Fresh Copy of XP - Please advise

Greetings.

I have a Sony laptop. PCG-K13. Bought it new. It shipped with Windows XP
installed, and I've stayed current with all the Windows upgrades. It did not
ship with a Windows install disk, and as far as I know, Sony won't sell me
one. If I'm not mistaken, there's a Windows XP installation archived on the
hard disk. In theory, if I need to reinstall Windows, I can do it without an
install disk.

I'm not comfortable with this arrangement. I'm running out of room on the
30GB hard drive and it seems like the Windows restore archive is taking up
quite a few GBs. If the hard drive fails completely, I won't have many good
options. Also, I think some important hard disk file maintenance gets
performed only when I boot the machine from a Windows install disk.

Sooo... I'm thinking about buying a Windows XP install disk, probably on
eBay. They seem to go for about $139. I'm willing to spend the money. (Not
interested in Vista.)

I have three questions --

1-Will I free up some hard disk space if I do a fresh reinstall of windows?
Would I have to reformat the hard disk to free up all that space?

2-I think there might be some proprietary Sony drivers on this machine that
might get wiped out if I reinstall. The wireless card driver, for instance.
What to do?

3-I have some shareware, which I have paid for, and a few expensive
commercial applications, like MS Office and Dragon Naturally Speaking. What
kind of registration problems will likely occur?

Thanks a bunch, in advance.


Tim

1. yes, you could delete everything, but you would lose your XP license and
the machine would be unrepairable. That hidden partition is a 'mirror' of
your 'factory default' system.
2, yes, there are Sony drivers and install INF files available nowhere but
on your system. A MS setup disk is NOT going to include those. The laptop
would be a boat anchor without them.
3. big troubles with reusing licenses. you have to call for permission.

Add an external drive. Copy that hidden partition to it. Buy a new internal
drive, before they become unavailable. Mirror everything to the new internal.
All this is possible, but not easy (or cheap).
Being ready for everything with the drive still does not preclude dropping
the damn thing. I really think of current laptops like I do a 'bic lighter'.
--
Was this post helpful to you? Then click the "Yes" button, below.
Voting helps others who use the web interface.
Mark L. Ferguson



"Sensitive New Age Thug" wrote:

Greetings.

I have a Sony laptop. PCG-K13. Bought it new. It shipped with Windows XP
installed, and I've stayed current with all the Windows upgrades. It did not
ship with a Windows install disk, and as far as I know, Sony won't sell me
one. If I'm not mistaken, there's a Windows XP installation archived on the
hard disk. In theory, if I need to reinstall Windows, I can do it without an
install disk.

I'm not comfortable with this arrangement. I'm running out of room on the
30GB hard drive and it seems like the Windows restore archive is taking up
quite a few GBs. If the hard drive fails completely, I won't have many good
options. Also, I think some important hard disk file maintenance gets
performed only when I boot the machine from a Windows install disk.

Sooo... I'm thinking about buying a Windows XP install disk, probably on
eBay. They seem to go for about $139. I'm willing to spend the money. (Not
interested in Vista.)

I have three questions --

1-Will I free up some hard disk space if I do a fresh reinstall of windows?
Would I have to reformat the hard disk to free up all that space?

2-I think there might be some proprietary Sony drivers on this machine that
might get wiped out if I reinstall. The wireless card driver, for instance.
What to do?

3-I have some shareware, which I have paid for, and a few expensive
commercial applications, like MS Office and Dragon Naturally Speaking. What
kind of registration problems will likely occur?

Thanks a bunch, in advance.


Tim

I dont know about your Sony as mine was shipped with recovery disks.
There may be an option to write the recovery to cd, you would need to check
with your documentation, or Sony online help. After all what good is a
recovery partition if the hd dies.
There is no specific hd maintanence that only gets performed on a new
installation. HD maintanence can be performed within win


"Sensitive New Age Thug"
wrote in message ...
Greetings.

