How do I make a Windows Installation CD?

[Dave]

I have a computer Gateway computer that did not come with a Windows

installation CD. It has a D: Partition with a Restore to install the

computer back to the way it was when I purchased it. I came home today and

found the computer had crashed it said to run check disk. The drive did come

back up ok so far. As I write this on another computer I am running a backup

up the computer. I was told there is a way to make a Windows installation CD

from the computer so when I get a new hard drive I can format it and install

Windows. My question is HOW DO I DO THIS? Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

"Dave" wrote in message

news:861E48F0-4453-4119-BA48-522A81EFEA70@microsoft.com...

> I have a computer Gateway computer that did not come with a Windows

> installation CD. It has a D: Partition with a Restore to install the

> computer back to the way it was when I purchased it. I came home today

> and

> found the computer had crashed it said to run check disk. The drive did

> come

> back up ok so far. As I write this on another computer I am running a

> backup

> up the computer. I was told there is a way to make a Windows installation

> CD

> from the computer so when I get a new hard drive I can format it and

> install

> Windows. My question is HOW DO I DO THIS? Thanks for any help in

> advance.



I do not think there is any such way. Borrow one from a friend or ask

Microsoft to send you one:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;326246.

 

[David Webb]

Why not try this method...obtain a recovery disc for your system. They usually

cost about $40 USD.



Here's a link where you may be able to buy a replacement:

http://www.restoredisks.com/



Gateway may even offer one for your model.



For other sources, simply do a Google search for "recovery cd"



--

Google is your friend.....





"Dave" wrote in message

news:861E48F0-4453-4119-BA48-522A81EFEA70@microsoft.com...

> I have a computer Gateway computer that did not come with a Windows

> installation CD. It has a D: Partition with a Restore to install the

> computer back to the way it was when I purchased it. I came home today and

> found the computer had crashed it said to run check disk. The drive did come

> back up ok so far. As I write this on another computer I am running a backup

> up the computer. I was told there is a way to make a Windows installation CD

> from the computer so when I get a new hard drive I can format it and install

> Windows. My question is HOW DO I DO THIS? Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[Jose]

On Jun 12, 1:19 am, Dave wrote:

> I have a computer Gateway computer that did not come with a Windows

> installation CD.  It has a D: Partition with a Restore to install the

> computer back to the way it was when I purchased it.  I came home todayand

> found the computer had crashed it said to run check disk.  The drive did come

> back up ok so far.  As I write this on another computer I am running a backup

> up the computer.  I was told there is a way to make a Windows installation CD

> from the computer so when I get a new hard drive I can format it and install

> Windows.  My question is HOW DO I DO THIS?  Thanks for any help in advance.



This is typical - no genuine bootable XP media included with your

purchase - just some kind of System Recovery CD. These CDs that come

with your system are what you would use to restore your system to an

"as shipped" condition. Generally an unattractive option for a

malfunctioning system.



Ask the ask the person that told you it was possible to show you how

to do it, try it and then share that information with us all.



In some fantasy world, you contact Gateway and they will be happy to

send you one - you paid for it, right? Why didn't they include it

with your purchase?



In some other fantasy world, you would borrow a genuine XP

installation CD of the same vintage as your installation and just make

a copy. Making a copy of an XP installation CD is legal.



If your system has Service Pack 3 on it, it would be another pleasant

fantasy if the CD you borrow to copy also has SP3 on it - what a lucky

break! Usually you have to make those things yourself.



To get an XP installation CD with SP3 involves taking the older XP

installation CD, copying it all to some folder on your HDD,

"slipstreaming" SP3 into that folder and using freely available tools

to create a new (and improved) bootable XP installation CD with SP3

built in. Then you will be having it for sure and one step ahead of

your friend and in a very good position to fix future problems with

minimal hassle. If you want to do that and can round up or borrow an

XP installation CD, let us know and you will get lots of ideas. It is

a fun project.



