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Need to reinstall Windows but have no recovery discs

  • 03-08-2010 2:25pm
    #1
    Butch Cassidy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,409 ✭✭✭


    A virus or trojan or sometihng has led to a succession of BSOD crashes and now I can't even start up in Safe Mode so a reinstall seems the only option. I have no recovery discs though so is there anything I can do? I have the product key sticker still on the laptop (though one of the digits is a bit smudged).

    How I ended up in this mess was I bought the laptop from PC world and paid for some insurance. The laptop didn't come with any discs such is the cases these days and I didn't get around to burning the recovery discs as the CD/DVD drive burned out about 2 months after and shortly after this the laptop fell off of a table. I sent it off to the insurance crowd to get fixed and I was sent back a blank laptop with no OS or anything. Brought the laptop to PC World and a nice chap there sorted me out and put Windows back on it and reinstalled the drivers etc.

    So I've no discs or anything but definitely have a legit copy as I've done updates and stuff.


    I can't be the only numpty in the world to get stung by not burning recovery discs right off the bat and then need them later so is there anything I can do?


Comments

  • #2
    SOSTECH
    Closed Accounts Posts: 45 ✭SOSTECH


    You could download the Version of windows you need onto another computer and burn an iso file, then just use that disk to enter the windows repair module.

    Run a chkdsk /r command first if that comes up clean then run fixboot this should repair your startup errors.


  • #3
    Butch Cassidy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,409 ✭✭✭Butch Cassidy


    SOSTECH wrote: »
    You could download the Version of windows you need onto another computer and burn an iso file, then just use that disk to enter the windows repair module.

    Run a chkdsk /r command first if that comes up clean then run fixboot this should repair your startup errors.
    Would that leave me with an unofficial copy of Windows though? It is a legit copy I have...


  • #4
    SOSTECH
    Closed Accounts Posts: 45 ✭SOSTECH


    No your copy will still be genuine as you would only be using the software to enter the recovery console (You will not be changing you product key or installing the software)

    this should hopefully allow you to boot the machine then run a anti maleware programme after it maybe something like malwarebytes should do the trick smile.gif


  • #5
    onzlo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 114 ✭✭onzlo


    Heres a link to a site that offers a free recovery disk http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/windows-7-system-repair-discs/
    It doesn't have a key though.


  • #6
    JonathanAnon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,718 ✭✭✭✭JonathanAnon


    SOSTECH wrote: »
    You could download the Version of windows you need onto another computer and burn an iso file, then just use that disk to enter the windows repair module.

    I agree.. This has saved me in the past.. you know the situation... Home PC, and obviously they binned the Windows XP discs as soon as they took them out of the box.. I usually try to get a copy of the exact same O/S AND service pack level as is on your Windows sticker... For example, if it says Windows XP Home SP2, dont try and load a CD with XP Pro SP1... they have to match exactly..

    And keep a copy of the damned CD, this time.. :D


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