You can use an upgrade disk to do a clean install, you just need to show it a previous OS CD during the installation and I think with XP there's even a way to frig it into thinking it's upgrading itself.

8-O

?

(nod)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPGLNYAgL-8

Fail.

too fucking right! YT embedding disney work anymore

(you need the long URL)

Can't do XP mode with my version of W7, can't use a previous OS disk as they've all been upgrade disks and there's an issue with the files being older than the ones I'm trying to repair.

 

Think I'll ask Captain Sparrow for a copy but then there's the whole issue of hidden nasties. Going to have a go a deleting some hardware registry keys to see if that works, nothing to lose as everytings backed up and cloned so I can always get back to my current position.

What hidden nasties?

I can probably get you a legit 98 ISO, but you'd have to sort a key.

Thank you, but I'm not as dumb as a look: as evidenced by the fact that I can walk and breathe simultaneously.

 

I tried that button, and put the URL from the address bar in the pop up. The result is up there, as a bloody link.

 

Dunno, but that was at work, and the whole button thing is pretty funky there. I have to hand-code links and images because the editor doesn't work. I'm more than happy to attribute this to some IT shiteness at work.

Ahh, sorry for doubting your button-pressing prowess, Truff (hug)

Had a brief look at what was available from the happy ship, and the one that looked the best had nothing but 'virus, rootkit, keylogger' in the comments section from peeps who'd scanned it with various tools.

With the number of .exe's in an OS it's all too easy to slip something in there that shouldn't be, I'm not that confident that a malware and virus scanner would pick up everything that was dangerous. It only takes one nasty to slip through the net and a lot of damage could be done.

I have

 

a) never installed a legit copy of Windows

 

b) never found any nasties in any Jim'd copy of Windows.

c) been very, very lucky.

 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Perhaps?

Your definition of c) presumes that that the majority of pirate releases of Windows are dodgey. My experience, and I'm sure most/all people on here who've jim'd Windows, would certainly suggest that that's a load of balls.

 

>>Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Perhaps?

 

I never said it was, but when looking at probabilities past performance, with the appropriate caveats, is better than nothing.

 

I've never been hit by a bus when crossing the road. I might be tomorrow, as it's technically possible for that to happen, but I'm guessing it probably wont. On account of having a modicum of inteligence and thinking to check what's coming before comiting to crossing the road.

I'm glad we've never had unprotected sex though!

 

(hug)

People make those comments just to be assholes. If it's piratebay you're usng, just choose a download from a trusted uploader (they have a green or pink icon next to their name) and it'll be fine.