How do I do I clean install of Windows XP and reinstall Office?

December 25, 2009

I have a laptop I want to sell, and I want to do a clean install of Windows XP and reinstall Office 2003.

1) How do I do a clean install? I’ve never done one before.

2) Would the product key for Office still work? I’m under the impression that if you use the key once it’s no longer any good. Am I incorrect?

3) I have the CDs for XP and Office, but they came from a different computer (this laptop had everything preinstalled and did not come with CDs). Does it matter if I’m using discs from another comp?

PS: All my software is legitimate.
If the XP disc is OEM, how would I go about the clean install of the OS?

Windows XP Product key?

November 14, 2009

MY computer recently crashed and went to a repairguy. ( A friend of my dad fixed it) Now since the computer crashed he put a new hardrive and basicly most of the files are missing. So i was trying to reinstal Mcafee and IT said my software product(windows) is out of date and need to be updated. So i go on windows updater and it says my product is not genuine.
I go on my computer and i click properties and i see the Registered to: section got changed and had the repair guys name. SO now the PRODUCT KEY IS CHANGE AND WIndows thinks its now a fonny any ideas on what to do

How do I download Norton Virus Protection that I have already bought for one laptop to another laptop?

September 27, 2009

I have bought the Norton Virus Protection package and it says it is good for 3 computers. Now that I’ve downloaded it on one computer with the product key, how do I use the product key and install it on another computer?

How to clean up a failing computer?

July 29, 2009

A family member has a failing computer running XP Pro whereas I have a spare drive on my own computer with an unused XP Pro installation already set up. My idea is to back up all his files/folders etc using the Back Up facility within Windows Live OneCare and then set him up on my spare drive. All XP installations in this house have passed Microsoft validation however, he does not have an installation CD but I can get his Product Key. I have two questions. What is the best method of preparing a computer for a fresh installation of XP Pro (is formatting the HDD too extreme)? Secondly, if I use my installation CD to re-install XP Pro on his computer but when the time comes to enter a Product Key, I enter HIS Product Key rather than my own, can that work? Are Product Keys only specific to the program/application being installed or are they specific to the individual installation CD being used?

Failed to start failed to repair ..fed up with windows I need major help!!!?

July 12, 2009

After installing new updates I restarted my computer and I got a msg saying windows failed to start a recent hardware of software change might be the cause and it told me to put in my Windows Vista disc and "repair my computer" so I did. Then I got an error msg saying "The instruction at 0x73c7060 referenced memory at 0x000000000. THe memory could not be read" So now my computer doesn’t do a thing. THis is the second problem I have had with windows in the past three days. Do I need to buy a new computer?! What is the problem?! Any ideas!? I also tried reinstalling windows vista but it just said "To use the product Key you have entered, start the instalation from your existing version of windows" which I can’t do because WINDOWS FAILED TO START!

Thanks for any help anyone can give me