Just fitted new hard drive to my philips ls1200 but cannot get the recovery software to load past the licence agreement page. the machine locks up at this point. any ideas please

Try software like partition magic that does it much easier and faster

I suppose you can not access old hard drive to copy partition, and you don't have recovery CD, so you can only download and install Windows and register it with product key from the bottom of the laptop. First check the version of the Windows printed on that licence sticker, and download installation on other computer.

best thing to do is connect the hard drive to another computer and copy over your important data and then put the hard drive back in the laptop and format the hard drive and then reinstall xp.. I do computers for a living and your problem is best solved the way i told you..

you can recover my files with asoftech data recovery program.

May be you should try to use an OEM WinXP media kit but still using the licence on the laptop

i suppose u better inform microsoft about ur problem because u said awhile ago that u just installed 2 units with it successfully but cannot use the other priviledges to ur 3rd pc. for sure someone there is someone using ur 3rd priviledges....

if have a licence, reload the laptop and drivers are easy to get. samsung **** for support. most likey xp home or pro oem. you can use anyones xp disc as long as it matches your licence.
if you dont have alot to spend when loaded try open office save money buying office or pirated software and avira for protection the free version is rarther good,and malewarebytes for male ware.
just a few ideas!

u can fix it...
visit my site
www.sureshayyar.110mb.com
FormatDisk page
if u follow the instructions given properly u can get back ur PC to factory fit....recovery diks is of no use...u need some special softwares...all of them are available in my website Downlaod page

Note. You need to have recovery files on your d; drive. Unplug all your usb devices EXCEPT mouse/keyboard. As a factory restore will wipe all data from your c; drive. you need to backup any files that you want and you will have to reinstall any programs and updates you have put on your pc, but should have your pc like new.

1.  Insert the Applications & Support disc into your DVD drive and              restart your PC.
2.  On the restart a screen will appear "BOOT FROM HARD DISC" or             "BOOT FROM CD"
3.  Press the 2 key to boot from cd.
4.  Press 1 for Start Recovery.
5.  Press E for English.
6.  Read the Licence agreement and Press "esc".or "Yes"
7. Then move the cursor to "Yes" to accept the Licement Agreement,          are ready to continue.
8.  A warning screen appears ,telling you to refer to the manual when          using this process is displayed, you now are presented with three         options.
     Recover Startup Files                                                                          Recovery of System and Drive Files
     Restoring Factory Settings
     Reboot
9.  Select "Restoring Factory settings" 
10. You will get a warning about data loss-select Finish.
11.Select " Finish"a second time.

Hope this helps.
Regards Bill 

go to task manager -> process,, now u can see the program runnig that. u can just the right click and give end process tree.

what downloads u r refering to?