new kid

[miken100]

Hello,

I have been charged with taking over for an IT guy that was fired. I know enough about windows to be dangerous. Here is my dilemma. I have a computer with windows xp professional, and the hard drive is beginning to fail. A similar computer (bought at the same time) failed two weeks ago. I had Microcenter install a new hard drive, and they loaded on xp pro again.

They gave me a recovery disk for the computer. I have no disks for XP pro. (OEM installed). I have backed everything up to an external hard drive.

Question 1: Can I use the recovery disk from the first computer on the second, once I install a new hard drive?

Question 2. Since it is a new hard drive, and I only have a recovery disk, will I get a complete install when I use the recovery disk? If not where do I go? I have the product key on the side of the computer.

[cksboy15]

1. no that disk is for the copy on the new hard drive

2. no, to get a complete install you need a windows xp (or vista) disk and then a CD key for this disk. Your product key will only work for your copy of xp that is on the new hard drive.

[miken100]

So, If I make a recovery disk from the drive that is about to die, can I then use the product key to get the complete install?

[pullmyfoot]

Usually recovery disks are tied to that exact motherboard that it came with.