Reformatting

Ok, this is probably a bit of a stupid question, but I shall ask it anyway.

New laptop (aspire 5024) arrived and I intend on reformatting and sorting it out how I want it (i.e. partitioned to my own particular whims). Amusingly, I created the backup cds as it requested on initial - only to discover that it seems that there were backup cds provided (so I have backup backup cds).

Anyway - I have a windows XP disc for my old pc. Can I use the old XP disc and the new licence on the laptop - i.e. are the OS install discs paired with the licence details? My old XP disc doesn't even have SP2 on it. Sorry to ask, but I don't really know windows too well - I only use it at work, and want it on my laptop just for compatibility purposes (and as I have effectively paid for it in the laptop purchase, I may as well have the option to use it).

Thanks

 

No you won't be able to do that, if you use the xp disc from your old pc and install it into your laptop you have to input the license key from the disc not the license on the laptop.

You might run into problems when you go to do windows update and it'll detect that the license # has been registered to another system and won't allow you to d/load updates to your rig.

Why not reformat using the backup discs provided with you laptop? You can still partition the drive to whatever your whims dictate and only install the programs that you want on the system.

Tony

 

I can? How do I do that then? I was under the impression the backup discs would just bring the laptop to factory condition and that was it. How do I do a custom install?

 

CMAN,

If you do not have the original XP disk that came with the system, you CAN use any XP disk and use the license key that came with the laptop. The XP disk is a "dummy" disk and is not attached with the key. Of course, the XP disk needs to be the same type of the key (PRO = PRO, and Home = Home).

Bottom line, if you have a valid license and the right disk, you will be able to restore. But the XP disk needs to be a non customized one, i.e. you can not use a XP for HP X model to restore on a Acer X model.

Of course, you need to have a valid license key.

 

So the discs are just standards then? I have a valid XP key as I just bought the laptop - so it has a key for XP to be installed on it.

I hate conflicting answers - hehe. I guess there's no big loss to be had by just trying it and seeing what happens. If it all goes wrong I'll just use the recover discs and rethink!

 

Yes I understand what you are saying I was under the impression that the OE poster had a XP disc (non customized since he mentioned it was for a PC) and wanted to install that but use the key from the Acer laptop which of course would not work. Plus I know that to restore a laptop OS you need the proper recovery discs for the make of laptop you have therefore my Fujitsu XP discs would not restore my Acer to original system specs and vice versa.

Tony

 

"Why not reformat using the backup discs provided with you laptop? You can still partition the drive to whatever your whims dictate and only install the programs that you want on the system."

Yes you should be able to. I remember soon after I got my Acer laptop (purchased on ebay) the seller had restored it to factory specs with the OS. that meant it had 2 drives with FAT32. I wasn't too familiar at the time what to do so I took my rig to my friend's place and we did another fresh install using the recovery discs. We were able to do just one drive formatted to NTFS and installed only the programs that I wanted to have on it. That worked no issues.

I used the laptop like that for a couple months while I started building my desktop. Once I got that going I installed XP pro on it using my XP disc that I bought. I decided to also install Pro on my Acer (it came with home) so that's what I did. Been going strong for the last 2 years no problems. My Fujitsu I left it with XP home.

I'm sure someone else should have more experience as to how to use the recovery discs to reinstall the OS with the changes that you might want to have on your rig. Hope this is helpful.

Tony