My HP Pavilion ze4125 was disabled by viruses. My daughter lost the HP startup CD and Windows XP Home Edition CD from HP in Iraq. My IT friend used my Dell startup CD from my Dell Dimension 8300 and the Windows XP Home Edition CD from Dell and got the laptop going. I tried to activate Windows XP by changing the product key using the internet and calling Windows Tech and HP Tech. Windows Tech said I have to get HP to unlock the SLP. HP Tech says they can fix it for $59 but can't send me a new startup disk. Windows Tech said they could fix it but it would cost me, I think $100. Staples would fix it for $100. The laptop is about 7 yrs old and I hate to spend anymore money on it. I got optimistic after my IT friend got it going and put 1 Gig of memory in it for $40. The Windows Tech said I could buy a 3rd party HP Pavilion ze4125 startup CD for $28 and she assured me it would work to get the Windows XP activated. I looked up the Windows XP activation instructions on the HP site and it says most activities don't require me to activate Windows XP, except what my IT friend did, i.e. use my Dell CD to startup my HP laptop. I hate to pay more to use the Windows XP program I already PAID for. Any advice or suggestions - or should I GIVE up and buy a $200 netbook on sale? Frustrated and stingy, Paul BYou should only use a HP disk on a HP computer. The key is only valid for that company. If you really have a HP product, and if it really has a COA on it, you can legally install the HP CD and do not have to pay anything.
However, any Tech who does this for you will want you to pay for his time. There are people who will help you with this, but I don't think members of this FORUM would like it if I told you how to get the CD for free. Because it would sound like I am helping someone to pirate the Windows software.
I have a Compaq laptop and the HP XP CD installs perfectly There is no problem if you have an authentic HP or Compaq computer that was made for Windows XP. It does not work on a computer that has been 'de-branded' and is no longer a authentic product.
Maybe you have a fiend that can explain this to you better that I can. You have to have the right CD for that brand of computer. And you should not have to pay for it.Quote

The Windows Tech said I could buy a 3rd party HP Pavilion ze4125 startup CD for $28 and she assured me it would work to get the Windows XP activated.