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Create a
CD for Microsoft Windows XP, 2000, 2003 or NT 4.0! |
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Creating a CD for Microsoft Windows XP, 2000, 2003, and NT.
Question: How can I reinstall windows and not loose all of my files,
I cannot find my Xp cd?
First it depends on if your computer will boot up to your desktop or
not? If not then this Faq is not for you!
Most manufacturers gave you a rescue disk when you bought the pc in
case your computer will not boot up, if you cannot get to your
desktop then its time to decide whether your disk drive is faulty
and you need to
rescue your data
or if you have a backup then you should consider restoring your
system if your hard disk drive is still good..
If you can get to your desktop then the first thing you can do is
make a Startup diskette if you are using FAT32, or you can make a
bootable CD image if you are using NTFS. If you are using NTFS read the section
about making bootable
CD image.
If you have a Recovery CD from your computer manufacturer, the
Recovery CD will install the Windows installation files to a folder,
normally to C:\I386 or C:\Winnt\I386 or C:\Windows\I386. Open your
Windows Explorer and search for them. Make sure you see and have the file Winnt.exe, Winnt32.exe and EULA.txt. Each version of Windows has a
different number of files and almost all the files will be
compressed so they will have an underscore at the end of the file
extension like "Shell32.dl_"
You can search for the folder I386. You will need to copy the entire
folder to a computer with a CD burner. Do not change the name of the
folder and do not make it a sub folder as in E:\Windows\I386 , it
must be E:\I386. This folder will contain 1000 or more files!
Now comes the tough part, getting the Windows CD Key. The NT platform
does not store the CD Key in the Registry in plain text as on the
Windows 98 platform. It stores only the Product ID, which is different
each time you reinstall windows. You will need to check your computer
case for it. My laptop has a Windows CD Key pasted to the bottom of it.
Your Recovery CD (if you have one) may have it on its label, or your paper work has it
written somewhere. If you cannot find the key you can modify the file
I386\Setupp.ini or you can download a free CD Key Reader software to
read the installed key that was used to install Windows on your
computer.
Note: We use this key finder
http://www.winkeyfinder.com/
The CD Key Reader software will tell you the CD that Windows was last
installed with. If your computer is from Dell, Hp, Compaq, Toshiba,
EMachine or other manufacturer and you have not reinstalled Windows
yourself, then this Key may not work. These manufactures are installing
Windows to all their machines from a common Image. Using the same CD Key.
They then give you the CD Key on the box that matches the PID file in
the I386 folder. This is different then the common image they used.
To modify the Setupp.ini file (found in the i386 folder), open it in
notepad. It will look like this:
[Pid]
ExtraData=6376796F71737A76767385CA66F124
Pid=51873OEM
Change the OEM to 270 on the Pid Value so it looks like this:
[Pid]
ExtraData=6376796F71737A76767385CA66F124
Pid=51873270
This should work on most CDs. This will allow you to install Windows
2000 without a serial number, this will NOT work on evaluation versions
of Windows, or Windows 2003. It will only work on earlier versions of
XP.
For those who do not know how to start the installation of Windows for
NT, XP, 2000, and 2003 there are two files available in the I386 folder.
The file Winnt.exe will start the installation from a DOS prompt, and
Winnt32.exe will start it within Windows. If you have a problem with
Winnt32.exe when in Windows you can use the Winnt.exe instead, however
it is much slower.
Auto close hanging applications on your XP box
Error 1327. Invalid Drive: E:\
Insufficient system resources exist to complete the API
Internet Connection Firewall Prevents File Sharing And Browsing
NTLDR Is Missing on Upgrade
Operating System not Found or Invalid Media Type
Print job stuck in Que or Printer Spooler
Repair your XP Boot Sector
Selecting Shutdown Restarts the Computer XP
Stop 0x0000007B
TroubleShooting XP System Restore
XP System Restore Is Not Working
Your system is low on virtual memory size
FAQs By Operating System
NT 4.0 Server FAQs
NT Wkstn 4.0 FAQs
Win 98 SE Faqs
Windows 2000 FAQs
Windows ME FAQs
XP OEM FAQs
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