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

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Greetings,
I purchased a used Dell with XP Home installed and a vaild COA but no disks. No winnt.exe etc. files on the machine. However, I do have a copy of XP Home upgrade version that I used on another computer. If the need arises to reinstall XP on the used Dell, can I use the upgrade version and the COA?

I believe so.

Hi Leo,
I am restoring a Compaq Presario 2100, to be able to sell it, i retreived the CD Key and the I386 files but i'm not quite sure i understand how to boot from this CD? i tried using another Windows XP CD and when i changed cd's after it was done booting it said D:\I386\ams (i believe was the error) not found. and it had to shut down. Is there anything i should do, the harddrive is complelty wiped but i pulled the I386 and SW_Setup off before it was wipped.

First off, you run a great service compared to all those other sites that charge you an arm and a leg.

My question is: I have read all your articles. I am a lamen terms kind of guy, If I have step by step instructions, im good to go lol. I have no restore disc or even my winxp os disc. I want to clean and erase everything from my pc, to have it back to when i first bought it. I know you mention the famous "I386" folder alot... So from when I first turn on my pc and start it up, how do i proceed to restore to brand new without any disc?

The steps for rebuilding from the I386 directory are fairly lengthy. It's on my to-do list, but I'm not sure when I'll get to it. I *really* recommend getting the CD from your computer's manufacturer.

You should also check to see if you even HAVE the I386 directory. The easiest way is Start -> Run and then type in "C:\I386" and press OK. If it opens Windows Explorer with a looooong list of files, you have it. If it gives you an error, you do not, and now REALLY need to get a Windows CD.

Hi
My sister bought her computer from a legal retail store and never received any disks. Now the computer won't work, it displays the following message:

Window could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
\windows\system32\config\system
You can attempt to repair this file by starting windows setup using the orginal set up cd-rom
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

So what can she do? She has no "original set up cd-rom". Does she have to take it to a computer place to be fixed or go out and re buy the product? Is there any other way? It is Windows XP operating system.

Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Leisa: you should go back to the computer store and get the CD that corresponds to the operating system that they installed. Sadly, they may charge for it, though in my opinion they should not.

simply to to www.majorgeeks.con & enter in one of the two search engines for the web site you'll find on the far left of the page somewhere's? around min page & enter in to the search "Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder v1.4" which is a legit & safe software no hackware that'll simply show you your cd key & or allow you to change your key rather simply & easily. THEN PLEASE FILE IT SOMEWHERE'S BESIDES A DESK-TOP OR? TRY A FILE CADINET FOR ONE. sO YOU'LL HAVE IT WHEN NEED NEXT ANOTHER WAY OF SECURING THIS KEY IS TO SIMPLY CLEAR TAPE IT TO YOUR PC'S BOX! OR CASE! WITH A "DO NOT REMOVE NOTTICE"

THANK'S I COULD HELP YOU IN THE MATTER.

GMAN

I am trying to recover my windows laptop. I have the recovery disk but the first one seems corrupt. I found the i386 directory on the third disk after using the 6 disk set to boot. After looking in the I386 directory I found that there is no winnt.exe or winnt32.exe. I was wondering if it was possible to just download that file? Will it work if I find one and burn a new disk with the I386 directory and just put in the winnt.exe file before I burn it and try to use it.

Hello folks. I was able to get past the defective part of my recovery disk by repartitioning my hardisk. This in turn made the bad sector I guess get skiped. Thanks for all those who read my post and started to think about it.

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