Re-install VISTA Business without Recovery Disc

OK - here's the situation.

I was given a HP Compaq 6820s by a good friend with a bad hard drive. He had
not made recovery discs, and HP can't supply them. I can replace the hard
drive no problem, but don't want to fork over the $$$ for a new Vista OS. I
have XP pro, but there seems to be too many issues with downgrading. I have
the COA on the bottom of the computer. Since the OS was definitely paid for
with the original purchase, can I get an OS from MS for this computer?
--
Jeff

 

Jeff Jewitt <JeffJewitt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
>OK - here's the situation.
>
>I was given a HP Compaq 6820s by a good friend with a bad hard drive. He had
>not made recovery discs, and HP can't supply them. I can replace the hard
>drive no problem, but don't want to fork over the $$$ for a new Vista OS. I
>have XP pro, but there seems to be too many issues with downgrading. I have
>the COA on the bottom of the computer. Since the OS was definitely paid for
>with the original purchase, can I get an OS from MS for this computer? <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

The computer came with an OEM version of the OS. Support for that
comes from the OEM. In this case, that's HP. MS won't help you.

--
Tim Slattery
Slattery_T@bls.gov

 

"Jeff Jewitt" <JeffJewitt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EACF68F9-35DE-474E-84BF-1A253DC6A586@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> OK - here's the situation.
>
> I was given a HP Compaq 6820s by a good friend with a bad hard drive. He
> had
> not made recovery discs, and HP can't supply them. I can replace the hard
> drive no problem, but don't want to fork over the $$$ for a new Vista OS.
> I
> have XP pro, but there seems to be too many issues with downgrading. I
> have
> the COA on the bottom of the computer. Since the OS was definitely paid
> for
> with the original purchase, can I get an OS from MS for this computer?
> --
> Jeff<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

Try here:

 

I recommend wating for Windows7 in a few weeks rather than reinstalling a
failed OS that Vista is.

 

OK - he bought a replacement computer but with Windows Vista Home. If I make
a recovery disc for his computer can I use that to install Vista on the old
one after I get a new HD.
--
Jeff


"Jeff Jewitt" wrote:
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> OK - here's the situation.
>
> I was given a HP Compaq 6820s by a good friend with a bad hard drive. He had
> not made recovery discs, and HP can't supply them. I can replace the hard
> drive no problem, but don't want to fork over the $$$ for a new Vista OS. I
> have XP pro, but there seems to be too many issues with downgrading. I have
> the COA on the bottom of the computer. Since the OS was definitely paid for
> with the original purchase, can I get an OS from MS for this computer?
> --
> Jeff<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

 

On Fri, 9 Oct 2009 13:58:02 -0700, Jeff Jewitt wrote:
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> OK - he bought a replacement computer but with Windows Vista Home. If I make
> a recovery disc for his computer can I use that to install Vista on the old
> one after I get a new HD.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

I doubt it, unless it's *exactly* the same kind of machine, of course.

You should make the recovery disk anyway and make sure your friend knows
that it's important.

The earlier quote in your post disappeared from this reply because you
placed it after the signature marker "-- <Newline>".

--
Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom