i know theres a tech forum but i need a quick answer and that forum seems very dead.

i've been moving around a lot lately and i have no idea where my system recovery disk is now. is it alright if i use someone else's recovery disk if its not meant for the same model computer?

and will a system recovery disk really do the job? i have some sort of weird system error and need to reinstall windows. i'm not sure if a recovery disk will just redo the drivers etc.

heh, i thought you meant literal windows, like



i was wanting to know how you managed to uninstall them. now this thread can never live up to my expectations.

I was thinking the same thing.

we're just conditioned to believe that all threads are in their right place. i'm sure we would have got it if we were browsing tech support and saw this.

does anyone really browse tech support?

I wouldn't know. I've only been in there twice or so.

Do you still have your windows product key? There are a few options you can have with reinstalling windows. I'm a bit rusty on it, but I think there's an option where you can just reinstall windows, and it leaves the programs on your computer. I'll look it up.
And this recovery disc. What is it exactly? Is it from the computer manufacturer? (Like compaq or something?) Man I hated those.
Also, what is this error message you're getting?

Check this out. http://pcworld.about.com/magazine/2109p156id111652.htm Not sure about using a different recovery cd though. I think if you just do a recovery install, it saves your product key

i do. i don't know why, i just seem to enjoy the atmosphere in there.

you like empty rooms?

Sorry, triple post. But here's a program to retrieve your windows product key: http://www.magicaljellybean.com/downloads/kf141.zip When it prompts you to type in your key, put this in. You'll be gold

hey, a lot of helping others goes on in there, plus bitching about computers. therefore there's no such thing as a bad tech support thread.

except for things like "how do i copy text?"

or pete's question, "how do i post good threads?"

after being online for about 30 mins, i get this error message saying something baout 'generic hosting for win 32 services has encountered a problem and needs to close' and then i cant go online anymore and some programs/drivers dont work. when i send an error report it tells me its from an error in a sp2 security patch and to install this windows patch to correct it. except i dont have sp2. i installed the patch and it still happens. ive searched for a virus with sp2 and cant find anything so i thought i mightve just screwed up one of my drivers or something. but now i think it might be a virus hiding behind svchost.exe.

ah, the one question tech support can't answer.

Umm. Can you not just install SP2?

He says he doesn't have it installed. We'll have to trust him on this one .

Do you have a friend with a real windows CD you can use? I fucking hate those system recovery discs. Every time you use it, you end up with a bunch of shitty compaq software and a 4 year old version of norton.