How do I use Automated System Recovery?

[MonocleMike]

My hard disk has been replaced on my Toshiba laptop and I now need to use my ASR diskette and backup set. I have used the Toshiba Recovery CD and my new hard disk is as supplied from the shop with XP pre-installed. How do I use the ASR set to get it back to where it was before it crashed? The only thing I could find on Google said "Press F2 at the text phase of Setup" but I don't have that!

 

[smah]

Boot the machine using a real XP installation CD. Then follow the 'Press F2' instructions that you found.

 

[linney]

When it comes to restoring, the ASR kicks in after Formatting your Windows Partition, copying setup files,installing Devices and Networks via the XP setup, booted from the XP CD and pointed to use ASR via pressing F2 (just after the F6 request is the F2 request) early in the setup procedure.

 

[linney]

How to Set up and Use Automated System Recovery in Windows XP

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/itpro/managing/asr.asp

It might pay you to backup what you have installed already as your circumstances are a little bit unusual in so far as you have a newly installed OEM or similar operating system which you are about to overwrite and lose.

 

[MonocleMike]

Thank you kind friends for your suggestions. The way to do it is to find the recovery set of CDs for a different machine (I found HP/Compaq) and they include an op sys CD and then you can do it according to the book. The Tosh is now working, I'm using it now. What you are expected to do if the only machine you have is a shiny Toshiba laptop is to wallow in the brown stuff! They ain't cheap, I think Tosh should smarten up their act and include an op sys CD like HP do.
Anyway, problem now solved so thanks again everyone.