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    How to do a Clean Install without ANY CD?

    Discussion in 'HP' started by andrew11, Mar 8, 2006.

  1. andrew11

    andrew11 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ok, I am the proud new owner of a Compaq Presario V5000Z. I am absolutely amazed at all the junk software/bloatware HP/Compaq have put on this thing! What is even worse is that my notebook did not come with any CDs of any kind whatsoever. It would be so easy if it did, I could just boot from the Windows CD and be on my way! Instead, they took up about 7GB of the Hard Disk for a recovery partition, and a utility that says you can burn your own recovery disks, but it takes TWELVE CD-R's! That's insane!

    So I have a question to ask everybody: How can I just do a complete, fresh, no bloatware, no nothing exept the OS installation? I guess I will have to fork over the twelve CD-r's, but by using these will they just reinstall all the junk that HP had in the first place?

    Also, I had another thought. I have other XP CD's from other computers. If I were to somehow wipe the V5000Z's HD clean, and boot from another XP CD, and use the serial number on the sticker on the bottom of the notebook, would this work too?

    Please help me! If you do I promise to write one of the best reviews in the whole wide world! I noticed there isn't one on notebookreview.com for the V5000Z yet.
     
  2. andrew11

    andrew11 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Oh, also. What about drivers/etc? You know, stuff that isn't really bloatware but isn't part of the OS either, like the HP Wireless Assistant etc.? Are things like this available on the HP website?
     
  3. Tim

    Tim Notebook Virtuoso

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    I have heard that it is possible to use an XP cd from another computer as long as it is the same edition. However, I am not an expert on this so you might want to get some other peoples advice.

    If you don't want to risk it call HP and ask them for a Windows and driver disk.

    All the drivers are avalible online for my HP laptop so I would guess yours would be too.
    Tim
     
  4. pmorkert

    pmorkert Notebook Enthusiast

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    yes, you can use a cd from another computer as long as it is the same exact version, and you use the cd key on the bottom of your computer.
     
  5. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    I would contact HP and ask them for the CDs.
     
  6. taylor138

    taylor138 Notebook Consultant

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    When asking about the dv5000t (or whatever it's called) hp informed me that it is impossible to get the os cd and your only option is the recovery partition. I got the same thing from email support.
     
  7. vassil_98

    vassil_98 Notebook Deity

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    Why don't you just find the OS installation files on the recovery partition and hit Setup. Then it will allow you to make a clean install over the other installation. When you finish you will still have a bunch of the bloatware but it will be no longer active and no registry entries will exist (the Windows directory will be brand new, while Program Files will be preserved). Then just go to Program Files and delete everything that is unnecessary. An even better idea is to uninstall everything (except for AMD drivers) from Add/Remove Programs before you make the clean install.Thus you will have a lot less junk when you reinstall but you still may have to delete some of the stuff by yourself.

    I would not count on the serial number working with another CD. It has to be OEM version and still it may not work..
    I'm not sure but you should be able to burn the installation files for WinXP on a CD (make it bootable) and it will work (I have a few copies myself); but I don't know how HP has stored/arranged those files. There is one program though, which will let you do a very customized setup and will allow you to make the installation files burnable: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=41812
     
  8. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    That is odd. The dv5000z I received for review contained an OEM Windows CD and a drivers/apps CDs.
     
  9. andrew11

    andrew11 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks guys. I guess this is HP's new way of cutting costs: "Hey, we don't want to pay for CD's, so we'll make the customer burn his own!"

    The other XP CD that I am reffering to is from my Dell desktop, so I'm pretty sure its the OEM version. I think I will end up trying to install from this.

    Also, I am locked out of the recovery partition. When I click it in Windows Explorer, a message box with the Compaq logo comes up saying something to the effect of "Don't open this, it contains neccesary software for your computer to be recovered, etc., blah blah blah." In the manuals though, there is an option for deleting the recovery partition through the HP PC Recovery software. I haven't deleted it yet because I wanted to make sure I could do a clean install from some recovery disks/other WinXP CD.

    Also, does anyone know if I get HP to mail me some recovery disks, will they be free, or do I need to pay?
     
  10. vassil_98

    vassil_98 Notebook Deity

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    If you convince them, free if not - you won't get any.
    I guess that if you are lucky and get a good rep on the phone, you'll have the CDs in two days.
    Maybe if you "misrepresent" the buying date on the phone you have greater chance :) :) Kidding, I don't know about that
     
  11. Tim

    Tim Notebook Virtuoso

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    I would try to reinstall it with the Dell CD. It might work, but make the recovery CDs that HP wants you to make first. That way if it doesn't work you can at least reinstall windows. Then you could try to get the drivers from the website. If this solution doesn't work call HP and beg. Tell thm you messed up the installation and it is asking for a CD to reinstall windows. Might work. ;)
    Good luck,
    Tim
    Tim