I don't have an installation CD for Windows XP - what if I need one?

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bought the prebundled software on HP computer. The hard drive has gone completely capoot. Have new hard drive need xp home cd. Have oem. HP dragging feet on any solutions. Keep sending me the recovery disks. (no os on new hard drive to recover)Where can I get a copy of xp home os without having to buy it? I just need to reinstall it. I have an install disk for a Dell computer. Will that work.

Well, the "right" thing to do is to keep slapping HP around - they *should* get you a CD-ROM. I'm actually surprized there wasn't one with the machine (it's often shrink-wrapped with the documentation). There's no "legal" way to get a copy, other than through HP, that I'm aware of. Since you have a DELL disk, absolutely I'd give it a try ... my recollection is that the actualy OS install is not customized much, if at all. Since you have a new hard drive you have little to lose anyway. Assuming you activated the copy of XP on the old hard disk, it might also be worth calling Microsoft to see if they can provide you with something - they might just point you at HP, but nonetheless, it might be worth a shot.

Good luck!

Leo

Is it not so that when you have a license, that means a key, you can get any copy you want as long as you would use your own license key?

Though the OEM counts for something. It might mean that you cannot get a copy from a "full retail" version of XP and use your key on it, as then you might have functionality you or HP didn't pay for.

Secondly it might not have the necessary drivers aboard. If this approach is legal it will most surely get your system going.

The Dell copy of Windows will not work. While it is an actual copy of Windows, during installation it will check your mobo to see if you are installing it on a Dell machine. You can (not legally) install one copy of Dell Windows XP on several Dell machines without incident, but you cannot put it on a Compaq/HP/custom system etc. As far as I know Dell and Gateway are the only two manuf. that include ACTUAL copies of Windows XP and not those ghastly image "recovery--wipe your hard drive out and put the crapware back on your computer" disks.

Wise decision would be to ask the next computer manufacturer that you buy from if they give you an actual copy of windows. If they don't tell them NO THANK YOU!

My aunt's computer crashed, and after searching for her gateway win xp home cd for an hour, she found it with a big crack in it. Obviously it didn't work. I tried my msdn version of xp home thinking i could just use her license key, but it wouldn't take it. When I contacted gateway, they told me that if the pc was still under warranty, they'd send me a new cd for free. Since it was no longer under warranty, they said I had to purchase a whole new copy of XP Home for $195!! Am I write in saying that the license was already purchased and paid for when the pc was purchased, so all we should have to pay is maybe a couple of bucks for them to ship a new cd?

Interesting about what to do if you dont have the Home Edition XP CD. When I run sfc /scannow and get the Windows File Protection prompting me for a CD I do not have an ok. The only option I have are retry more information cancel there is no option to browse to the I386 folder. Is there a way round this ????????

Normally if you hit <Cancel> on that dialog, it will then follow up with a dialog asking for the location of the files. That's where you would browse to your I386 folder.

Leo

Hi, i have a slight problem.
i got 2 pc one is a laptop(nt without cdrom only floppy). the home pc(xp) got i386 folder.laptop deosnt bc i deleted it. can i somehow ftp it to my laptop. and install xp to my laptop that way ?

i have a xp home liscence that came with pc and i got a bought cd liscence that is software by it self.

If both computers have a network adapter, you could setup a link that way. There are pc-to-pc communications products like laplink that will work across a special serial cable. If you have a fast(ish) internet connection you could also ZIP the I386 directory into a single file, upload it somewhere, and then download it to the other machine, expand it, and be on your way.

Leo

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