I bought my copies from ebay for about 50.00 and I use it on family Pc's when they crash as long as the windows code key is there. Microsoft won't give you any software for free

I don't understand...
I was told I did not need a CD to uninstall....

but compaq won't give me directions...

Guess I just go to add/remove programs and DELETE all and anything with the word windows in it....

can't hurt puter aint doing me much good now I have to reboot after each post I make which is not fun

Thanks all for your help... If I am not seen in 24 hours it means I killed my puter

Jen - If you don't mind losing all your data - or back it up by copying to a CD- then you can do a full reformat of the harddrive and start back with a fresh install.

then your XP CD should work

or Linux OS are in many Linux books in the libraries if you wan tto try those FREEE

only problem for me is the wireless connection - if a wire or straight to modem -easy

jen, i thought you had an hp....i might still have my compaq start up disk...

My XP CD is not a restore CD compaq does not give one.

The CD I have is a INSTALL which means I need to get the XP out of my puter then I can use the CD.

I have nothing to lose I emailed myself ALL items I wanted to save.

I again......Do not have a restore CD the CD I have is an INSTALL which does not work until I remove the current XP from system

I have a compaq....(chit machine)
I have my original CD to install but I need to delete the current version out of puter and compaq wont give me intructions unless I PAY them which can't and will not do.

They claim I should have KNOWN to make a restore CD when I purchased puter...

Ya OK idiots this is the FIRST puter I have ever owned and I was going to know this.......I spent 3 hours or more fighting them last night....

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRr I am about ready to THROW it down the basement stairs

Is it a bought CD or one that came with your puter?


If it came with your puter it may be the same as I have which don't work...

It states on CD

Compaq Operating system CD

You don't have an emergency reboot CD?
Norton or Symantec used to have an on line DL for trobleshooting systems, and it had uninstall features. If you could DL & copy that to disk or CD..................??

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

a listing of how to format { erase } hard drive with or with out XP
{i think! didn't have time to read thru them - a appt soon will check back later}

if all important is saved /emailed -go for it

Normally the XP CD on booting /auto run ect - will ask you about reformatting or repairing or total reinstall.
unles compaq has some thing built in to stop that feature???

mine came with it. so i guess that won't work. dang. neither will my restore disc. i called geek squad and asked. double dang.

there is a book store next to the club. tons and tons of software. lots of the old stuff that you can;t find places. that is where i got my old windows software that i am sending to nide. i dont mind at all trying to find what you need jen.

i'll look over the thread again, but did they tell you specifically which disc you need?

before i stopped going online with my compaq, i had to turn off all graffics. shoot..im'ing...no way.