Recovery disc

I purchased a recovery disc from Time a few years back before the bankruptcy for about £40.
Recently I tried to use it to reformat my hard disc because it had infections. Unfortunately it did not even start saying it was not right version ( giving version needed). My computer has not changed in that period other than installation of windows XP service packs 1and 2.
Can I get this disc updated (if necessary) free of charge or must I pay another £40 which I do not think is right?
My appliction driver disc( that came bundled with computer) is separate from recovery disc.
Recovery disc worked OK when I first purchased it.

Time no longer exist. They ran into financial problems and were closed down. I'm probably your only chance of getting a copy of one of the recovery disks.
To help me help you can you please advise
1) which version of the disk you have
2) what that error message said - which version did it say you required?
3) the model number of the machine - should be on the back in the format 123-ABC-4567G8

And some more questions:
you say it previously worked - are you sure you have the same disk? (sometimes we sent out two different reload CD versions "just to be sure")

Since that last reload has the machine been reformattted by anyone, or has it been anywhere for repair (including Time)?
Or has the disk structure been changed from FAT32 to NTFS?

Sorry for all the questions, but there are so many variables involved, and so many things that can go wrong with the hidden image that we need the details to try and pin down the problem

Just a thought, but has the recovery disk become dirty or scratched? The error might just mean that a file on the disk is unreadable.

Answers to your questions:

1. I only received one reload backup CD with yellow label indicating version 0.3. When I load it into computer and restart I now get message this is version 9.00.8- This system is not compatible with this reload process- request version 6.30.
This same disc reformatted my computer in 2004

2. Computer model no. 00514BM02G4

3. My computer has not been reformatted since.

4. I had a new power block installed by a local professional about 1 year ago.
I installed a new DVD rewriter myself about 2 years back

5 Disc structure has not been changed from Fat 32 to NTFS that I know of.

6. I notice no damage to reload disc.

thats the correct recovery disk for that machine.
The error message is actually to the the version of PartionMagic used in the T-Clone recovery process- NOT the reload CD required

To cut a long story short, the hidden recovery image on the hard drive has gone. Usually happens if someone deleted the apparently empty folder c:\TClone
If that goes the recovery process is goosed, though other things can cause the problem
I'm afraid the only way to reload this now is with an OEM Windows CD - the recovery CDs are not going to work
After formatting and reinstalling windows you'll have to reinstall the drivers by hand = I'll check on those in the morning
But for now, that recovery CD is as much use as a dripmat
I'll post again in the morning

thats machine is bult using a Microstar MS-6777 motherboard
The required drivers are here
http://eu.msi.com/index.php?func=proddesc&maincat_no=1&prod_no=547

I keep forgettingthsi forum screws up links to the MSI site...

Instead go to http://uk.msi.com
then search for MS-6777 using the search box top right on the page. It only gives one hit: thats it

So an OEM window CD is required. Where can I get one at most reasonable cost?
Local professional will format hard drive and reinstal windows plus data for <£40.

Remember I have the computer driver CD in my possession.

The most reasonable cost option is to borrow a Windows OEM CD! Somebody who bought their computer from a smaller independent supplier might have one. There is little point in buying a CD because what you are really paying for is the Windows licence and you already have one of those. Otherwise if the Professional re-install includes Service Pack 3 then it doesn't sound like a bad deal to me.

the drivers on that driver CD will be out of date
And to be honest its not easy to locate them correctly on that disk. There are a lot of files for different boards
you're better off downloading newer version from the MSI website

After going into msi and typing MS-6777 I am left with options
1. VGA drivers win98SE/Me and win 2000xP32bit.

2.drivers for MCP2 98 and 2000

3. 9ximp for 98 and 2000.

Am I correct in saying VGA drivers 2000XP 32 bit is my correct download?

Is this all I need to do after having installed windows XP?

there are three sets of drivers there
first set are the graphics drivers - " NVIDIA nForce2 Graphics Controller Driver" You need the ones labelled as "Windows 2000/XP 32bit"

second ones are the motherboard drivers - " NVIDIA nForce2 System Drivers for MCP2 of SB". You need the ones labelled as " Windows 2000/XP 32bit "

Third set are USB2 drivers and you only need to install these in Windows 98/Me. DO NOT install them on XP

After that you will then need to go online and install all the windows service packs and updates

Then finally you will have to install any other software such as DVD codecs, CD writer, office suite etc

I got an OEM XP CD and followed instructions and reiinstalled windows XP. I then installed drivers as detailed above. I then re established my internet and reloaded some programmes.
Unfortunately when I checked my C drive my original user data was still present as well as my new user names. What did I do wrong in installation ( i think it is partitions) and can I get rid of old system without affecting new. My primary aim is to completely clean computer as there are viruses and spyware present.

I'm guessing you put the disk in while windows was running and installed from within windows? That wont do what you want
You have to boot the machine off the CD, and then choose "new installation" and delete and then recreate the partition

Samuel, thank you for your continuing contributions to this thread - there that's the thank you duck broken.

You will either have performed a recovery install, effectively replacing the previous XP instance whilst leaving existing programs and data intact; or you've installed a second installation on a different partition.

Either way, your disk will still be, at best, dormantly infected with malware if it was originally infected.

If you wanted to completely wipe the disk, you should have backed up your data first and then elected to delete and/or format the original partition via the "Setup Windows XP on the selected item" installation option.

If you now have 2 installations of XP, formating or deleting the original partion to clean the disk of infection will render your new XP installation unbootable. It may just be easier to start again (after backing up data), deleting existing partitions and re-creating them as required.

Computer hard drive is formatted reinstalled XP and loaded with up to date drivers and security. It is working well and I feel it is clean. I was having trouble with broadband server claiming my computer was infected and part of a "botnet".

Thanks Jon and to a lesser extent Dave and Alan for a very professional serevice.

Information was easy to ubnderstand and much more it worked.

Ten out of ten for service.

Samuel

You have also by now installed a reputable anti-virus programme, of course.

And hopefully the cost of an IT Pro sorting the issue for £40 seems remarkably good value!