Live Chat & Podcast at 1:00PM Eastern on Sunday!
There's no such thing as a stupid question, but they're the easiest to answer.
JoinTour
Login
Search
Windows XP
Tag Cloud
access acer asus bios bsod computer crash desktop dns driver drivers error ethernet excel freeze gaming graphics hard drive hardware hdmi internet laptop malware memory monitor motherboard network printer problem ram registry repair router slow software sound trojan ubuntu 11.10 uninstall usb video virus vista wifi windows windows 7 windows 7 32 bit windows 7 64 bit windows xp wireless
Search
Search for:
Tech Support Guy Forums > Operating Systems > Windows XP >
XP Office Computer needs formatting

Reply  
Thread Tools
Oveee's Avatar
Junior Member with 3 posts.
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Experience: Intermediate
14-Oct-2009, 12:11 PM #1
XP Office Computer needs renewal
Ok, I have recieved a free office desktop computer from some office that takes calls (the company is closed). (btw I didnt steal the computer :P)

Ive plugged it in, and there is a really strict security on it. I can access one user, and I doubt hes an admin.
There are two desktop icons, Internet Explorer and something called "Agent6", probably part of the company, cause when I doubleclick it, it tells me there is no SQL server thing recognised. The Start button has two options. Shut Down or All programs. All programs has one option. Startup. Startup has NOTHING.

I cannot leftclick anywhere, I cannot start the windows explorer, and internet explorer is pretty useless without internet.

Is there any way I can format or recover the original XP, with a clean start? Any CDs I can put into the PC to format? I dont have the xp installation CD, but would that work? Or is the computer un"fixable"?

Thanks in advance

Last edited by Oveee; 14-Oct-2009 at 12:22 PM.. Reason: title misleading
etaf's Avatar
Computer Specs
Moderator with 34,408 posts.
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Surrey, UK
Experience: Intermediate
14-Oct-2009, 12:27 PM #2
sounds like its been set up for a callcentre with very limited user control
any idea what the spec is

your probably goinf to need a new XP CD (Unlikely you will have the CDs that came with the PC) The IT dept would have just rebuilt to there requirements
whats the make and model of the PC
is there a windows labelanywhere on the machine, you may be able to call microsoft and quote the numbers there for a new CD at a minimum cost
__________________
Note: I have very limited time during weekdays to visit here, so there will be a delay in replying
UK timezone
Please let us know what the final solution was to any problem posted
Oveee's Avatar
Junior Member with 3 posts.
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Experience: Intermediate
14-Oct-2009, 01:14 PM #3
would the 25 digit product key help?
its on a sticker with a adress www.microsoft.com/piracy/howtotell
plus other things, Windows XP Professional, FujitsuSiemensComputers and stuff... there doesnt seem to be specs anywhere on or in the computer,,

There is also another sticker showing product number, model number and system number and other things.

Is this enough?
Sure theres no other way to "delete" this ?
etaf's Avatar
Computer Specs
Moderator with 34,408 posts.
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Surrey, UK
Experience: Intermediate
14-Oct-2009, 01:23 PM #4
if you posted these details
product number, model number and system number
we may be able to look up the specs from the website

I think its very unlikely it will have a partition to rebuild the PC to factory condition - but it may still have that
however as you have verylimited access - it will be difficult to tell .... again there may be a way to access the partition as it boots, available on the manufacturers website
HP use F11 on boot
__________________
Note: I have very limited time during weekdays to visit here, so there will be a delay in replying
UK timezone
Please let us know what the final solution was to any problem posted
Oveee's Avatar
Junior Member with 3 posts.
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Experience: Intermediate
14-Oct-2009, 01:43 PM #5
I just booted from a Linux Mint Live CD, and found out:
Memory: 465.4 MiB (total)
Swap:116.4 MiB (total)
Space: 37.3 GiB (total)
I checked the partitions from the Live CD, and there is only one ( sda1 (ntfs) ).

With Live CDs, I seem to get enough access. Is it possible to delete stuff from the harddisk from the live cd? from what ive been told, the live cd does nothing to the computer, but is this true if I access the harddisk from it? In that case I can delete program files or whatever I need from there, right?
etaf's Avatar
Computer Specs
Moderator with 34,408 posts.
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Surrey, UK
Experience: Intermediate
14-Oct-2009, 01:59 PM #6
465 MB of memory
possibly also has 32MB of onboard video
But that should make approx 512MB ...... and does not ....

Not sure what you can do from liveCd

it clearly runs - you going to need a OS to run.
Reply

Tags
formatting, office, windows xp

THIS THREAD HAS EXPIRED.
Are you having the same problem? We have volunteers ready to answer your question, but first you'll have to join for free. Need help getting started? Check out our Welcome Guide.

Search Tech Support Guy

Find the solution to your
computer problem!




Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
WELCOME TO TECH SUPPORT GUY! Are you looking for the solution to your computer problem? Join our site today to ask your question -- for free! Our site is run completely by volunteers who want to help you solve your computer problems. See our Welcome Guide to get started.
Thread Tools



Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter TechGuy.tv TechGuy.tv Mobile TSG Mobile
You Are Using:
Server ID
Advertisements do not imply our endorsement of that product or service.
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:23 PM.
Copyright © 1996 - 2011 TechGuy, Inc. All rights reserved.

Powered by Cermak Technologies, Inc.