What is the exact CD that I need to buy to restore my computer to factory condition? (Windows XP Professional)
598898
Try System Restore, and if that does not work, you have to buy the "Windows XP PRO, or Home Installation CD."
352025
Get a copy of Windows XP and install it.\n\n-J
232931
You can use your windows XP CD, if you're using windows, and restart the computer. The CD is bootable so you will be given options, from which you can choose to repair the current operating system. But if you've never done this, it is probably better if you consult someone who's done so before. You can end up losing everything on your hard disk.
1089486
Just borrow a Windows XP Home Edition CD from one of your friends and use your product key.  It should work just fine.
666950
Come with me step by step:\n\n1: Prepare a Windows (XP Pro.) CD which is bootable.\n\n2: Change you setup settings so that your computer can boot with a CD.\n\n3: Place the CD in and restart your computer.\n\n4: Push any key when it asks you to boot from CD.\n\n5: Start to install Windows XP and it will ask you if you want to format the drives. \n\n6: let it go on till the step where you can choose between NTFS or FAT format.\n\nThat is it. You've made it.
757174
1. Place your Windows XP CD in your cd-rom and start your computer (it’s assumed here that your XP CD is bootable – as it should be - and that you have your bios set to boot from CD)\n\n    2. Keep your eye on the screen messages for booting to your cd Typically, it will be “Press any key to boot from cd”\n\n    3. Once you get in, the first screen will indicate that Setup is inspecting your system and loading files.\n\n    4. When you get to the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER to Setup Windows now\n\n    5. The Licensing Agreement comes next - Press F8 to accept it.\n\n    6. The next screen is the Setup screen which gives you the option to do a Repair.\n\n    It should read something like “If one of the following Windows XP installations is damaged, Setup can try to repair it”\n\n    Use the up and down arrow keys to select your XP installation (if you only have one, it should already be selected) and press R to begin the Repair process.\n\n    7. Let the Repair run. Setup will now check your disks and then start copying files which can take several minutes.\n\n    8. Shortly after the Copying Files stage, you will be required to reboot. (this will happen automatically – you will see a progress bar stating “Your computer will reboot in 15 seconds”\n\n    9. During the reboot, do not make the mistake of “pressing any key” to boot from the CD again! Setup will resume automatically with the standard billboard screens and you will notice Installing Windows is highlighted.\n\n    10. Keep your eye on the lower left hand side of the screen and when you see the Installing Devices progress bar, press SHIFT + F10. This is the security hole! A command console will now open up giving you the potential for wide access to your system.\n\n    11. At the prompt, type NUSRMGR.CPL and press Enter. Voila! You have just gained graphical access to your User Accounts in the Control Panel.\n\n    12. Now simply pick the account you need to change and remove or change your password as you prefer. If you want to log on without having to enter your new password, you can type control userpasswords2 at the prompt and choose to log on without being asked for password. After you’ve made your changes close the windows, exit the command box and continue on with the Repair (have your Product key handy).\n\n    13. Once the Repair is done, you will be able to log on with your new password (or without a password if you chose not to use one or if you chose not to be asked for a password). Your programs and personalized settings should remain intact.
671099
Just boot using a windows XP CD and follow the steps, once formatted shut down the machine :)
798794
Put the XP CD in the drive and boot from it.  Go through the steps to install the operating system.  You will be asked to format the C: drive or leave it.\n\nReference step 10 in http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html\n\nYou can also use a tool like Darik's Boot and Nuke (dban) - which is available as a bootable CD.  It will thoroughly wipe you hard drive making it virtually impossible to recover any data that was once on it.  see: http://dban.sourceforge.net/\n\nLastly, if you don't know how to CORRECTLY burn an ISO image, reference the instructions for your particular burning software here:\nhttp://iso.snoekonline.com/iso.htm
798911
This link will tell you how to reinstall system restore.  You will also see a link for a free system repair.\n\nhttp://windowsxp.mvps.org/repairsr.htm
886152
you can buy a program for 2 dollars on ebay\n\nhttp://cgi.ebay.com/WINDOWS-XP-pro-home-PASWORD-RECOVERY-hp-dell-ibm-ORIG_W0QQitemZ250050318522QQihZ015QQcategoryZ140070QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
780297
Actually, you're on the right track and doing very well.  There's not really any big differences between XP Home and Pro. The Pro version does have a few good features that Home doesn't but they both work the same. I especially like the "Repair" part of XP Pro because of the way it works perfectly which is great in these days where we never know what's going to happen lol. By putting the new cd install disk in the rom drive and changing the boot order in the "bios/setup" area when first booting up the machine so that it boots to the cd rom drive first. That way the new cd will start up and allow you to format and partition the hard drive and then will install the fresh, new copy for you. If I can help, I'll walk you thru it step by step until the job is complete. Larry Radio Shack 01-9590
591229
All the other things will stop working if you wipe it clean and start over. However, you should be able to re-install a legitimate copy of Windows over top of the existing one and everything in the registry for the other programs will be kept, and the programs should still work....even if they are counterfeit.\nMine came with XP Home Edition already installed.
