PANIC!!! Harddrive problems on my Compaq laptop MBR ERROR!

Im in utter rage and panic... I have alot of music and other work (I'm a dj) on my harddrive so if I can't get it back to work I'm loosing a lot of work (months worth)!!!... here is my story...

So I only had a 60gb hardrive. Originally I bought another 100gb harddrive to backup but when it started giving up on me and I lost some files, I stopped using it but didn't get around to buying a another harddrive. Then yesterday I decided ok, need a new harddrive so I go to the computer market. They install a 250gb harddrive, put in a pirated version of windows and put my old harddrive in a box with usb so I can connect to my new system and transfer my old files...

..so far so good... not excited about having a pirated version of windows especially when my computer came with windows just not on cd. I have product key on a sticker on my computer. I knew there was a way to back up the system on my Hp/compac so I think I will just do that and install that on the new harddrive when i get home...

So i get home... I try to connect my old internal harddrive to the new system but it doesn't work. Just red lamp.. no reaction..hmmm... I go back to the shop next day... they try another cable and problem solved I can now read my harddrive.. but then the problems starts !!! ...

I cannot access my folder under documents in my name. Its says it wont allow me to read folder... we try several times but it doesnt work...hmmmm... I reboot... set the computer to load from usb harddrive first to load my old system... it gets sort of started but then stops... black screen cursor blinking in upper left corner... I try to push some buttons... beeep beeep.. is the sound and only reaction... ok lets try and put the old internal harddrive back in the computer maybe windows just wont load from a external usb harddrive... we put it in start the computer... black screen again... push buttons on keyboard..beeep beeep...doesn't look good... reset try again...same thing... I pull out the cable and screen says "MBR ERROR"!!!

What happened it was working fine yesterday!!! I'm in China and the guys in the shop were clueless... I knew more than they did! Can anyone help me out, hopefully this can be fixed

 

Boot from an XP cd and do a repair install. That will fix the MBR

You shouldnt be working with pirated software..

 

As I said, I wasn't excited about them installing the pirated version. But planned to reinstall the version I already bought with the computer when I got home. Its very difficult to get through to chinese on a matter like that, they'll just tell you it doesn't make any difference.

Can I download Windows XP somewhere? I have product key on a sticker on my computer. I bought it in China and because of so much piracy here Microsoft made a deal with the government that all computers sold must have an original OS copy installed (and payed for).

 

Making a HP WinXP SP3 install disc, for whenever you do find a WinXP install disc that hasn't been tampered with.

"I cannot access my folder under documents in my name. Its says it wont allow me to read folder..." That's Windows security at work. Properties | Security tab on the folder will allow you to add the necessary permissions.