Quickest way to get a copy of windows cd?

I'd like to reinstall WindowsXP but my install CD has a huge scratch on it and is unreadable. Does anyone know of the quickest and most inexpensive way of obtaining a WindowsXP Home OEM CD? (anyone with access to a fancy Microsoft account want to share the image file? )

Thanks in advance!

 

order copy from company sold you computer? or order oem copy from microsoft

Friend with a copy?

peer 2 peer app such torrent site but cound have virus

Microsoft Does not provide download image of os unless you have tech net acount winch is not free


if this was preinstall on machine via marjor oem hp etc order set recovery disk

 

I want to perform a clean install and avoid using restore discs. I've been trying to obtain it through torrents, but like you said, there's the risk of viruses. I forgot what the name of it was, but I think it may've been MSDN. When I said 'fancy Microsoft account' I was referring to someone who had access to MSDN services. I'm not sure if MS or the comp manufacturer provide the OEM disc alone though which is a shame. It's also hard finding a friend with that exact disc too.

I found an online guide and that walks you through making your own CD and am testing that out now. I'll report back later with the results.

 

Yeah it is MSDN. Can download any windows version as ISO image. I got MSDN AA (academic). Makeing your own cd is pretty easy if your restore cd has a i386 folder.

 

See if someone you know has a disk. It will install the same, you just need to put your password in.

Also, I am not sure how bad your scratch is, but you may be able to repair the disk.

 

The restore seems to be a manufacturer-specific ISO image (hope that makes sense). I used the i386 folder from a different system that I know is working for sure. I also slipstreamed the SP2 update into it for good measure. Do you suppose it'll work despite obtaining the i386 directory from a different system? (different model/manufacturer and everything).

 

Making the CD should work for sure. Only thing I am not sure about is if your windows key will activate. It should aslong as you install XP home (I assume thats what your laptop came with).

 

Yeah. To be a little more specific, the system that I got the i386 directory from was a Compaq notebook that came with it preinstalled. The system that I'm installing it to is an Acer notebook that also came with WinXP Home installed. I used the key from the sticker that's underneath the notebook.

Thanks for the assist!

 

The only thing that might go wrong is that the compaq only got a slimmed down i386 folder. Slimmed down as in many standard drivers missing. If the acer needs one of the drivers to boot might run into problems. I dont think this will happen but I have seen it before.

 

The quickest and the easiest way is to download a copy off the torrents or from another popular P2P network. If you download from a torrent, get it from a reliable source and remember to read the comments to make sure that it’s a good copy.
Having said that, I’m not so sure about the legal issues of such a download. Most probably it will violate some sort of a clause in some copyright agreement. But personally, I don’t feel any wrong doing. I mean you already purchased it and you have a legal key, so it is not like you are running a pirate copy or anything, right ? Besides, it is no different to borrowing a copy from a friend and running it.

 

For next time: After you re-install, use ghost or acronis to backup the image file, this way you will always have a working starting point. GL