I have had an Hp desktop computer for 5 years now. It recently got a virus and I put it in to get fixed. The whole system was messed up and needed to be reconfigured, but a recovery disk never came with my system. I called Hp and they said they no longer have it available. Does anyone know how I can get one? Hp Pavillion 513c Recovery Disk needed. Thanks!

Most HP computers made in the past several years have a "recovery partition", rather than discs. Consult your user manual on how to access the partition. Usually it involves pressing F10 repeatedly when you turn it on, until a recovery menu appears.

If you somehow deleted the recovery partition, there still may be hope. If your computer still has its official Windows XP license sticker on it... You can use any Windows XP disc (preferably same service pack version as the system shipped with) along with the license key to reinstall Windows XP. You will have to scrounge around to find drivers, but at least you'll have an operating system.

Hope this was helpful!

(And a lesson to y'all HP users - BURN YOUR RECOVERY DISCS BEFORE YOUR SYSTEM CRASHES!!!)

Thank you. I put it into a store to get it fixed (adware problem) and the technician asked for my recovery disk, which I didn't have. He was able to get the operating system going. I guess by the way you suggested. I guess there is no way to get my Micrsoft Word back since HP didn't furnish me with any disks?

Check the paperwork that originally came with your PC. There should be a "certificate of authenticity" for Microsoft Word/Works/Office. (It is separate, and different looking, from the Microsoft Windows COA) It should have a long "product key" printed on it.

ONLY if you find the proper product key, call the Microsoft order desk at 1-800-360-7561 and request a new disc be mailed.

If you cannot find a COA, then there is not a way to (legally) restore Microsoft Word to your machine. In this case, I'd suggest trying the freeware OpenOffice.org suite.