Here is a link that describes a method involving an OEM system and SP2

that I have never tried but it looks like it might work. If you try

it and it works, let us know.



Create a bootable XP CD from a pre installed OEM OS system that has an

i386 folder.



The will allow you to slip stream the current XP Service Pack into a

copy of the current i386 folder:



http://www.howtohaven.com/system/createwindowssetupdisk.shtml



Depending on what Service Pack you have, you may need to adjust the

directions for Service Pack 3 and then it still may not work.



Some say it is not possible:



http://www.askdavetaylor.com/can_i_create_my_own_windows_xp_installation_cd..html



If you want to be able to have a very good chance to fix your system

for future problems (while you are pondering the creation of an XP

installation CD), you should at least have a bootable XP Recovery

Console CD available. If you do not have a hardware problem, just

about any XP affliction from Recovery Console:



You can make a bootable XP Recovery Console CD easily:



Create a bootable XP Recovery Console CD when no XP media is available

by following the directions in this link:



http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic276527.html

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Too late now but you should be able to use the hidden Recovery partition to

return the computer to OOBE state.



See...



Cleaning a Compromised System

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc700813.aspx



Back-up any personal data (none of which should be considered 100%

trustworthy at this point) then format the HDD & do a clean install of

Windows. Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT

fix this!



HOW TO do a clean install of WinXP: See

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps and/or Method 1 in

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307



After the clean install, you will have the equivalent of a "new computer" so

take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting

the machine to the internet or a local network (i.e., other computers) and

before using a flash drive or SDCard that isn't brand-new or hasn't been

freshly formatted:



4 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online

http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx



Other helpful references include:



HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched

(after a clean install)

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c



HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a

clean install)

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b



Tip: After getting the computer fully-patched, download/install KB971029

manually: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029



NB: Any Norton or McAfee free-trial that came preinstalled on the computer

when you bought it will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is

reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the free-trial and download/run the

appropriate removal tool before installing any updates, Windows Service

Packs or IE upgrades and before installing your new anti-virus application

(which will require WinXP SP3 to be installed).



Norton Removal Tool

ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe



McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool

http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe



Also see:



Risks & Benefits of P2P file sharing

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/data/downloadfileshare/filesharing.aspx

http://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/archive/2008/10/06/the-cost-of-free-software.aspx



Steps To Help Prevent Spyware

http://www.microsoft.com/security/spyware/prevent.aspx



Steps to Help Prevent Computer Worms

http://www.microsoft.com/security/worms/prevent.aspx



Avoid Rogue Security Software!

http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx



If you need additional assistance, please begin a new thread in this forum:

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistarepair/threads

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7repair/threads

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/xprepair/threads



If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting

this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and

independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002







Dave wrote:

> I have a computer Gateway computer that did not come with a Windows

> installation CD. It has a D: Partition with a Restore to install the

> computer back to the way it was when I purchased it. I came home today

> and

> found the computer had crashed it said to run check disk. The drive did

> come back up ok so far. As I write this on another computer I am running

> a

> backup up the computer. I was told there is a way to make a Windows

> installation CD from the computer so when I get a new hard drive I can

> format it and install Windows. My question is HOW DO I DO THIS? Thanks

> for any help in advance.

 

[LVTravel]

"Dave" wrote in message

news:861E48F0-4453-4119-BA48-522A81EFEA70@microsoft.com...

> I have a computer Gateway computer that did not come with a Windows

> installation CD. It has a D: Partition with a Restore to install the

> computer back to the way it was when I purchased it. I came home today

> and

> found the computer had crashed it said to run check disk. The drive did

> come

> back up ok so far. As I write this on another computer I am running a

> backup

> up the computer. I was told there is a way to make a Windows installation

> CD

> from the computer so when I get a new hard drive I can format it and

> install

> Windows. My question is HOW DO I DO THIS? Thanks for any help in

> advance.



