HP XP Media Center Edition 2005

[RSallee]

I have a HP Pavilion a1600N desktop that I need to load a new OS to it.  Can I get a disk to load the new OS and use my PC again?  The model # is RJ181AA.  I love HP products, currently have a Pavilion Laptop and PSC 1300 printer as well.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Unfortunately, HP no longer sells recovery media for that model PC.

However, you can still get a set from this non-HP vendor at the link below...

http://www.computersurgeons.com/p-12656-recovery-kit-5092-5956-for-hp-model-number-a1600n.aspx

[kingtopcat]

Hi RSallee Welcome to your forum!: Your desktop will be the the ultimate challenge due to the age of the componentry as well as a OS that's 5.5 generations old but according my Wiindows 10 in depth book it can be done

1. consult either your specificaton document to your PC or the motherboard to find out the maxiumum amount of memory that it can be installed because while Windows 10 can install with a mere 1GB of RAM it'll go slower than "Slow Poke Rodríguez in winter trying to flee from "Sylvester The Cat" or either a slug or sloth if you add more memory it'll do better

2. once you acquire a Win 10 stick & have a USB port(preferably a USB 2.0) otherwise you may as well be "Rip Van Winkle' because you'll think it took that long to install(I remember a backup of my 2001 era Pavilion 7965 12.75 hrs. because I only had USB 1.1 that you might have

2b. follow the prompts your eyeballs pickup on your monitor then pick "custom" among the installation options continue to observe what you see until its finally installed

3. the main reason why I'm endorsing Windows 10 is because unless you can get an update of Windows 8 & 8.1 it'll not be supported by Microsoft after today leaving your computer as naked as Adam & Eve in The Garden of Eden woe unto thee if you're in that position

4. unfortunately your printer will either lose all its "bells & whisles" or not at all due it's affinity toward XP you'll have to shell out some of your shekels for a new printerI learned that all too painfully when I had a Desk Jet 6540 which was the 2nd fastest printer I owned at the time once I got my present Pavilion 410y with Windows 7 I gave it to my besty for her daughter because they were still using Windows XP

hope this enlightens behooves as well as works for you

if there's anything else you need or wish to be a "CPU" you can come back

we'll be around for you 24/7/365.25

Cheers

                                                                                                               kingtopcat

[RSallee]

Thanks, but where do I get the Win 10 stick

[RSallee]

I think you misunderstood my situation.  It still runs XP and works fine, I just need to update the OS so I can keep using it.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Yes, I guess I did.

If you want to update the operating system, I doubt it would work very well on W10.

You might get by with updating it to W7.

There will be no driver support for either operating system from HP, so you would have to hope the drivers from the individual hardware component websites work.

Do you really want to pay over $100 for an operating system for a PC that old with no guarantee it will work?

You would be better off buying a refurbished PC for that kind of money, that comes with W7 or newer, that would be newer and better than what you are using now.

Microsoft only sells W10 to the public nowadays.  You should be able to get W10 from any office supply store, Best Buy etc.  But remember what I have already written...I highly doubt W10 will work right on that old PC.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/b/windows?cl_vend=bing&cl_ch=sem&cl_camp=290157050&cl_adg=1267...

If you want an older operating system such as W7, you will need to get it on the secondary market on sites such as Amazon or eBay.

Be very cautious if you go that route to get a genuine sealed version with a product key.