Is There Any Hope For Os

[ayabrea38]

My PC is playing up something stupid,so I wanted to do a 'wipe everything clean and start again' destructive recovery.As this was a OEM computer I have no disks,but thanks to someone trying to partition the drive that the recovery files where on,it looks like I have no way of doing such a recovery.
Is there any hope?
The PC is running like a bag of poo,and getting worse.
If I cannot recover it,if I decided to buy windows 7 (thats what is on it now) will I be able to format and clean install that,or is there a chance the PC will be 'locked' to the original OEM,ie will not install anything and may as well become a doorstop.
Just had a look at prices,to buy an OEM disk or not?????

[rojash]

Computers are never locked to the original OEM. OS disks sometimes are (so that you can't install HP's Windows on a Dell for example) but you can always install a retail version, provided that the drivers are available.

However you be able to get a recovery disk from the manufacturer.

[Old_Geezer]

If you have your activation number (sticker on case maybe ?) you should be able to just borrow an install disk and reinstall over the top. (May need to match type of installation though.) Failing that there are aps out there that will dig your number out from the registry for you.

I think all PCs opt to "run like a bag of poo" at regular intervals. Might be best to try the usual things first. Make sure you have enough disk space and memory. Check for malware running. etc. etc. etc..

[Old_Geezer]

http://windowssecrets.com/newsletter/win7s-no-reformat-nondestructive-reinstall/

Found this, worst comes to worst.

[ayabrea38]

In answer to your questions,it is a zoostorm desktop,1GB ram(I know I am pushing it even using this,but it is what they(the company who made it)installed) 120GB Hard drive,2.5Ghz Celeron processor.The faults are it is running so slow and getting slower.I have used AVG cleanup 2011,de fragged and tried to clean it up,but I would like to start again.
I am going to contact the manufacturer.
Yes I mean DVD media
Thank you old geezer,I have the number,and I have read the link you posted a few days ago,just wish I knew someone with a DVD media of windows 7 sp1.
Thanks all
Aya

[Old_Geezer]

I used to have an HP Pavilion. I think it is gathering dust in the back bedroom now. Built an Ivy Bridge one to replace it.

How new is the one you have ? I'm just wondering if it is just an older generation PC that is struggling to provide the resources that modern software expects to find. If so replacement may prove more value than update/repair ?

[sandyRoe]

Would a Windows XP home edition disc and product key be any use to you? You're welcome to it if it is.

[TTG]

Try a system restore. Select a restore point before the slowdown. Backup all your documents before doing this.
Download and update malwarebytes. Run a FULL scan.
I believe you can download an iso of the Windows 7 o/s legally.
go to the Microsoft official forum and search for more details http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum

[Buenchico]

>>>One Gigabyte of RAM is nowhere near enough to run Windows 7

Not according to Microsoft:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/products/system-requirements

[ayabrea38]

The PC is 3 years old,so not that old,really.I tried system restore,the oldest one I had got my hopes up,but then it said the file could not be found.bummer.
I know that 1 GB of ram is not enough,I was planning to buy more but OH wanted to get this system working 'like it was' before spending more money.

I contacted the company that originally sold me the system,only to be told as my warranty has expired,they can only deal with me via phone.Please call 087* *** *** at £1.02 per minute(max call length 20 minutes)THANKS VERY MUCH!!!
I wont be buying my RAM memory from them.
Thank you sandyRoe for your very kind offer but I dont think it would help.
I do have an original copy of Vista and windows 7 upgrade,and they wont work with the over copy method.I will be looking into that TTG,just hope they dont bend my brain too much.
I am getting to the point now that maybe the only option I have left is to format the Hard Drive and take a gamble that I can put Vista then W7.
Thoughts please and thank you all very much for your help.
Aya

[ayabrea38]

Just to clarify this,can I download the ISO version and use my activation key that came with the PC?Also would getting the pc to boot from USB be easy?
Thanks
Aya

[Alston]

I don't think you will be able to load both Vista and W7.

Al.

[ayabrea38]

That's OK,W7 is only the upgrade for Vista so I wont actually be running both....Will I?
Aya

[TTG]

The downloadable iso files for Windows 7 require a licence key for the FULL version.