Dave, in the instructions that came with your Gateway it tells you how to

access the program to be able to create the system recovery disks. If the

hard drive crashes totally before you can get them made you will need to

contact Gateway to have them ship a set to you (at cost.)

 

[undisclosed]

Hi There,



A good way is to find xp professional sp3.iso on a good torrent site,

it should be around 589mb. Try to get sp3 as it will save you about an

hour or so worth of downloading and installing.

When that has downloaded use something like nero to burn it cd, There

you have your windows xp professional installation CD.

look in you d partition to see if you have a drivers folder. send any

important date over to your d partition. IF you use wireless make sure

you have your wireless driver in your d partition. Boot from cd

probably press F12 at start up to get into your boot options (not the

same on all pcs). format your c partition. I assume you have a key to

use somewhere on your machine. After its installed open device manager

and install all your drivers activate windows ect....



Hope that helps a bit.





--

JAM_EZZ

 

[Jose]

On Jun 13, 7:04 am, undisclosed wrote:

> Hi There,

>

> A good way is to find xp professional sp3.iso on a good  torrent site,

> it should be around 589mb. Try to get sp3 as it will save  you about an

> hour or so worth of downloading and installing.

> When  that has downloaded use something like nero to burn it cd, There

> you  have your windows xp professional installation CD.

> look in you d  partition to see if you have a drivers folder. send any

> important date  over to your d partition. IF you use wireless make sure

> you have your  wireless driver in your d partition. Boot from cd

> probably press F12 at  start up to get into your boot options (not the

> same on all pcs). format  your c partition. I assume you have a key to

> use somewhere on your  machine. After its installed open device manager

> and install all your  drivers activate windows ect....

>

> Hope that helps a bit.

>

> --

> JAM_EZZ



Where is this good torrent site where I can get an xp professional

sp3.iso?

 

[undisclosed]

'isoHunt Lite the BitTorrent & P2P search engine'

(http://isohunt.com/torrents/?ihq=windows+xp)



That should sort you out



As with anything you down load, be careful what you chose make sure its

got some comments that say its working properly and look for ones with

lots of seeders.





--

JAM_EZZ

 

[Daave]

Jose wrote:

> On Jun 13, 7:04 am, undisclosed wrote:

>> Hi There,

>>

>> A good way is to find xp professional sp3.iso on a good torrent site,

>> it should be around 589mb. Try to get sp3 as it will save you about

>> an hour or so worth of downloading and installing.

>> When that has downloaded use something like nero to burn it cd, There

>> you have your windows xp professional installation CD.

>> look in you d partition to see if you have a drivers folder. send any

>> important date over to your d partition. IF you use wireless make

>> sure you have your wireless driver in your d partition. Boot from cd

>> probably press F12 at start up to get into your boot options (not the

>> same on all pcs). format your c partition. I assume you have a key to

>> use somewhere on your machine. After its installed open device

>> manager and install all your drivers activate windows ect....

>>

>> Hope that helps a bit.

>>

>> --

>> JAM_EZZ

>

> Where is this good torrent site where I can get an xp professional

> sp3.iso?



Heh.



Actually, I am sure that *somewhere* out there in the vast expanse of

the Internet, one can find an .iso of a clean, legit, original

installation CD of XP Pro at the SP3 level. It would have to be a

generic OEM version, of course because the only Retail versions that

exist are ones that have been slipstreamed (legit, original Retail

versions are only as recent as SP2).



That being said, I would never recommend that anyone obtain it this way;

there is far too great a risk to contract malware this way! (Then again,

Jose, since you like to live on the edge, this might be right up your

alley!)



FWIW, I made an .iso of my generic OEM XP Home (at SP3) installation CD

(not XP Pro) a while back (Label: GRTMHOEM_EN) for my own use. I never

uploaded this, but I'll bet others have. The hash values for it are:



MD5: db34a933ad23114be2e6a4553b61eb77

SHA1: 93683dbbb16b23d8be6c409b96c76cd903347259



So if someone has a legit installation CD that is damaged with the legit

accompanying Product Key, burning a CD from the proper, safe .iso would

actually work. A program like Hash Calc could verify the hash values.



