[mrsbohen]

I recently purchased a computer from a local computer trade show. The computer came with windows xp professional installed. They did not, however, give me any cd's or anything for windows. I am completely computer illiterate and didn't realize until later that I should have received cd's for windows. Anyway... the computer is missing much needed files, for example... all windows help files, compatibility wizard, games, etc. Microsoft will not offer me any help, the people that I purchased the computer from are not offering me any help. Is there any way I can fix this problem or will I have to reinstall a new version of windows? And if I have to reinsall windows again, how do I reformat my hard drive or whatever else I have to do.. to be able to do this? PLEASE HELP!

[retsoksirhc]

This may or may not work, depending on how windows was installed on your computer. If it was installed directly from CD using the windows installer, this probably will not work, but if it was installed from cab files copied to your computer, it should.

Go into control panel, and double click "Add or Remove Programs". Click "Add/Remove Windows Components". Everything you need should be listed in there. Once you decide what you want, check everything you need and click "Next". If it says you need to insert the CD, then windows was not installed from local cab files and you will need a windows XP cd to install the components (any windows XP cd that is the same version shuold work). If it does install, that should be all you need.

[psi42]

The computer came with windows xp professional installed. They did not, however, give me any cd's or anything for windows.

*sigh* I wonder how many people they've done this to...