copying xp without cd

i have a friend who wants to reinstall his computer but can't find his xp cd and i dont have xp. I read on the net somewhere that you can still make a xp cd by going to windows32 file. I did a google search today but couldnt find anything on how to do it. Can someone help me out on how to do this?

 

For YOU - Can I use my i386 folder to create an install cd and Create a bootable XP setup disk on a preloaded Windows system.

 

I used that one there. My laptop came with recovery media that had XP with no service pack but always saw the I386 folder in the Windows directory. I was bored one weekend and decided to give this a try even though the site warned against it but one member said it worked for them as quoted below.

I followed the instructions and it worked. Managed to even get it up to the Service Pack 3 level. I've used it on mine and about 10 other OEM laptops(using there key) with no problems.

 

S'good article. When I was looking for a solution years ago I ended up following vbdotnet's OEM solution. She went without a hitch.

 

Furthermore Chris, without the second scenario in place your friend either calls for an install disk or creates an image of the existing install and tries to work out any kinks. Short of these their options are rather (dare I suggest ...) slim if they're look'in to continue with BG's Windows.

 

thanks this seems like alot of steps to create a windows cd. Ill forward these links to him

 

Ya know Chris, if your friend had made an additional copy to save in an alternate location I doubt you'd now be posting on their behalf.

 

GlobalForce is right. ^^^^^

Actually, any XP disk will usually work if you have a valid key. The big exceptions are Dell computers.

 

Correct LB! FYI Chris - http://michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.htm

 

why is dell the exception

 

If it's OEM, it would need an OEM disk.

 

Your friend have a Dell Chris?

 

yes he does

 

Then your friend should find a discrepancy between what's on the box and what this has to say. Have'm run it!

 

So would that not apply to ALL computers? Dell/HP etc..


Will any OEM disc work on any OEM key? I have couple of OEM XP Pro discs with my dell laptops; and I have a couple of older computers for which I dont have OEM discs, and that have different versions of XP (home/media center) installed.
Can I use the XP Pro OEM discs with the XP key on those other computers?

 

To get Dell Windows-reinstallation media:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/document?docid=331556

 

Do you have the keys for the OEM Pro discs?
I've found on Dells older laptops, it makes no difference. Pro and Home were interchangeable as long as the key of the install OEM disc was used. Keep in mind this was older laptops. To date, the installs are verified as Genuine by MS

 

Thanks, thats a very useful link!

Unfortunately, I had already obtained a set of recovery CDs for one of the computers, and I have lost it someplce

 

Greg S, what do you mean? I have the keys for the OEM Pro discs, but the keys are in use on the corresponding computers. Thus, these keys cannot be used elsewhere.

The computer which is running XP home, has its own key; but has OEM disc missing.

 

In short, I installed XP OEM Home on Dell Laptops that came with OEM Pro and vice versa. I used the keys that came with the OEM discs. It made no difference that the keys were in use elsewhere. Just for the record, it wasn't my laptops nor OEM discs but these persons wanted it tried and it worked. One was even an OEM disc for another laptop brand name. I haven't a clue as to why it worked unless it had something to do with the laptops being ancient.

The legal way of doing this if there is one, is to use the OEM disc of the same version that came installed on the laptop and using that laptops OEM key.

 

Thanks.

Darn, so I guess the CDs downloaded from Technet wont work? With the OEM keys on the computer.