Need help with XP / Linux problem.

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3puttssuck

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#44871 29-Oct-2009 17:38

Ooooppps, I messed up and did a full install of Linux when I should have clicked boot from disc. I need to reload XP but I don't have the disc or the Toshiba recovery disk. I have the COE sticker on the bottom of laptop only. What are my options ??
Thanks.

Ragnor

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#268200 29-Oct-2009 17:48

Did it actually format the hard drive and remove the data or did it just change the boot loader so XP won't boot but the data is still there on the drive?

Borrow an OEM Windows XP CD from somewhere I guess is your best option, COE key should work.

3puttssuck

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#268231 29-Oct-2009 19:06

It appears it re-formatted the HD.

wazzageek

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#268232 29-Oct-2009 19:08

Ragnor: Did it actually format the hard drive and remove the data or did it just change the boot loader so XP won't boot but the data is still there on the drive?

I assume with a full install that will by default use the entire disk ... in theory XP had taken up the whole disk. (Unless it was a distro with GParted and shrunk the XP partition.

In any case, won't most distros of linux include windows on the boot menu?

Borrow an OEM Windows XP CD from somewhere I guess is your best option, COE key should work.

+1 - assuming that XP is actually completely gone, this would be the best option.