the keys vary from system to system.

 

But on the very first screen your pc displays when loading it usually has a lsit of keys and functions across the bottom

 

like it might say:

 

f4 - bios del - boot f2 - recovery

 

You wanna keep your eyes peeled (as this screen goes fast) as see if u can spot what key it says, and press said key

I've done this, but it doesn't show, it goes straight to Windows XP loading screen then Windows blue screen.

Before it gets to the xp screen it shuld display the motherboard logo screen or a blk screen with whiteish grey text

I got a black screen with grey writing about my Primary Master and Main Processor and stuff, and at the bottom, it says press F1 to Continue or DEL to enter SETUP

hmm guess ur recovery thing can only be got via disc then so you'll need to follow the advice above about a linux disc

No need to download a Linux LiveCD - Super GRUB Disk is better for this. Install it on anything your computer can boot from (CD or USB stick for example) and it can boot the restore partition directly. A program called UNetBootin is the easiest way to install it, but manual install is also possible.

Pure_MageUK, can you send me a link to the Partition Editor as I can't find it.

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Paw_Claw you should get out of here, you don't know anything at all about what you're telling the guy, and it is very easy for us to see too! Wild guesses is a very bad thing to do in cases like our friend here that needs help.

 

Same goes with Tiigon, don't give the guy advice that's going to complicate his live a hell of a lot, not everyone is as computer savvy as you and not everyone is a Linux fanboy either.

 

On the main subject here: I would call the computer manufacturer that will most likely send the disk free of charge, or if you can't wait, follow Pure_MageUK's advice.

Erm I think you'll find I do know what I'm talking about and when I did get lost I recommended talking waiting for someone else to reply.

 

Admittedly looking back the BIOS stuff was a bit pointless, but only because his recovery partition is on the same harddrive.

well if you don't have anything important you want to keep, I recommend just Re-Installing XP fresh with the CD, Full Format-NTFS and your set.

On my computer, to get into the Recovery partition, you hold F10 (or F2) can't remember which, while the computer is starting up. Then it asks you if you want to restore to factory settings yada yada, and it starts up. It really isn't as complicated as going into the BIOS and all that. But, as mentioned you're gonna lose all your files so make sure you back them up (if you even can).

My friend suggested to me using safe mode (command prompt) and write: format C: /u

 

Should I do this?

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I think you could use KeyfinderThing* to find the XP serial number that should activate it.

 

 

 

*http://download.cnet.com/Keyfinder-Thing/3000-2094_4-10491989.html

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654

 

I know the method in the article is complicated, but this should help you once you get a xp disk.

 

If it doesn't help you your only remaining option will end being having to reformat; that is unless you manage to find someone with some decent hard disk cracking ability on it that can manually delete the illegal version from it.

My neighbour got a downloaded CD to reformat the computer, so thanks for the advise guys, you can close the topic now.