System restore without disk or back up points made

[GJS1]

HI does anyone have an idea about how to set a 32-bit xp computer to factory settings without having a system restore disk or back up pointss made? It;s not my c and not worth enough to buy a copy of xp. Also there is no option to restore in advacnced boot, and the company who produced it went bancrupt a few years back
any ideas?
Thanks

 

[Alex74]

Find the product key of the XP install (useful link), then if you can get ahold of the appropriate Retail or OEM image (or if you have the appropriate CD handy, then just use that) you can just reinstall XP using their own CD Key.

It wont have any factory installed drivers, but drivers for any components can generally be easily found on the web..

 

[blastman]

if it's an OEM system and you have the i368 folder on your C:\ drive you can use it to create your own XP installation disc.

You will have to use your own XP key (found on either the case or as Alex74 suggested)

If it is an OEM system I think you'll run into problems if you just try to use an retail disc as the key won't be known to it. This is also true with the OEM disc unless you can get one produced by the machines manufacture which seems unlikely as you have already said that they went bust a few years back.

Personally, I'd make my own XP disc using your i386 folder (if you have it!)

details on how to re-create an OEM disc can be found below....

http://www.howtohaven.com/system/createwindowssetupdisk.shtml

Hope it helps