Packard Bell PC Recovery failure

[waynecollins]

I am writing to request your help with a severe problem with my Packard Bell desktop PC. I purchased the IMEDIA 1507 about 6 years ago with an OEM copy of Microsoft XP home (SP2). At the time and with prompting from the PC when first switched on, I made a Recovery DVD. I have a new Windows 7 PC but wished to give the Packard Bell to a family member. I had been having problems with the Packard Bell and decided to do a restore to original settings using the Packard Bell Recovery DVD made initially. I placed the Recovery DVD in the DVD reader and initiated a normal reinstall of the system. The system started setting itself up and did a quick format of the C: drive.
However so far through the process, an error occurred as follows:

An error has been detected during image installation.

Image name : XPSP201H.GHO
Part name : WSA000AD.01
Destination : 1:1
WSE Path : Q:\PARTS\WSE001AD.XX
Source drive : Q


Current folder :

Volume in drive Q is RECOVERYMED
Directory of Q:\PARTS\WSA000AD.01

File not found
0 bytes free
Press any key to continue


The Recovery disc has a lot of files on it but obviously one critical one is missing. I assume the original OEM operating system files are still on the “hidden partition� and also I have the License key for the Windows XP home edition.
Any help would be gratefully received.

wayne

[qasdfdsaq]

If you think the recovery files are still on the drive on a hidden partition, why did you use a DVD instead?

My suggestion would be to a) use the recovery partition if it really is still there or b) Just get another XP disk or c) Get something better than XP, which is going to be unsupported soon anyway.

[waynecollins]

Thanks for your reply.

Before using the Recovery disc, I tried using an earlier restore point but this did not help. Also, I could not access the recovery partition from startup. For some unknown reason, this option did not work and therefore resorted to trying a factory reset with the Recovery Master disc.

I am not sure the elderly PC will run well with Windows 7 and I do not want the expense of buying this OS.

If I load XP home from a borrowed source can I still use the same Licence key as I had originally ? There are drivers on the PB Master disc; can I use these when required for the system devices ?

Wayne

[qasdfdsaq]

As long as it's the same type of XP disk (e.g. OEM, VLK, etc.) it'll work. I prefer to download the latest drivers off the web, as whatever you have on the disk will be seriously out of date. Even my 7 year old laptop does fine.

A 6 year old PC would probably run OK with Windows 7. Depending on where you get it from, it may be half to a third the price of a replacement copy of XP - if you can't find an appropriate disk that is. It's possible the manufacturer could also sell you a replacement recovery disk but at a cost - typically £10-15.

[waynecollins]

Again thanks for your advice. I did phone Packard Bell support about the problem and the advice I got was to buy a copy of the recovery disc from them for £51 or send the PC in to them to be reinstalled - cost not stated !

I shall see if I can borrow a copy of XP home and as you suggest download the latest drivers (probably from Packard Bell).

Many thanks

Wayne

[qasdfdsaq]

Wow, £51 is... high! If you're a student or parent/guardian of someone who is, then you can get Win7 for £40 or less. Good luck on the disk - unfortunately it isn't the easiest thing but there are guides on it somewhere.