I have a Sony laptop. PCG-K13. Bought it new. It shipped with Windows XP
installed, and I've stayed current with all the Windows upgrades. It did
not
ship with a Windows install disk, and as far as I know, Sony won't sell me
one. If I'm not mistaken, there's a Windows XP installation archived on
the
hard disk. In theory, if I need to reinstall Windows, I can do it without
an
install disk.

I'm not comfortable with this arrangement. I'm running out of room on the
30GB hard drive and it seems like the Windows restore archive is taking up
quite a few GBs. If the hard drive fails completely, I won't have many
good
options. Also, I think some important hard disk file maintenance gets
performed only when I boot the machine from a Windows install disk.

Sooo... I'm thinking about buying a Windows XP install disk, probably on
eBay. They seem to go for about $139. I'm willing to spend the money. (Not
interested in Vista.)

I have three questions --

1-Will I free up some hard disk space if I do a fresh reinstall of
windows?
Would I have to reformat the hard disk to free up all that space?

2-I think there might be some proprietary Sony drivers on this machine
that
might get wiped out if I reinstall. The wireless card driver, for
instance.
What to do?

3-I have some shareware, which I have paid for, and a few expensive
commercial applications, like MS Office and Dragon Naturally Speaking.
What
kind of registration problems will likely occur?

Thanks a bunch, in advance.


Tim

"Sensitive New Age Thug"
wrote in message
...
Greetings.

I have a Sony laptop. PCG-K13. Bought it new. It shipped with Windows
XP
installed, and I've stayed current with all the Windows upgrades. It
did not
ship with a Windows install disk, and as far as I know, Sony won't
sell me
one. If I'm not mistaken, there's a Windows XP installation archived
on the
hard disk. In theory, if I need to reinstall Windows, I can do it
without an
install disk.

I'm not comfortable with this arrangement. I'm running out of room on
the
30GB hard drive and it seems like the Windows restore archive is
taking up
quite a few GBs. If the hard drive fails completely, I won't have many
good
options. Also, I think some important hard disk file maintenance gets
performed only when I boot the machine from a Windows install disk.

Sooo... I'm thinking about buying a Windows XP install disk, probably
on
eBay. They seem to go for about $139. I'm willing to spend the money.
(Not
interested in Vista.)

In case you want to save $139...

See:

http://www.css.ap.sony.com/vaio/webs....aspx?ID=35881

and

http://www.ghacks.net/2006/11/07/upg...tallation-one/

You may also want to have a look at:

http://www.pocketables.net/2006/07/reclaiming_what.html

For others more knowledgeable than me...

Can OP clone his drive to a larger one (which would temporarily be
housed in an external USB enclosure) and then swap drives?

"DL" wrote:

I dont know about your Sony as mine was shipped with recovery disks.
There may be an option to write the recovery to cd, you would need to check
with your documentation, or Sony online help. After all what good is a
recovery partition if the hd dies.
There is no specific hd maintanence that only gets performed on a new
installation. HD maintanence can be performed within win

Thanks to all on this thread. All very helpful. I'll give you all credit
soon. Waiting for a few more opinions first.

One follow-up question, if I may.

I know Macintosh much better than Windows. Most experienced Mac users
regularly run a HD utility called Diskwarrior. It builds a fresh, clean hard
disk directory. It prevents small directory problems from turning into big
ones.

I once asked why Windows doesn't have a similar utility. I was told that
something similar happens when I boot the machine from a Windows install disk.

Anybody know anything about this? How do I make this happen if I don't have
a Windows install disk?

Cheers,


Tim

"Daave" wrote:

For others more knowledgeable than me...

Can OP clone his drive to a larger one (which would temporarily be
housed in an external USB enclosure) and then swap drives?


Thank you Daave. Extremely helpful.

Yes, I could probably clone my HD to a larger one, as you described. I asked
about that on a separate thread.

Best regards,


Tim

"Sensitive New Age Thug"
wrote in message ...
Greetings.

I have a Sony laptop. PCG-K13. Bought it new. It shipped with Windows XP
installed, and I've stayed current with all the Windows upgrades. It did
not
ship with a Windows install disk, and as far as I know, Sony won't sell me
one. If I'm not mistaken, there's a Windows XP installation archived on
the
hard disk. In theory, if I need to reinstall Windows, I can do it without
an
install disk.

