Hi, i have loads of errors etc on my computer which i dont have the time or patience to deal with, so i have DECIDED to wipe the hard disk clean, but i dont have my windows xp recovery cd? Is there any way i can return my computer to its original state without the recovery disk? I have backed up everything i need.
I looked at the HP recovery console and it says there is an option to do a destructive recovery, but im not sure if that will REINSTALL the operating system?

Any help appreciated.

PS. Computer details

HP Pavilion t.450.uk
Windows Xp Home edition SP2
2.80 GHz
120Gb Hard drive
Intel Pentium 4
512Mb DDRThe "destructive recovery" should return your computer to it's original state but you may still need that CD. Read the HP help files.Ok thanks for the reply, will get back to you after i have read up on the hp website.
Jus wondering, is it possible to download the xp recovery console and put it onto a disk, or is this seen as copyright infringement etc?I'm not quite sure what you mean.Well, is it possible to download whatever is contained on the windows xp recovery disk that is given with new computers, and burn it onto a normal cd-r to use? or do i need a proper one?

In that case would it be possibly to borrow a windows x recovery disk from a friend?
I'm not sure if HP supply recovery disks and if they do, I suspect there would be a charge.
Recovery CDs are specific to the machine that they were supplied with so unless your friends machine is exactly the same as yours, do not use his disks.
If you don't have the recovery CDs and you can't source them, then your only option is to buy a copy of XP Pro or Home.ok thanks for the advice, i seem to remember following the destructive recovery path before, and if i remember rightly, it resulted in my computer booting up and getting a black screen saying NTLDR not found or something along those lines, so my dad called someone out while i was out to fix it.

Sent an e-mail to hp, waiting on a reply.Personally, I would bite the bullet and buy a copy of XP Pro. Cheap copies can be sourced from eBay etc but be careful what you're buying and ensure that it is an original CD with a genuine COA.
Of course, this would mean that you would also have to invest in new programs such as an office suite as well unless you are prepared to use free open source programs.ok, took the destructive recovery route, WORKED out a treat.
Turns out, hp computers are not shipped with recovery cds, there is a partition on the hard disk. unwittingly, this is what i eventually used to format the computer.

One last problem, does anyone know where i can get a manual download of serivce PACK 2 please?
Windows update is temperamental on my pc.

Thanks alot for all your help. A quick google search turns up many places to get SP2. Here's one.

http://www.softwarepatch.com/windows/xpsp2.html


<-----------------The official MICROSOFT SP2 download can be found [highlight]here[/highlight].
Downloading it from anywhere else is asking for trouble.Brilliant, thanks alot for the help guys, you are legends!