That being said, how would anyone know that I am not trolling and trying

to get people to search for and download malware-ridden software? *I*

know I'm not, but how would others know this 100%? Oh, what a tangled

web... (no pun intended!)

 

[undisclosed]

Daave;1783728 Wrote:

> Jose wrote:

> > On Jun 13, 7:04 am, undisclosed wrote:

> >> Hi There,

> >>

> >> A good way is to find xp professional sp3.iso on a good torrent

> site,

> >> it should be around 589mb. Try to get sp3 as it will save you about

> >> an hour or so worth of downloading and installing.

> >> When that has downloaded use something like nero to burn it cd,

> There

> >> you have your windows xp professional installation CD.

> >> look in you d partition to see if you have a drivers folder. send

> any

> >> important date over to your d partition. IF you use wireless make

> >> sure you have your wireless driver in your d partition. Boot from cd

> >> probably press F12 at start up to get into your boot options (not

> the

> >> same on all pcs). format your c partition. I assume you have a key

> to

> >> use somewhere on your machine. After its installed open device

> >> manager and install all your drivers activate windows ect....

> >>

> >> Hope that helps a bit.

> >>

> >> --

> >> JAM_EZZ

> >

> > Where is this good torrent site where I can get an xp professional

> > sp3.iso?

>

> Heh.

>

> Actually, I am sure that *somewhere* out there in the vast expanse of

> the Internet, one can find an .iso of a clean, legit, original

> installation CD of XP Pro at the SP3 level. It would have to be a

> generic OEM version, of course because the only Retail versions that

> exist are ones that have been slipstreamed (legit, original Retail

> versions are only as recent as SP2).

>

> That being said, I would never recommend that anyone obtain it this

> way;

> there is far too great a risk to contract malware this way! (Then

> again,

> Jose, since you like to live on the edge, this might be right up your

> alley!)

>

> FWIW, I made an .iso of my generic OEM XP Home (at SP3) installation CD

> (not XP Pro) a while back (Label: GRTMHOEM_EN) for my own use. I never

> uploaded this, but I'll bet others have. The hash values for it are:

>

> MD5: db34a933ad23114be2e6a4553b61eb77

> SHA1: 93683dbbb16b23d8be6c409b96c76cd903347259

>

> So if someone has a legit installation CD that is damaged with the

> legit

> accompanying Product Key, burning a CD from the proper, safe .iso would

> actually work. A program like Hash Calc could verify the hash values.

>

> That being said, how would anyone know that I am not trolling and

> trying

> to get people to search for and download malware-ridden software? *I*

> know I'm not, but how would others know this 100%? Oh, what a tangled

> web... (no pun intended!)



I know exactly what you mean, i did hesitate to answer the question

about where to good one from. I have a good clean copy and its 589mb

anything bigger has got extra that it shouldn't have and doesn't need.

I'm sure your advice is honest and your not trying mess up our

computers or obtain out bank details.

I have seen a lot of viruses from people trying to download things

like, program/windows activators antivirus/spyware programs and cracks

for things like office/photoshop.

Just be warrey of where your downloading from and the size of the file.

Like i say if something has got lots of comments and they say its

working for them its PROBABLY ok. If something has only got 2 comments i

stay clear unless its a user you know on a regular site.





--

JAM_EZZ

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Now pull the other one...



undisclosed wrote:

> A good way is to find xp professional sp3.iso on a good torrent site,

 

[undisclosed]

'PA Bear [MS MVP Wrote:

> ;1783776'] Now pull the other one...

>

> undisclosed wrote:

> > A good way is to find xp professional sp3.iso on a good torrent

> site,



Do you not like downloading from a torrent site?