I'm not comfortable with this arrangement.

There are good reasons to not be comfortable with this arrangement.
There's a fatal flaw in the concept of the "recovery partition": when disks
fail, as they do, all partitions are equally inaccessible. This
arrangement is heavily skewed in the favour of the manufacturer's costs.

Use an imaging program to make an image of the disk, store it elsewhere and
if the drive fails, you can use the image to create a new drive.

However, many of these installs allow you to create a set of reinstallation
disks. You need to do this.

I'm running out of room on the
30GB hard drive and it seems like the Windows restore archive is taking up
quite a few GBs. If the hard drive fails completely, I won't have many
good
options. Also, I think some important hard disk file maintenance gets
performed only when I boot the machine from a Windows install disk.

Sooo... I'm thinking about buying a Windows XP install disk, probably on
eBay. They seem to go for about $139. I'm willing to spend the money. (Not
interested in Vista.)

The problem here is that you generally cannot know the history of that
particular license. If it's been used and activated, you may be unable to
use it.

On the other hand, it may be fine - but you can't know for sure. Which you
choose rather depends on the risk you are willing to accept.

I see retail versions of XP Home Upgrade for CDN$129. Non-upgrade versions
are around CDN$199. You may not be saving a lot by doing eBay. For
upgrade versions, you need to have a qualifying previous version of Windows.

Be aware that the license number on the bottom of your laptop will not work
with the new CD. The XP versions that come in a folder have the
license/install number on the folder and you must not lose it!

I have three questions --

1-Will I free up some hard disk space if I do a fresh reinstall of
windows?
Would I have to reformat the hard disk to free up all that space?

If you're doing a fresh install, a "clean" install, formatting is usually
included. I personally normally start with deleting and recreating the
partitions, so that I know it's all new.

If you don't format the disk, you will either be doing a parallel or a
repair install. Neither will get you any drive space, and a parallel
install will take a fair amount.

Back up your data *first*. As mentioned in a reply to one of your other
posts, consider an imaging program like Acronis True Image. It's helpful
if you have another system or hard disk handy.

2-I think there might be some proprietary Sony drivers on this machine
that
might get wiped out if I reinstall. The wireless card driver, for
instance.
What to do?

Download all the drivers for your system before starting and write them to
CD or USB key. It's very true that after a clean install, key drivers are
often not installed. If you already have them on hand, this isn't a
problem.

This CD or key is very good to have on hand, with any system disks you
create.

3-I have some shareware, which I have paid for, and a few expensive
commercial applications, like MS Office and Dragon Naturally Speaking.
What
kind of registration problems will likely occur?

A great advantage of making an image of the drive as it is before you start
is that you can easily refer back to it for reminders of what you had
installed. An image gives you a full, 100% backup in a short time.

In a clean install you will have to re-install the applications. You
cannot just copy the files. Most manufactuers are familiar with the
concept of Windows re-installs, and so are quite open to helping you as long
as you aren't breaking their license agreements.

The most restrictive licenses often use hardware keys, which aren't affected
by the reinstall. Yes, you have to reinstall that software, but it won't
ever work till you attach the hardware key. Lose the key, you have to
buy a new license. Apps that use this arragement are usually in the
high-hundreds into thousands of dollars.

The sequence I usually follow is:
1) image the drive to another system, and verify the image
2) run Windows setup, removing and re-creating the partition and formatting
as NTFS
3) after Windows install completes, install the basic drivers, starting with
motherboard/chipset drivers, then network and display adapters
4) get all Windows updates (from a basic SP2 install, there are currently
around 80)
5) create user accounts as needed
6) install apps and update them, including A/V software
7) transfer user data from the image back to the user folders.


HTH
-pk

Thanks a bunch, in advance.


Tim

On Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:31:01 -0700, Sensitive New Age Thug
wrote:

Greetings.

