XP cd's provided with compaq notebooks?

First off, I would like to thank everyone here for the great site. I've been visiting for a while and it has been a great help in choosing exactly what I need. I decided to go with the Compaq v4000t. Here is how it is equipped in case if anyone is interested.

– Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home Edition with SP2
– Intel(R) Pentium(R) M Processor 750 (1.86 GHz)
– 15.4" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x800)
– 128MB ATI MOBILITY(TM) RADEON(R) X700
– 1.0GB DDR2 SDRAM (2x512MB)
– 80 GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive
– DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
– FREE Upgrade to Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG WLAN!
– 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery

Anyways, what I'm wondering is if it comes with the xp cd's so I can do a reformat and fresh install of windows. I searched around and it seems like they are provided with pavilion notebooks, so I would assume that it would come with the presario's as well. Just want to check if anyone knows for sure. Thanks again.

 

Yep, the Compaq's also get the clean copy of Win XP. It was a nice surprise when I first reformated my r3000. AFAIK All HP laptops ome with a clean Win XP disc.

 

Yes. To my knowledge all HP/Compaq notebooks comes with XP cd also, and you can install OS only. My V2000z came with XP cd and first thing I did is fresh install with supplied XP CD and drivers CD.

 

Thanks a lot!

I have never reformatted a hard drive before, but otherwise i'm pretty knowledgeable with computers so I don't think it would be too difficult. I'm not worried about drivers or anything at all because I have done that before. But I am concerned about the whole "partioning" thing. Is the reformat/install pretty straight forward? Considering the compaq has no quickplay would the need for multiple partitions be unnecessary? Does the computer come with multiple partitions to begin with? And how would I go about initiating the whole thing?

 

Reformatting is pretty easy and can be done when you reinstall XP. The Win XP CD walks you through reformating, partitioning and reinstalling the OS. The extra software and the drivers are included in a separate DVD and you can pick and install whatever you want or can download it from HP's support site. The computers comes with only one partition and creating partitions is all abt personal preference. Some people like to keep the Win XP system files in one partition and install software in another. It helps in organising your stuff but there are no performance advantages if you partition or not partition your HDD.

 

Thanks a bunch.

Okay, I promise this is my last question. How do I initiate the XP setup when I boot up the computer? Do I just start the machine with the disc inside? Or are there special instructions?

 

The instructions should be explictly given in the documentation, but I think all you need to do is put the disc in and boot up the computer.

 

Ah, thanks. I know i'm getting aheald of myself now. Can't wait for it to arrive!