Can I reformat a laptop if can't find CDs?

[rfdrfd]

Helping my Uncle out, his Toshiba laptop, I need to re-format it and start from new to fix a problem.

He can't seem to find any of the CDs that came with it. Is it possible to reformat it back to the way it was ?

Thanx

[Kasakato]

You have a couple of choices:
1) If the laptop has a recovery partition, you can boot into that.
2) Find an OEM XP cd and reinstall.
3) Order new CDs from the manfacture.

[gambit_360]

The laptop hard drive might have a hidden recovery partition that you can restore from. Other than that, you'll probably need the Windows CD's to re-install the O/S.

[Cough]

How do you find the hidden recovery partition?

[Kasakato]

How do you find the hidden recovery partition?

Well you can check My Computer to see how much HD space there is, in relationship to the actual size; taking in account formatting space.

In BIOS there may be an option to boot into DtD (disk to disk), or similar option to boot into this hidden partition.

[toujours]

Well you can check My Computer to see how much HD space there is, in relationship to the actual size; taking in account formatting space.

In BIOS there may be an option to boot into DtD (disk to disk), or similar option to boot into this hidden partition.There may also be a hidden option in the Microsoft boot manager (i forget the name) that allows you to choose which partition to boot to. Look in boot.ini and see what lines are there...

[Kasakato]

There may also be a hidden option in the Microsoft boot manager (i forget the name) that allows you to choose which partition to boot to. Look in boot.ini and see what lines are there...

My Computer > Properties > Advanced > Start Up and Recovery: Settings > System Startup: Edit.

If you cant read it, copy and past it here. Be sure not to change anything.

[neoteric]

Toshiba laptops usually don't come with a recovery/hidden partition.

Your best bet would be to format/reinstall using a windows xp install disc with your product key on the bottom of your laptop.

After you have reinstalled windows, you will need to download and install drivers that are specific to that model of Toshiba laptop. You can find them here (http://209.167.114.38/support/Download/ln_byModel.asp)

Good luck

[happyplato]

Helping my Uncle out, his Toshiba laptop, I need to re-format it and start from new to fix a problem.

He can't seem to find any of the CDs that came with it. Is it possible to reformat it back to the way it was ?

Thanx

What's the problem that you're fixing? Better fix the problem instead of re-format. When you re-format, you can not get it "back to the way it was".

[rfdrfd]

What's the problem that you're fixing? Better fix the problem instead of re-format. When you re-format, you can not get it "back to the way it was".

Thanks, here's the problem:

Because my uncle wanted to read Chinese characters (from websites?) on his genuine WinXP Toshiba laptop. My cousin installed a (conterfeit) Chinese language (plug-ins?) to it.

So some of his Window XP pop-ups can be Chinese. That I'm sure is not genuine Chinese WinXP.

Then, thanks to the regular WinXP Auto-updates, one of which is the GENUINE WINDOWS VERIFIER (which I also installed on my own laptop), after that was installed, it checked and now, each time he boots up:

"Your copy of Windows is NOT genuine.....blah blah.." In Chinese characters.


That is the main problem, I think. And his internet has been intermittent On and Off too. He is using a DLink router to split with my Aunt's other laptop, so not sure if the internet thing is related here.

So all I wanna do is get rid of this WinXP Chinese thing, so his laptop is BACK to genuine English XP.

[hooch]

Any Windows XP installation can support Chinese languages. But again, you need your Windows XP CD. I'm not sure what your cousin did to cause the installation of Windows XP to no longer be considered legit though.

I'd say go the safest route and order the recovery CDs from Toshiba directly. Once you get them, backup everything important. Then use the recovery CDs. Once you're done, go into the "Regional and Language" options Control Panel, go into the Languages tab, and "check" the "Install files for East Asian Lanaguages". Then click on "OK". It'll ask for your Windows XP CD, whirr a bit, and then it should support Chinese without any issues. At least, that's how I've done it. Good luck.

[Cyber6]

Thanks, here's the problem:

Because my uncle wanted to read Chinese characters (from websites?) on his genuine WinXP Toshiba laptop. My cousin installed a (conterfeit) Chinese language (plug-ins?) to it.

So some of his Window XP pop-ups can be Chinese. That I'm sure is not genuine Chinese WinXP.

Then, thanks to the regular WinXP Auto-updates, one of which is the GENUINE WINDOWS VERIFIER (which I also installed on my own laptop), after that was installed, it checked and now, each time he boots up:

"Your copy of Windows is NOT genuine.....blah blah.." In Chinese characters.


That is the main problem, I think. And his internet has been intermittent On and Off too. He is using a DLink router to split with my Aunt's other laptop, so not sure if the internet thing is related here.

So all I wanna do is get rid of this WinXP Chinese thing, so his laptop is BACK to genuine English XP.


Did you try to uninstalled the plugins??

Not sure what kind of program are they but you might be able to find them in the Control Panel/Add and Remove Programs.

Another solution (without reformatting) is to do a "restore point". Restore to a time when the lappy was working fine(without the plugins).

Try that.


C.

[rfdrfd]

Did you try to uninstalled the plugins??

Not sure what kind of program are they but you might be able to find them in the Control Panel/Add and Remove Programs.

Another solution (without reformatting) is to do a "restore point". Restore to a time when the lappy was working fine(without the plugins).

Try that.


C.

OH Ya, duh me. Restore point. Let me try that too.

[rfdrfd]

Any Windows XP installation can support Chinese languages. But again, you need your Windows XP CD. I'm not sure what your cousin did to cause the installation of Windows XP to no longer be considered legit though.

I'd say go the safest route and order the recovery CDs from Toshiba directly. Once you get them, backup everything important. Then use the recovery CDs. Once you're done, go into the "Regional and Language" options Control Panel, go into the Languages tab, and "check" the "Install files for East Asian Lanaguages". Then click on "OK". It'll ask for your Windows XP CD, whirr a bit, and then it should support Chinese without any issues. At least, that's how I've done it. Good luck.


Amm... how do i get it from Toshiba? Call them? Is there a cost?

[champ91]

Thanks, here's the problem:

Because my uncle wanted to read Chinese characters (from websites?) on his genuine WinXP Toshiba laptop. My cousin installed a (conterfeit) Chinese language (plug-ins?) to it.

So some of his Window XP pop-ups can be Chinese. That I'm sure is not genuine Chinese WinXP.

Then, thanks to the regular WinXP Auto-updates, one of which is the GENUINE WINDOWS VERIFIER (which I also installed on my own laptop), after that was installed, it checked and now, each time he boots up:

"Your copy of Windows is NOT genuine.....blah blah.." In Chinese characters.


That is the main problem, I think. And his internet has been intermittent On and Off too. He is using a DLink router to split with my Aunt's other laptop, so not sure if the internet thing is related here.

So all I wanna do is get rid of this WinXP Chinese thing, so his laptop is BACK to genuine English XP.


what about just removing the genuine verifer. You can do it with a program or i belive there are commands you can use to get rid of it. Search in this forum, i remember the user Gee posting it.

[champ91]

Once you're done, go into the "Regional and Language" options Control Panel, go into the Languages tab, and "check" the "Install files for East Asian Lanaguages". Then click on "OK". It'll ask for your Windows XP CD, whirr a bit, and then it should support Chinese without any issues. At least, that's how I've done it. Good luck.

i do that too, except some chinese characters in windows media player or winamp wont' display properly. Not sure if it's the encoding, ended up using njstar communicator.