Help with PC restore

casrealcon · 17. Jun 2010, 03:08 PM

How can I restore my desktop PC to original settings without a restore disk? I have a disk but not the registration numbers requested to start it. Isn't there somewhere in the computer that will restore itself?

Anupam · 17. Jun 2010, 04:05 PM

If the disk is yours and legal, but you have somehow lost the serial number, and you had installed the OS using that disk.. then you can make use of programs like SoftKeyRevealer, or LicenseCrawler, to find the serial number of Windows that is installed.

dre · 17. Jun 2010, 06:04 PM

Your best way is to visit nirsoft.net

There you will find all the tools there for free. I use it every day.

26Dolphins · 18. Jun 2010, 03:46 PM

Hi,
In Belarc Advisor's report, among other info, the S/N of your OS gets displayed.
Easy to use.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

26Dolphins

danjmilos · 18. Jun 2010, 10:08 PM

casrealcon,

Some where in your start>all programs> there will be either a program called system recovery or a section under a program system utilities or system tools should be the recovery program you want. If I had a brand name it would have been easier. If it is an HP it may be in one of the HP folders. I have used this feature on 2 different HP's, a laptop with Vista and an XP destop. The XP only took an hour or so to recover but several hours to redo all the MS updates, the Vista took almost 3 hours to recover but less time for updates. If you have a nasty infection hopefully it did not infect the recovery partition.

Dan

This is a destructive reinstall and destroys all unsaved data, save to flash drives or discs or a USB hard drive.

tushR · 19. Jun 2010, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danjmilos

Some where in your start>all programs> there will be either a program called system recovery or a section under a program system utilities or system tools should be the recovery program you want.

That's HP system recovery (it still deletes all your data

). In HP machines they have a another partition (hidden) that has the OS Image which is used by system recovery, though its useless in case of virus issues....by chance if you have a HP system - there are ways by which you can get a free system recovery disc

.

17. Jun 2010, 03:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
casrealcon Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1	Help with PC restore How can I restore my desktop PC to original settings without a restore disk? I have a disk but not the registration numbers requested to start it. Isn't there somewhere in the computer that will restore itself?

17. Jun 2010, 04:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
Anupam Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 15,335	If the disk is yours and legal, but you have somehow lost the serial number, and you had installed the OS using that disk.. then you can make use of programs like SoftKeyRevealer, or LicenseCrawler, to find the serial number of Windows that is installed. __________________ Anupam

17. Jun 2010, 06:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
dre Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 143	Your best way is to visit nirsoft.net There you will find all the tools there for free. I use it every day. __________________ Windows 3.0, IBM PS/2 i486/DX2, 256K RAM, 50MB HDD, Integrated onboard gfx...

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18. Jun 2010, 03:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
26Dolphins Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 445	Hi, In Belarc Advisor's report, among other info, the S/N of your OS gets displayed. Easy to use. http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html 26Dolphins

18. Jun 2010, 10:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
danjmilos Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Steeler Nation Capitol Posts: 127	casrealcon, Some where in your start>all programs> there will be either a program called system recovery or a section under a program system utilities or system tools should be the recovery program you want. If I had a brand name it would have been easier. If it is an HP it may be in one of the HP folders. I have used this feature on 2 different HP's, a laptop with Vista and an XP destop. The XP only took an hour or so to recover but several hours to redo all the MS updates, the Vista took almost 3 hours to recover but less time for updates. If you have a nasty infection hopefully it did not infect the recovery partition. Dan This is a destructive reinstall and destroys all unsaved data, save to flash drives or discs or a USB hard drive.