[peterm]

Hey Wannabe 1
What if we try a Restore??????
from the command prompt. Or to many files overwritten

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As things stand right now, I know of no way to get you to your data other than a parallel installation. I don't know if the Dell cd would allow us to do that or not as I don't know if it would accept your key. The restore might be an option worth trying, iff it didn't delete the restore files.

Many HP computers have a recovery partition you can start by pressing F10 during bootup. However, I do not remember if you are given the option for a non-destructive recovery when using this. What model HP do you have, and I'll check the manual to see what options we might have with that.

Edited by wannabe1, 30 December 2006 - 05:03 PM.

[wannabe1]

As things stand right now, I know of no way to get you to your data other than a parallel installation. I don't know if the Dell cd would allow us to do that or not as I don't know if it would accept your key. The restore might be an option worth trying, iff it didn't delete the restore files.

Many HP computers have a recovery partition you can start by pressing F10 during bootup. However, I do not remember if you are given the option for a non-destructive recovery when using this. What model HP do you have, and I'll check the manual to see what options we might have with that.

Edited by wannabe1, 30 December 2006 - 05:03 PM.

[TomTomTom]

Ok, well here's what I can tell you to the best of my ability.
I bought an old Compaq Presario from my work that originally had Millenium on it, but was upgraded to XP Pro.
That died, but they put the hard drive and OS into the HP Evo. The MS sticker on the Evo (the current compuiter I have problem with) says it had Windows 2000 Pro on it originally, but when we put the hard drive from the Compaq into the Evo, it's been running on XP Pro.
I used software last night to find out the product key from the XP Pro, since that CD is long gone. I have that number. That's the number I tried to enter to log into Windows (after the phone tech told me to change the key), and it didn't work.
So I've been assuming that the key I need has to match the CD-Rom that I'm running the repair from, since the key from the otiginal XP Pro installation did not work

[wannabe1]

peterm: Want to try System Restore from command prompt? It's worth a try.

[TomTomTom]

I'll try anything, if you can please instruct me how to do it. Thanks !

[peterm]

Ok when you start the computer and press F8 do you get an option for command prompt in safe mode
If yes then
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
See if this starts the wizard.
If not then we will try from the Recovery console

Edited by peterm, 30 December 2006 - 05:28 PM.

[TomTomTom]

Ok, it would not let me choose an earlier recovery date.

[wannabe1]

If you had XP Pro on the machine and have the product key for that...can you get your hands on a XP Pro cd to use for a bit. I think if we use the same version of Windows, we can do a parallel install using your key and get your data back.

[TomTomTom]

If you had XP Pro on the machine and have the product key for that...can you get your hands on a XP Pro cd to use for a bit.
YES, I can do that. I have that now actually. The problem is that the XP Pro I have my hands on, I do not know they key for that CD. I only know the key for the original install.

[Retired Tech]

You only need those as you will need to use your (original) product key

[TomTomTom]

OK, cool. Then please guide me !
I think what happened yesterday is I tried a repair from a copied XP cd-rom. At the end, it prompted me to activate. I called M'soft, but they wouldn't let me.
Also, it started up OK in Safe Mode, I saw my icons, so I know all my data is there. Thank God !

[TomTomTom]

Most people told me that to use an XP cd-rom (copy) to repair a legitimate copy of XP (already installed on computer) that i would not need a key or activation procedure. But it did.

[Retired Tech]

A repair install runs mostly the same as a fresh install, you would need the product key

[TomTomTom]

Ok, right. But when it prompted me to activate, I couldn't sign onto my DSL, so I had to call.
I read the activation number that appeared in the window, but instead of the computer voice giving me a new key, a live operator came on.
The tech tried to talk me through changing my key, and the first step was to enter the old key. But I kept entering it, and getting an error message.
That is why I'm assuming I need the key from the reapir (copied) CD, since the legit key from the original install was not accepted.
thanks for your continued help by the way. Very appreciative

[TomTomTom]

Also, another strange thing is when I tried the system restore in Safe Mode, it showed NO restore dates in bold, and instead of saying "select a date" instead it said There are no restore dates available. For some reason, it's not restoring every 24 hours like it should.