New harddrive... Need programs

**thr3kvya** · 11-22-10, 06:25 PM

Got a new harddrive after previous died. Loaded windows xp on it. Now I can't remember all the normal programs that are just good to have. I loaded all my previous music on a dvd as data, but there is a program or something missing that recognizes it. It shows me the cd drive is blank when it isn't... GRRRR

I just need to get all the "basic" software and figure out this dvd/cd drive issue. Any ideas?

**Phyrelight** · 11-23-10, 09:21 AM

you need to go and get chipset drivers for your PC. Go to your MB manufacturer's website. Other goodies to install are video drivers, java, flash, antivirus, direct x, quicktime maybe, adobe reader, vlc media player and openoffice if you don't have a productivity suite.

the chipset drivers are needed to recognize the cd/dvd drive and then VLC media player is a free player.

**Phyrelight** · 11-23-10, 09:22 AM

and then make a backup image of system and you will never have to deal with installing from scratch again.

as a side note, if the xp install didn't include sp3 streamlined in make sure you update your OS to SP3.

**thr3kvya** · 11-24-10, 11:26 PM

well the copy of xp I have from my buddy (one i originally had) is now saying it is not a good key and I have to buy a new version to get SP3 which angers me ..

**HeavyG** · 11-24-10, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by thr3kvya

well the copy of xp I have from my buddy (one i originally had) is now saying it is not a good key and I have to buy a new version to get SP3 which angers me ..

What do you mean it isn't a good key? Is it just not letting you activate it? If that license has been activated too many times, it is likely you will have to activate it over the phone. It happens all the time with Microsoft products. It is a legit copy of Windows, right? By legit, I mean non-pirated. If it is pirated, I suggest you do the right thing and buy your own copy.

**thr3kvya** · 11-24-10, 11:38 PM

this is like the 6th harddrive I have gone through so I am sure it is too many registers. I may just stop being cheap and get w7

**HeavyG** · 11-24-10, 11:46 PM

When you go to activate Windows, it will likely say that it cannot activate over the internet. It should give you an option to activate over the phone. Call the number, follow the steps, and when it asks how many computers you have installed the operating system on, say "one". It should say "verified" and give you the activation code.