Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Need Windows XP

Dec 23, 2012 12:05AM PST

My HP laptop crashed,it turned out to be a bad hard drive.I did not back up,I know bad.Now I have no Windows xp to reinstall.Will Microsoft give or I guess sell me a windows xp to install.Since my original was a legal copy,I dont understand why I cant get another free.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
If you can get an XP install disc,
Dec 23, 2012 12:18AM PST

and you have the COA key, you could use that to reinstall. You need an XP install disc of the same version (e.g. Home Premium, Pro, Ultimate) as what you had installed. If you want/need to buy a disc, Amazon has them starting at $75. See this link
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=%22windows%20xp%22
I don't think MS is selling XP any more because they seem to think Windows 8 is the answer for everything. To say I strongly disagree with that philosophy would be an extreme understatement! Grin Good luck.

- Collapse -
Just a couple of minor points
Dec 23, 2012 3:21AM PST

Just a couple of minor points:

1: There was only an XP Home and Pro sold retail
2: Microsoft isn't selling XP anymore because all support for it stops next year -- it's a 10 year old OS with a LOT of shortcomings under the hood which have been slowly, but steadily, addressed by Microsoft in Vista onward

- Collapse -
I bought my XP 64 bit at retail.
Dec 23, 2012 3:27AM PST

Fry's ? Long time ago but it was "retail."

I don't suggest XP to anyone that asks. It's one of those OSes where if they ask, they are not ready.

Some folk burst into flames over that. Another sign they are not ready to use XP.
Bob

- Collapse -
Answer
No. Microsoft will not give you XP.
Dec 23, 2012 3:30AM PST

Take a chance and go to HP.com and find your laptop. See if there is a replacement OS order page and if you are very lucky (so lucky that every lotto ticket you buy wins!) then HP can get you replacement media.

If not, you should chalk it up to the old lesson about backup of what we can't lose and explore ebay, newegg, amazon for XP cds and more.

Frankly I'd install Linux and shop for a new laptop.
Bob

- Collapse -
Need Windows XP
Dec 23, 2012 11:05PM PST

Wow,tried a long shot and it worked.Had no back up,had no repair disc,had no bootable disc(I know dumb).I had a repair disc from my desktop with Windows 7.So I said what the heck and put it in my dead laptop.Well it booted,of course could not do much with it,BUT it gave me a DOS prompt.With that I called up "disc part"I made "D"drive bootable.Booted up on D drive and restored Windows XP.Everything working fine.Thanks everyone for help.

- Collapse -
(NT) Time to buy a Lotto ticket!
Dec 23, 2012 11:28PM PST
- Collapse -
Install Linux??
Jan 6, 2013 7:26PM PST

i installed Ubuntu and found it unfathomable to get it to work for my daily use. There is help but you need to be quite knowledgeable to make it work. I strived some time but had to come back to XP. Sorry Sir, but that is my experience.
I had lost my XP original.I bought one from the sources mentioned above. Once I loaded the bought disc it worked well, As soon as I loaded then I found my missing xp disc. I have not bothered to load it.
Although I have issues with loading Service Pack 1 & 2. The service pack 3 was one the disc I bought. So I have SP3 but not others.
My guess is that SP1 & 2 do not matter if you have an anti virus installed. My XP is working fine though I am still struggling to find all the Drivers and especially those of your older applications and cards.
I hope it helps someone.

- Collapse -
Drivers are always fun to find.
Jan 7, 2013 3:52AM PST

You need to make a new post and add the make, model of what you have and what you need drivers for if you want folk to help you find drivers. Driver finder software is too unreliable and many install spyware.

About Ubuntu. It has firefox and that works the same. But you didn't reveal what you used the machine for so I can't offer much.
Bob

- Collapse -
Answer
Make a choice...
Dec 24, 2012 12:17AM PST

HP is your main OS support as that's the deal HP made with MS in order to provide OS with the laptop at lower cost. XP is now too old to be sold by HP(out of stock) or general retail sales. If you want XP, then you need to check eBay or Craigslist for some vendor you trust or any "used" source. Since, this is a laptop you may get lucky and have a "recovery/restore" disc made for your laptop. There are legal vendors offering such, just enter your HP laptop model# and see if they have or make it. Also, retail versions of OS will install too, you will then need proper drivers to finish the install 100%. Some vendors offer unopened HP restore discs, even upgrades(if applicable) that work with your HP key, worth considering.

http://www.restoredisks.com -OR- any similar vendors

tada -----Willy Happy

- Collapse -
Answer
try ebay
Jan 8, 2013 10:50AM PST

try ebay or amazon for a reasonable copy.