--

JAM_EZZ

 

[LVTravel]

"undisclosed" wrote in message

news:58b8e4b136fdc15b4569861e4deabe37@nntp-gateway.com...

>

>

> Hi There,

>

> A good way is to find xp professional sp3.iso on a good torrent site,

> it should be around 589mb. Try to get sp3 as it will save you about an

> hour or so worth of downloading and installing.

> When that has downloaded use something like nero to burn it cd, There

> you have your windows xp professional installation CD.

> look in you d partition to see if you have a drivers folder. send any

> important date over to your d partition. IF you use wireless make sure

> you have your wireless driver in your d partition. Boot from cd

> probably press F12 at start up to get into your boot options (not the

> same on all pcs). format your c partition. I assume you have a key to

> use somewhere on your machine. After its installed open device manager

> and install all your drivers activate windows ect....

>

> Hope that helps a bit.

>

>

> --

> JAM_EZZ



Yes, Torrent. A download site that has a lot of interesting things... like

virus, Trojans and other nice malware. It is illegal to download any

version of XP, Vista or Win 7 from any site other than Microsoft's

recommended seller which is through Digital River. Any other use of a

download is just fraught with issues.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

+1



LVTravel wrote:

>> A good way is to find xp professional sp3.iso on a good torrent site,

>> it should be around 589mb. Try to get sp3 as it will save you about an

>> hour or so worth of downloading and installing.

>> When that has downloaded use something like nero to burn it cd, There

>> you have your windows xp professional installation CD.

>> look in you d partition to see if you have a drivers folder. send any

>> important date over to your d partition. IF you use wireless make sure

>> you have your wireless driver in your d partition. Boot from cd

>> probably press F12 at start up to get into your boot options (not the

>> same on all pcs). format your c partition. I assume you have a key to

>> use somewhere on your machine. After its installed open device manager

>> and install all your drivers activate windows ect....

>>

> Yes, Torrent. A download site that has a lot of interesting things...

> like

> virus, Trojans and other nice malware. It is illegal to download any

> version of XP, Vista or Win 7 from any site other than Microsoft's

> recommended seller which is through Digital River. Any other use of a

> download is just fraught with issues.

 

[undisclosed]

Yer i fully understand exactly what everyone is saying about downloads

from torrent sites but your making it sounds like there's not even one

good copy anywhere and that is not the case but as with anything its a

risk. Find a good copy though and your ready to go in 50 mins or less

downloaded and burned. (i really do agree though that it has potential

to go wrong)

I thought i might end up changing the thread, i actually tried to word

it so i wouldn't, guess i failed though and ill have to try harder next

time.

Again i really dont want to change the subject but i dont think its

illegal to simply copy an installation cd. there is no copy protection

on the cd itself. Many people have their key on their machine but no

copy of windows.

This article from microsoft teaches you how to copy windows with all

the updates (slipstreaming they call it) 'How to slipstream hotfixes

that replace pre-existing driver files'

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/814847) so they clearly don't have a

problem with it.

Anyway I hope that Dave finds the best way to sort out his computer, if

it isn't done already.





--

JAM_EZZ

 

[LVTravel]

"undisclosed" wrote in message

news:5193497f4d1bcd8713aa43d200f88780@nntp-gateway.com...

>

> Yer i fully understand exactly what everyone is saying about downloads

> from torrent sites but your making it sounds like there's not even one

> good copy anywhere and that is not the case but as with anything its a

> risk. Find a good copy though and your ready to go in 50 mins or less

> downloaded and burned. (i really do agree though that it has potential

> to go wrong)

> I thought i might end up changing the thread, i actually tried to word

> it so i wouldn't, guess i failed though and ill have to try harder next

> time.

> Again i really dont want to change the subject but i dont think its

> illegal to simply copy an installation cd. there is no copy protection

> on the cd itself. Many people have their key on their machine but no

> copy of windows.

