Either contact your laptop manufacturer or borrow and XP disk from your friend but since it won't be the OEM one from that manufacturer, you'll need to track down drivers for your laptop yourself.

05-04-2008, 06:53 PM	#5
Hack&Lube Atomic Nerd Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Calgary Exp:	Your laptop should have come with a "RESTORE DISK", this is your replacement for an XP CD though it might not say XP on it. The problem is that if you bought a new harddrive you've lost the restore partition that is hidden on your old laptop drive and contains most of the data for the XP disk. That's what you should have done instead of buying a new harddrive. Almost every laptop has a hidden partition that holds a clean copy of windows and all the drivers and programs specifically for that laptop. You are supposed to use the restore disk which reinstalls clean Windows and drivers from that hidden partition. Either contact your laptop manufacturer or borrow and XP disk from your friend but since it won't be the OEM one from that manufacturer, you'll need to track down drivers for your laptop yourself. Last edited by Hack&Lube; 05-04-2008 at 06:55 PM.