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

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Just to follow my own post, I did read all of the comments here, and someone said that if you set HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\SourcePath to the parent of the i386 directory (which is C:\ in my case), then SFC will know where to look and not bother me asking for a CD. Well, I looked in the registry, and my SourcePath is already set as C:\, and like I say, SFC bothers me with needing the disk. I also read that others say you can burn the i386 folder to a CD and it'll make SFC happy, but another poster said what I fear I would find which is "what if it wants (as mine does) disk 2?", and I didn't see anyone have a response to that question. So, Leo, let me know please if you can clue me on on what to do from here. Thanks!

I just got a brand new computer, custom built. It didn't include a CD, but I thought nothing of it. Now I find out that to add a language pack I need that I do in fact need the disc. The hard drive's got nothing.

I don't have very much money, so getting a new copy is out. Is there anything else I can do? I've thought about asking the people who built my rig to send me the disc, but they're 600 miles from where I am (I bought it on a trip) and that might be a problem...

Not to worry, it's actually pretty simple. Typically the "Insert CD" message has only an OK and Cancel button. Press OK, allowing it to fail. The next dialog will typically ask you to provide the location of the CD-ROM; just type in the full path of the I386 directory you discovered above.

Not true , I did all above and it did not ask for the location of the CD-ROM

thank you, Bob

I have created a monster.
I simply wished to do a system restore on my Dell Dimension 1100. The error codes that came up and other information I had been given led me to believe that my hard drive had gone south. I replaced my hard drive. Now I have the "No OS Found" and am asked to insert the OS set-up disk. Nothing I do seems to work. Dell will not speak to me because I do not have the extended warranty, and they did not provide any kind of restore disk ..... Please advise me of my options. Do I have to purchase a XP CD to get it going again or what?

Thank You for your time, Pat

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I'm surprised that Dell didn't give you at least a restore
disk, though that wouldn't work in this case anyway.

Yes, you need get a Windows XP Installation disk somehow.
Purchasing one seems like the best approach. (In the future,
I strongly recommend making sure that when you purchase a
new PC that you insist it comes with a Windows Installation
CD - which is very different than a restore CD.)

Good luck.

Leo

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You said:

>>>ypically the "Insert CD" message has only an OK and Cancel button. Press OK, allowing it to fail. The next dialog will typically ask you to provide the location of the CD-ROM; just type in the full path of the I386 directory you discovered above. MORE INFORMATION tells you the reason your cd isn't there is that it isn't there (groan) or your cd drive isn't working. Remarkably helpful, that!

I'll report what Doris asked earlier...

"I also only have the three options, retry, more info, cancel (no OK button). When I hit retry it asks for the CD again. When I hit cancel a message box says do you want to do this, etc. If I say no it goes back to the original three options. If I say yes it moves along to the next error with no option to give the path for the i386 folder. After going through this with all the errors I thought it might ask for the path before shutting down but NO.
Any help you could give me here would be greatly appreciated.
Your site is a God-send. Keep up the good work!"

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Even though it discusses the I386 folder, I believe that
this article applies:
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_tell_windows_where_my_i386_folder_has_moved.html

Leo

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Why doesn't Microsoft (or PC manufacturers) provide free full version Windows downloads to assist with the cheapness of these new laptop makers not including an install disk with the sale of a new laptop? They can keep the key because the product key is included with the laptop anyway. It might behove them to let customers use a free version for 30 days before buying anyway, like a beta version. And if you have the qualifying key to unlock it, whats the harm?

I got an imagine copy of windows on my computer and still have the key code. what im not understanding is how do i reformat my HDD and reinstalle windows XP. I dont know a lot about computers but from my understand all will be erased off the HDD to include this imagine copy of windows and then im sitting here with a key code but no way to down load it. Am I wrong or is there another way to get around having a key code and no cd and need to reformat the HDD?

thank you
Leland

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