> This article from microsoft teaches you how to copy windows with all

> the updates (slipstreaming they call it) 'How to slipstream hotfixes

> that replace pre-existing driver files'

> (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/814847) so they clearly don't have a

> problem with it.

> Anyway I hope that Dave finds the best way to sort out his computer, if

> it isn't done already.

>

>

> --

> JAM_EZZ



I didn't say it is illegal to copy a cd I said download. A big difference.

If you read the EULA on just about any MS CD or program it says you can make

a copy for archival purposes. I also don't think MS would mind if a copy

was made and given to a person in need as long as the license isn't

transferred to use in more than one computer.



Torrent is notorious for providing hacked, malware infected software. How

does the OP know what is good from the site and what is bad? There is

absolutely no way of knowing without downloading and installing. When all

the data or plugged in backups are deleted or trashed it is too late then to

say, Oh, should not have done that (son found out the hard way, thank

goodness that he lived a town away and wasn't on my network.)



The key on the machine will require a generic OEM version of Windows or the

rebuild disk set from the manufacturer to function. It won't operate on a

retail version, especially the Pro version you said to download. You are

apparently a mind reader as the OP said nothing about XP Pro being on the

computer's sticker.

 

[undisclosed]

LVTravel;1783963 Wrote:

> "undisclosed" wrote in message

> news:5193497f4d1bcd8713aa43d200f88780@nntp-gateway.com...

> >

> > Yer i fully understand exactly what everyone is saying about

> downloads

> > from torrent sites but your making it sounds like there's not even

> one

> > good copy anywhere and that is not the case but as with anything its

> a

> > risk. Find a good copy though and your ready to go in 50 mins or less

> > downloaded and burned. (i really do agree though that it has

> potential

> > to go wrong)

> > I thought i might end up changing the thread, i actually tried to

> word

> > it so i wouldn't, guess i failed though and ill have to try harder

> next

> > time.

> > Again i really dont want to change the subject but i dont think its

> > illegal to simply copy an installation cd. there is no copy

> protection

> > on the cd itself. Many people have their key on their machine but no

> > copy of windows.

> > This article from microsoft teaches you how to copy windows with all

> > the updates (slipstreaming they call it) 'How to slipstream hotfixes

> > that replace pre-existing driver files'

> > ('How to slipstream hotfixes that replace pre-existing driver files'

> (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/814847)) so they clearly don't have a

> > problem with it.

> > Anyway I hope that Dave finds the best way to sort out his computer,

> if

> > it isn't done already.

> >

> >

> > --

> > JAM_EZZ

>

> I didn't say it is illegal to copy a cd I said download. A big

> difference.

> If you read the EULA on just about any MS CD or program it says you can

> make

> a copy for archival purposes. I also don't think MS would mind if a

> copy

> was made and given to a person in need as long as the license isn't

> transferred to use in more than one computer.

>

> Torrent is notorious for providing hacked, malware infected software.

> How

> does the OP know what is good from the site and what is bad? There is

> absolutely no way of knowing without downloading and installing. When

> all

> the data or plugged in backups are deleted or trashed it is too late

> then to

> say, Oh, should not have done that (son found out the hard way, thank

> goodness that he lived a town away and wasn't on my network.)

>

> The key on the machine will require a generic OEM version of Windows or

> the

> rebuild disk set from the manufacturer to function. It won't operate

> on a

> retail version, especially the Pro version you said to download. You

> are

> apparently a mind reader as the OP said nothing about XP Pro being on

> the

> computer's sticker.



Point taken, i stand corrected. To be able to edit would be a great

thing. I shouldn't of started *a good way* either i guess. I've noticed

another mistake i made that hasn't been spotted too. Ill be more careful

with any advise in future. I've kind of got good at not getting viruses

or spyware i was making a complacent mistake of assuming someone would

already know what I know.

As for the PRO i was installing it on 4 laptops at the time i think i

just had it on the brain and before you ask no the image isn't

downloaded from a torrent site lol.





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JAM_EZZ