No one here needs to be reminded how virus prone windows environment is, and in case if you face a situation where you have corrupted your C: partition, then first solution that comes to mind is format active partition and reinstalling the windows.
Repartition Hard Drive on Windows XP without System Reinstall If you do not want to spend so much time to backup data, reinstall Windows XP system, create partition and format partition to redistribute disk space on Windows XP, there is an easy way to repartition hard drive on Windows XP without system reinstall. How to Repair Windows XP Without Bootable CD. Now I am going to share the subjected trick for repairing you windows xp without CD but if you are using Laptop you must plug your system with Power source. And follow the give below instructions. (this process just works in Windows XP Only) Click on Start Menu and then RUN.
But if you had already installed Linux after installing windows. and wish to reinstall XP then you are in a hang, as windows XP installation CD will not boot up properly with Linux installed on same system.
I have faced this situation many times; the XP installation will just hang after displaying
'Detecting your hardware configuration'…
A work around to this problem dose exists.
Now I will just jot out the materials and steps required to reinstall XP in a hard disk with a Linux already installed.
Problem
- First you installed windows XP.
- Then installed Linux flavor like Fedora or Ubuntu.
- XP corrupted due to virus or any other reason.
- Now you have problem reinstalling XP, yet you don't want to format your any of the Linux partition.
Material required
- Smartdrv.exe (you can find this in the windows 98 installation CD or download it from internet). This is a driver that will enable fast copying of data in 16 bit mode.
- Windows XP installation CD (which you want to install).
- Windows 98 bootable CD (needed to boot the computer).
Procedure to follow
- Backup all your data, [ NOTE : this is the most important step].
- Backup your boot loader configuration, ex: 'menu.lst' in case of GRUB.
- Find out how to recover a boot loader for your flavor of Linux, this example considers Fedora & Ubuntu installed along with a corrupt XP [NOTE: step 2 & 3 are second most important steps].
- Boot your Linux, you can also use Ubuntu live CD's (last time I used Ubuntu 8.10).
- Format the corrupted/virus effected partition with fat32 file system. You can do this easily using Parted or Gparted which is a GUI front end to Parted.
- Insert the windows XP installation CD into the computer, and copy the 'I386' folder to your newly formatted partition.
- Copy the smartdrv.exe to the same partition.
- Now insert the windows 98 installation CD and reboot the PC with this CD.
- Go to the newly formatted partition and run the 'smartdrv.exe' on the command line.
- Change directory to 'I386' directory.
- Now run the 'winnt.exe' from command line.
- An installation of windows XP will begin in 16 bit mode.
- You will be asked to choose some settings, most of which are already in correct form.
- Start the installation.
- After the installation is over in 16 bit mode (which is essentially copying of files), you will be asked to reboot the computer again.
- Reboot the pc this time without the windows 98 CD.
- Windows XP installation in 32 bit mode will begin (as normal way that we experience when installing from CD).
- Reboot your PC to a fresh installed XP.
- Now to get your GRUB boot loader back you can use the Ubuntu live CD or Fedora installation DVD to upgrade the currently installed fedora (which ever your Linux version be, there is usually some method to recover a boot loader in the installation media).
Voila…
Microsoft is making good their promise to remove mandatory product key input during the installation or upgrading process of Windows XP operating system, in a new Windows Product Activation (WPA) process that similar to what implements in Windows Vista. However, only integrated Windows XP with Service Pack retail install or OEM CD can bypass the step to enter product key. Windows XP SP3 installation or setup CD/DVD for corporate customers with volume licensing agreement still require a valid and legitimate volume license product key (VLK) to be entered, as tested and reported by Tip and Trick previously.
When installing Windows XP with Service Pack 3 integrated setup CD or DVD for retail or OEM channel (clean install from fresh state or upgrade), the installation process will still prompt for a 25-character product key as appeared on the yellow sticker on the back of Windows folder to be entered. However, user can leave the product key field blank, and simply click Next button to skip supplying a product key during installation. As similar to Windows Vista, installing Windows XP SP3 without a product key will have system offers the user 30-day activation grace period, and entitles user to a 30 days evaluation or trial period to try out the OS.
Windows XP Setup screen during entering product key phase, which now says 'Entering your product key is optional but strongly recommended to help avoid complications during activation.'
If the user click on next without filling in the 25-character product key (leaving the product key field or the 5 boxes blank), an 'Error' dialog saying 'Entry of a product key will be required later for continued use of Windows. If you choose not to enter the product key now, you might need to reinstall Windows later and potentially lose files and information, or you might need to purchase another version of Windows. We strongly recommend that you enter your product key now. Do you want to enter your product key now?' It's probably a scare tactic, just click 'No' to skip and bypass the product key step.
It's unclear why Microsoft decides to leave the Volume Licensing media (commonly known as VL or VOL) untouched, since it makes no difference to still require a product key during installation. The VOL editions of Windows XP is the main crack method used by pirates to counterfeit Windows XP OS. It's commonly used with leaked or stolen VLK which once entered, Windows skips the activation procedure altogether, guarantee sure success to activate Windows XP (of course, the crack won't work when validation comes into picture.) Thus, it's believed that Microsoft probably fears of annoying the powerful big corporate customers who prefer fast and easy deployment as associated with Windows XP so far.
No one here needs to be reminded how virus prone windows environment is, and in case if you face a situation where you have corrupted your C: partition, then first solution that comes to mind is format active partition and reinstalling the windows.