1172344
What you are doing here is a 'Clean Install', the Windows XP CD is bootable.  Simply start up the computer, instert the CD and it should display the following message:\n\n"Press any key to boot CD"\n\nYou have 5 seconds to press a key, then follow the installation instructions as you go along.\n\nIf you want more information, or you'd rather do it with floppy disks theres more information here:\n\nhttp://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm
553399
Call Dell and then tell them you lost your recovery CDs. They will send you them if you bought your computer just recently from them..within a year. If its past a year, then you will have to purchase the CDs but they will only be about 10-15 bucks. Just get the recovery CD and then reformat your computer.\n\nTo format your harddrive you will need to get a recovery disc or a Windows CD. \nNo boot disc is necessary unless you are trying to install Windows 95. \nThe recovery disc will usually come with your computer, if you dont have one, you will need to call your computer manufacturing company and order one. \nThe recovery disc and the windows CD will partition your harddrive and it will wipe out your memory and start from fresh.
883252
Important If you follow these steps on a hard disk that is not empty, all the data on that hard disk is permanently deleted. We recommend that you back up your hard disk before you follow these steps.\n\nTo partition and format your hard disk by using the Windows XP Setup program: 1. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive, or insert the first Windows XP Setup disk into the floppy disk drive, and then restart the computer.\n\nNote To start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM (or from the startup disk), your computer must be configured to start from the CD-ROM drive, the DVD-ROM drive, or the floppy disk drive. In some cases, you may have to modify your computer's BIOS settings to set this configuration. For information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM drive, the DVD-ROM drive, or the floppy disk drive, see the documentation that is included with your computer, or contact the computer manufacturer. \n2. If you are starting the computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM, select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do this.\n\nNote If your hard disk controller requires a third-party original equipment manufacturer (OEM) driver, press F6 to specify the driver.\n\nFor more information about how to use F6 to supply a third-party OEM device driver while the Windows Setup program is running, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: \n314859 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314859/) Limited OEM driver support is available with F6 during Windows XP Setup \nIf you are starting from the Windows XP Setup disks, insert each of the additional disks when you are prompted, and then press ENTER to continue after you insert each disk. \n3. At the Welcome to Setup page, press ENTER. \n4. \nNote If you are using the Setup disks (6 bootable disks), the setup will prompt you to instert the Windows XP CD.  \n5. Press F8 to accept the Windows XP Licensing Agreement. \n6. If an existing Windows XP installation is detected, you are prompted to repair it. To bypass the repair, press ESC. \n7. All the existing partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partition or the unpartitioned space where you want to create a new partition. Press D to delete an existing partition, or press C to create a new partition by using unpartitioned space. If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this step for each of the existing partitions that you want to use for the new partition. When all the partitions are deleted, select the remaining unpartitioned space, and then press C to create the new partition.\n\nNote If you want to create a partition where one or more partitions already exist, you must first delete the existing partition or partitions, and then create the new partition. \n8. Type the size in megabytes (MB) that you want to use for the new partition, and then press ENTER, or just press ENTER to create the partition with the maximum size. \n9. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 to create additional partitions if you want them. \n10. If you want to install Windows XP, use the ARROW keys to select the partition where you want to install Windows XP, and then press ENTER. If you do not want to format the partition and install Windows XP, press F3 two times to quit the Windows Setup program, and then do not follow the remaining steps. In this case, you must use a different utility to format the partition. \n11. Select the format option that you want to use for the partition, and then press ENTER. You have the following options: • Format the partition by using the NTFS file system (Quick) \n• Format the partition by using the FAT file system (Quick) \n• Format the partition by using the NTFS file
378884
If you are able to use the old disk drive with the old installation of windows xp on it then it is the simple task of using the following free software to recover your product key.\n\nhttp://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml\n\nBut if that is not possible to do that then a call to microsoft customer services will help you as long (as you have a real copy of windows).
577568
Here's your fix, only if your running XP and you have an OEM CD.\n\n1. Boot up with the WinXP CD and at the Setup Screen press the Enter Key.\n  \n2. You will be taken to the Windows XP Licensing Agreement. Press F8 to proceed.\n\n3. The next screen gives you the option to do a fresh (clean) install or to repair\n     the selected Windows XP installation. To run a Repair Install press "R".\n\n***CAUTION*** if you do not see the option to repair the selected Windows XP\ninstallation DO NOT choose the option to continue installing a fresh copy without\nrepairing as that will overwrite your data and cause unrecoverable data loss.\n\n4. If you originally installed XP with Service Pack 1 and later installed Service Pack     2,  you will need to re-install Service Pack 2.\n\n5. If you have any Microsoft Office products installed,  you will need to re-activate\n    with the Product Key code. Contacting Microsoft may be required.