I have a Sony laptop. PCG-K13. Bought it new. It shipped with Windows XP
installed, and I've stayed current with all the Windows upgrades. It did not
ship with a Windows install disk, and as far as I know, Sony won't sell me
one. If I'm not mistaken, there's a Windows XP installation archived on the
hard disk. In theory, if I need to reinstall Windows, I can do it without an
install disk.

I'm not comfortable with this arrangement.


As well you shouldn't be.


I'm running out of room on the
30GB hard drive and it seems like the Windows restore archive is taking up
quite a few GBs.


That's not the major issue...


If the hard drive fails completely, I won't have many good
options.


....but that is. Personally I would never choose to buy a computer that
came with Windows unless it came with a complete generic copy of
Windows on CD.

However, there may be a way of making a CD from that recovery
partition. You should check with Sony to find out.

Another choice is for you to image your existing installation on a USB
external drive, and use that to recover from if you lose the drive.


Sooo... I'm thinking about buying a Windows XP install disk, probably on
eBay. They seem to go for about $139. I'm willing to spend the money. (Not
interested in Vista.)


A couple of points:

1. I would never choose to buy a copy of Windows on eBay. Your chances
of getting a pirated copy you will not be able to activate are too
great.

2. What's being offered for sale on eBay are likely OEM copies. I
recommend *against* OEM copies, because they come with several
disadvantages, the most severe of which is that once installed, they
can never be legitimately moved to another computer, even if the
original one dies.

I recommend a Retail Upgrade copy instead of an OEM one. They usually
cost about the same or only a little more than OEM copies, and despite
what many people think, *can* be used to do a clean installation as
well as an upgrade. To do a clean installation, all you need to do is
insert the CD of a previous qualifying version, as proof of ownership,
when prompted to do so. If you don't own such a CD, you can buy a copy
of Windows 98 very inexpensively on eBay (the risks are much less for
Window 98).


I have three questions --

1-Will I free up some hard disk space if I do a fresh reinstall of windows?


Probably. But it's important to realize that a 30GB hard drive is tiny
by today's standards, and it's likely that you will not have much free
space for very long. It probably makes sense to also buy a newer
larger drive (say 60-100GB) and install on that instead. Fortunately
new drives are very reasonable right now.


Would I have to reformat the hard disk to free up all that space?


Yes. That's what "fresh" or "clean" installation means.


2-I think there might be some proprietary Sony drivers on this machine that
might get wiped out if I reinstall. The wireless card driver, for instance.
What to do?


If you don't have those drivers separately, you'll need to contact
Sony, to get copies.


3-I have some shareware, which I have paid for, and a few expensive
commercial applications, like MS Office and Dragon Naturally Speaking. What
kind of registration problems will likely occur?


As long as you have kept the applicable registration codes, you should
be able to reinstall everything without difficulty.

Worst case, the software vendors may be able to help you if you don't
have the codes. Contact them.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Diskwarrior is a third party tool, such third party tools are available for
Win

"Sensitive New Age Thug"
wrote in message news

"DL" wrote:

I dont know about your Sony as mine was shipped with recovery disks.
There may be an option to write the recovery to cd, you would need to
check
with your documentation, or Sony online help. After all what good is a
recovery partition if the hd dies.
There is no specific hd maintanence that only gets performed on a new
installation. HD maintanence can be performed within win

Thanks to all on this thread. All very helpful. I'll give you all credit
soon. Waiting for a few more opinions first.

One follow-up question, if I may.

I know Macintosh much better than Windows. Most experienced Mac users
regularly run a HD utility called Diskwarrior. It builds a fresh, clean
hard
disk directory. It prevents small directory problems from turning into big
ones.

I once asked why Windows doesn't have a similar utility. I was told that
something similar happens when I boot the machine from a Windows install
disk.

Anybody know anything about this? How do I make this happen if I don't
have
a Windows install disk?

Cheers,


Tim

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:


....but that is. Personally I would never choose to buy a computer that
came with Windows unless it came with a complete generic copy of
Windows on CD.

Thanks, everybody.

I so totally agree, Ken.

