Creating XP Install CD from Acer PC (without having an XP CD)

Can this be done?

I've read through this article http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=143068 which would seem to have a good amount of information, but actually doesn't help very much, it looks like the person writing it had an XP CD already, and just used that, I'm trying to understand what BASIC steps doy ou take to create an XP Install CD, can I just make a bootable CD and copy the I386 folder onto it, do I need to do something more than that? Can I install XP straight from that folder, or would I need to change it around?

I might mess with this more tonight, once I'm sure I've backed up my drive by using an old spare drive I've got lying around.

 

You can make an XP install CD but it will only be an image of what you have already, not a clean install. For a clean install you would need the actual XP disk which Acer seems to "forget". If you call Acer and complain enough perhaps they will give in and get a copy sent out.

 

I did a fresh reinstall, worked great, ... I planned on using the Acer cd, but as they didn't provide one I *cough* downloaded a copy, BUT it's full and legal because when I installed it, I used the Win CD key from the bottom of my laptop. (I had to call Microsoft to activate it, they were very friendly and helpful).
Of course if you have a copy from another computer or something you can use that, if you use your personal cd key everything works great and is legal.

 

Hi Arla

DaveLessnau and Bitbasher indeed worked from n OEM disk the got from 'somewhere'.
But you can burn your own one, since the i386 directory on your factory install contains everything needed (they used only the i386 directory from the OEM dsk) and is 'clean' just after install.

1.
Copy i386 directroy to your CDROOT
2.
delete unattend.txt and winnt.sif, if there
3.
find (in your windows installation) and copy to CDROOT\i386) the following 5 files from your windows installation
OOBEINFO.INI
OEMBIOS.BIN
OEMBIOS.DAT
OEMBIOS.SIG
OEMBIOS.CAT

4.
create the following 4 empty files in your CDROOT
WIN51
WIN51IP
WIN51IP.SP1
WIN51IP.SP2

5.
downloadhttp://www.tacktech.com/pub/microsoft/bootfiles/bootfiles.zip
unpack it qnd set up your burner with the include boot.ima, with
type: 'no emulation'
load segment:0000
sector count: 4

6
Burn and test with the key at the bottom of your notebook.
It works! But it may not work on a non-Acer mchine, because of the BIOS signature testing.

Since it doesn't include any setup scripts it'll stop at every opportunity to ask you what you want.

hth

Drio

 

Lol, you guys needn't go through all that trouble. Here's a good alternative.

http://www.nu2.nu/bootcd/wxp/

That's the most quick and dirty way I have seen up until now.

 

Yeah, but I'm not sure that really works well, it has things like

This listed in the instructions...

If I HAD a windows XP Installation/setup CD-Rom I wouldn't be trying to do this..

Drio, thanks for the info, I'll give it a try later tonight (or tomorrow).

 

BartPE indeed allows for muh nicer options; couldn't agree more.

But the above, more in detail described in the thread I messed up, gives you something as close to a Windows install CD as you can get, without having to buy one, because you already 'own' the key at the bottom of your notebook.

After adding in the drivers for your specific machine it's even better.

But feel free to do it anyway you like.

Cheers

Drio

 

@Arla
yeah, but you can use the 'clean' i386 from just after the factory recovery.

However, BartPE itself warns for 'probems' with an OEM disk. This probably again relates to the 5 additional files that BartPE doesn't know about, so you still need to copy these in BEFORE running BartPE (otherwise they will not be included in BartPE's installation scripts.

Anyway as Ma2T mentions, using any OEM CD and just calling MS to explain it may work as well; they are not that bad.

To be completely honsest I DID compare the i386 content with the content of an IBM OEM CD and did only find a few differences related to language files. Unfortunately it was a Chinese version, which didn't really suit me since my Chinese isn't exactly fluent, so it forced me to just try it.

Cheers

Drio

 

Okay thanks as I said, I'll try it tonight, I don't have any OEM disks or even SP2 disks around anywhere, so best I can do is use what's currently existing on my laptop, so...

We'll see.

 

Yeah, I made the disk too, but I haven't had an option to use it. I'm going to reinstall XP pretty soon (I'm downloading the Kubuntu DVD, so once that's done and I have 1:1 share ratio) and I'll give you my update. I hope all of you have created the recovery DVD before you start screwing with the partitions. It's a precaution that you defenitely *have* to take.

 

Is there a way to "force" Acer in giving you an XP disc?

 

I *did* call Acer and ask for recovery DVD but they said that you have to pay $40. I can call them again tomorrow and ask.

 

FYI, this doesn't work, I tried it but when booting the computer it goes into setup, goes through the F6 for loading RAID drivers, goes through F2 for AR (automated Recovery I believe it's called) and then says "Please insert the disk labeled Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 CD into Drive A

Obviously can't continue from here, so still no luck.

 

I found this here

http://www.4saad.com/WhatsNew/Fresh_XP_Install/Step7.htm

and it says even if the i386 folder is has SP2 you need to integrate SP2 to stop it asking for the CD.

Once I did this it worked for me went all the way through loading windows etc but on the final boot it gets to a point and say's something I can't remember but it's the black screen with the option to choose safe mode or safe mode with networking etc.

So I still haven't got it to work either but or a different reason.

 

Im really sorry to bump an old thread, but I don't understand what to do here.

downloadhttp://www.tacktech.com/pub/microsoft/bootfiles/bootfiles.zip
unpack it qnd set up your burner with the include boot.ima, with
type: 'no emulation'
load segment:0000
sector count: 4

 

It's options for Nero Burning ROM software I believe, it's how to burn a CD with particular emulation setup.

 

To put this thread to rest (sorry guys) it is IMPOSSIBLE to take an acer restore DVD and turn it into an origional windows xp home / pro / mce2k5 / tablet disk(s). It just doesn't happen that way, sorry.

Go acquire a disk at a brick and mortar store for free if you can. You own a licenese to the software you just need the media. It's like getting a 2nd key cut for the car you own If they refuse then you are SOL unless you either

A. Pay Acer to send you an origional disk for a fee

B. Find someone who is willing to send you a disk or give you a disk at a lower cost.

--ssx--

 

And can I reinstall my OS with my friend's XP Home Edition SP2 cd (that sistem I got with my Aspire 5112 WLMi) that he already has installed on his computer and than just register it with the number I got on the bottom of my lappy?

 

You can try, just be reminded that the oembios.ini and several other files are tuned specfically to Dell motherboards so that if it flags a dell bios it will not need to be registered. You can try (it's worth a shot at least).

Just be sure to keep apples with apples and use the same operating system and key that came with your laptop. Don't go installing pro if home is what came with it.

--ssx--

 

ok thanks guys but i have a question i have th recovery cd and the home edition from acer i bought it for 58 bucks it works but my driver for the wireless wont work i downloaded it from acer.com and the cd for drivers no luck what can i do i need it!!!!

aspire 3610

 

Okay i have done exactly like this, but its not working....
It still asks me to activate....
Anybody have any idea????