Repartition Hard Drive on Windows XP without System Reinstall If you do not want to spend so much time to backup data, reinstall Windows XP system, create partition and format partition to redistribute disk space on Windows XP, there is an easy way to repartition hard drive on Windows XP without system reinstall. How to Repair Windows XP Without Bootable CD. Now I am going to share the subjected trick for repairing you windows xp without CD but if you are using Laptop you must plug your system with Power source. And follow the give below instructions. (this process just works in Windows XP Only) Click on Start Menu and then RUN.
But if you had already installed Linux after installing windows. and wish to reinstall XP then you are in a hang, as windows XP installation CD will not boot up properly with Linux installed on same system.
I have faced this situation many times; the XP installation will just hang after displaying
'Detecting your hardware configuration'…
A work around to this problem dose exists.
Now I will just jot out the materials and steps required to reinstall XP in a hard disk with a Linux already installed.
Problem
- First you installed windows XP.
- Then installed Linux flavor like Fedora or Ubuntu.
- XP corrupted due to virus or any other reason.
- Now you have problem reinstalling XP, yet you don't want to format your any of the Linux partition.
Material required
- Smartdrv.exe (you can find this in the windows 98 installation CD or download it from internet). This is a driver that will enable fast copying of data in 16 bit mode.
- Windows XP installation CD (which you want to install).
- Windows 98 bootable CD (needed to boot the computer).
Procedure to follow
- Backup all your data, [ NOTE : this is the most important step].
- Backup your boot loader configuration, ex: 'menu.lst' in case of GRUB.
- Find out how to recover a boot loader for your flavor of Linux, this example considers Fedora & Ubuntu installed along with a corrupt XP [NOTE: step 2 & 3 are second most important steps].
- Boot your Linux, you can also use Ubuntu live CD's (last time I used Ubuntu 8.10).
- Format the corrupted/virus effected partition with fat32 file system. You can do this easily using Parted or Gparted which is a GUI front end to Parted.
- Insert the windows XP installation CD into the computer, and copy the 'I386' folder to your newly formatted partition.
- Copy the smartdrv.exe to the same partition.
- Now insert the windows 98 installation CD and reboot the PC with this CD.
- Go to the newly formatted partition and run the 'smartdrv.exe' on the command line.
- Change directory to 'I386' directory.
- Now run the 'winnt.exe' from command line.
- An installation of windows XP will begin in 16 bit mode.
- You will be asked to choose some settings, most of which are already in correct form.
- Start the installation.
- After the installation is over in 16 bit mode (which is essentially copying of files), you will be asked to reboot the computer again.
- Reboot the pc this time without the windows 98 CD.
- Windows XP installation in 32 bit mode will begin (as normal way that we experience when installing from CD).
- Reboot your PC to a fresh installed XP.
- Now to get your GRUB boot loader back you can use the Ubuntu live CD or Fedora installation DVD to upgrade the currently installed fedora (which ever your Linux version be, there is usually some method to recover a boot loader in the installation media).
Voila…
Microsoft is making good their promise to remove mandatory product key input during the installation or upgrading process of Windows XP operating system, in a new Windows Product Activation (WPA) process that similar to what implements in Windows Vista. However, only integrated Windows XP with Service Pack retail install or OEM CD can bypass the step to enter product key. Windows XP SP3 installation or setup CD/DVD for corporate customers with volume licensing agreement still require a valid and legitimate volume license product key (VLK) to be entered, as tested and reported by Tip and Trick previously.
When installing Windows XP with Service Pack 3 integrated setup CD or DVD for retail or OEM channel (clean install from fresh state or upgrade), the installation process will still prompt for a 25-character product key as appeared on the yellow sticker on the back of Windows folder to be entered. However, user can leave the product key field blank, and simply click Next button to skip supplying a product key during installation. As similar to Windows Vista, installing Windows XP SP3 without a product key will have system offers the user 30-day activation grace period, and entitles user to a 30 days evaluation or trial period to try out the OS.
Windows XP Setup screen during entering product key phase, which now says 'Entering your product key is optional but strongly recommended to help avoid complications during activation.'
If the user click on next without filling in the 25-character product key (leaving the product key field or the 5 boxes blank), an 'Error' dialog saying 'Entry of a product key will be required later for continued use of Windows. If you choose not to enter the product key now, you might need to reinstall Windows later and potentially lose files and information, or you might need to purchase another version of Windows. We strongly recommend that you enter your product key now. Do you want to enter your product key now?' It's probably a scare tactic, just click 'No' to skip and bypass the product key step.
It's unclear why Microsoft decides to leave the Volume Licensing media (commonly known as VL or VOL) untouched, since it makes no difference to still require a product key during installation. The VOL editions of Windows XP is the main crack method used by pirates to counterfeit Windows XP OS. It's commonly used with leaked or stolen VLK which once entered, Windows skips the activation procedure altogether, guarantee sure success to activate Windows XP (of course, the crack won't work when validation comes into picture.) Thus, it's believed that Microsoft probably fears of annoying the powerful big corporate customers who prefer fast and easy deployment as associated with Windows XP so far.
Menu item in Start Menu to activate Windows XP SP3
Reinstall Windows Xp Without Cd
A activation key with days left for activation tooltip also displays in system tray (notification area).
Windows XP SP3 activation wizard will ask for product key to be entered before activation is done online.