This machine is not all bad. I bought it for speed, because I needed it for
Dragon Naturally Speaking. At least it is fast enough. And a Pentium IV is
great for battery life, too! If I use really conservative power management, I
can almost get an hour out of the battery :-(

I was pretty clueless about Windows at the time I bought the machine as I'm
normally a Macintosh user.

I would never, ever, ever buy another machine that did not include an OS
installation disk, and I encourage others to take the same view.
Manufacturers who sell machines this way deserve bankruptcy :-{

I'm very disappointed -- well, angry, really, with Sony, for putting me in
this position. I can't imagine why Sony would treat its customers so badly.
It makes no sense. How much more would it have cost them to include an XP
install disk in the box??!!

I don't think there's any way to obtain Sony's proprietary drivers for this
machine, so I can never do a Windows reinstall. The best I can do is install
a larger internal HD and maybe write a "restore" volume on a separate HD,
internal or external, in case the hard disk ever suffers total failure.

Maybe there's a way to get the needed drivers off a restore disk, but that
sounds pretty technical. I don't think I'm up to it.



Thanks again.


Tim

"Sensitive New Age Thug"
wrote in message ...
"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:


....but that is. Personally I would never choose to buy a computer that
came with Windows unless it came with a complete generic copy of
Windows on CD.

Thanks, everybody.

I so totally agree, Ken.

This machine is not all bad. I bought it for speed, because I needed it
for
Dragon Naturally Speaking. At least it is fast enough. And a Pentium IV is
great for battery life, too! If I use really conservative power
management, I
can almost get an hour out of the battery :-(

Not too unusual. Speed costs.

It's taking advances in technology, which exhibit lower clock speeds, to
reduce power consumption.

I was pretty clueless about Windows at the time I bought the machine as
I'm
normally a Macintosh user.

I'm not sure that Mac users are any better educated about their systems.

I would never, ever, ever buy another machine that did not include an OS
installation disk, and I encourage others to take the same view.
Manufacturers who sell machines this way deserve bankruptcy :-{

It's not like they tell you about this - it isn't a great marketing point.
In fact, the convenience of hard-disk restore is the marketing point.

The certainty of hard-disk failure and its implications are never mentioned.


I'm very disappointed -- well, angry, really, with Sony, for putting me in
this position. I can't imagine why Sony would treat its customers so
badly.
It makes no sense. How much more would it have cost them to include an XP
install disk in the box??!!

For them? A couple of dollars in material costs, at most.

However, support costs will be significantly higher because it won't all fit
on one CD, so you have to walk users through it. That's where the real
savings come from.

I don't think there's any way to obtain Sony's proprietary drivers for
this
machine,

I would think it'd be pretty easy to get them, actually. Just had a quick
look and found most of the drivers necessary for your system, in under a
minute.

The thing about proprietary drivers is that they usually refer to
proprietary hardware - and the software has no value without the hardware.

Check the Sony site, you'll probably find all the drivers.

Start he
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...51&langI d=-1

Click on techincal Support, Downloads/Drivers, enter the model number, and
proceed.


so I can never do a Windows reinstall. The best I can do is install
a larger internal HD and maybe write a "restore" volume on a separate HD,
internal or external, in case the hard disk ever suffers total failure.

You can count on that happening, like death and taxes.

Maybe there's a way to get the needed drivers off a restore disk, but that
sounds pretty technical. I don't think I'm up to it.

There's no real need to do that or worry about it, when you can almost
certainly download the current versions from the Sony site easily.

HTH
-pk



Thanks again.


Tim

"Patrick Keenan" wrote:


I would think it'd be pretty easy to get them, actually. Just had a quick
look and found most of the drivers necessary for your system, in under a
minute.

The thing about proprietary drivers is that they usually refer to
proprietary hardware - and the software has no value without the hardware.

Check the Sony site, you'll probably find all the drivers.

Start he
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...51&langI d=-1

Click on techincal Support, Downloads/Drivers, enter the model number, and
proceed.

You are a blessing, Patrick


Tim