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How do I get bootable windows xp cd?

C

complete

Weaksauce
Joined
Aug 30, 2005
Messages
92
I have had a hard drive failure on an old (Sony VAIO 2001) Windows XP computer.
I have replaced the C drive with a new drive.

Now I need a bootable XP CD/DVD.

I have three CD's that came with the computer

  • System Recovery CD (the computer does not boot from this. I have already tried)
  • Application Recovery CD
  • Driver Recovery CD

I have searched on the internet for a solution. (see http://www.gelsana.com/xp.htm for a list of my search results)
So far, most of the sites I have found requires me to have an active Windows XP OS already to get files from.
One Microsoft site required me to use a series of floppy discs to use -- I do not have a floppy drive on the computer I am typing from now.

How do I get bootable windows xp cd?
 
The system came with XP installed. I do not think there was ever a CD Key. If there is a key, I imagine it is some ID on a label on the back of the computer.
 
The key should be on a hologram seal on the bottom of the computer.

Do any of those disc say "operating system" anywhere on the disc? You may need to F8/F10 to boot off it.
 
Many laptops don't come with a full operating system install CD but depend upon a hidden restore partition & recovery CD to do the job.

You replaced the drive and lost the restore partition.

Hopefully you can call Sony with your machine's specific info and get XP install discs for 10-15.00.

I know I've done this for Compaq/HP machines.
 
Sony charged $30 last time I tried to get an OS disc from them.
 
that laptop is very old. i would bet it was before recovery partitions. go into your bios and make sure that your cd drive is set to boot before the hard drive. you also need to make sure you have your xp key, or else none of this matters as you wont be able to get your windows xp running right anyway.
Posted via [H] Mobile Device
 
Most of the time. Those cd's will not come with the laptop. The fact taht its a 2001 sony vaio doesn't help either! I hate vaio's.
 
I used to have a Sony Vaio FX-210 laptop with all three of those discs. The System Recovery CD was the one that restored the OS. There was no recovery partition on that laptop.
 
ryan_975 said:
I used to have a Sony Vaio FX-210 laptop with all three of those discs. The System Recovery CD was the one that restored the OS. There was no recovery partition on that laptop.
Click to expand...

In that case I guess the recovery CD was an OS install?
 
ryan_975 said:
It's a compressed image of the hard drive as Sony shipped from the factory. If I remember right, it was split across two CD's.
Click to expand...
Could be, but unfortunatly the OP doesn't have those.

He needs an install CD(s) and the Sony Corp is probably the cheapest he's gonna find.

I still have that 20.00.......:)
 
Old Hippie said:
Could be, but unfortunatly the OP doesn't have those.

He needs an install CD(s) and the Sony Corp is probably the cheapest he's gonna find.

I still have that 20.00.......:)
Click to expand...

Umm.. the OP said he has the system recovery cd. That's what I was talkinga bout and what he needs to restore his OS. The computer is supposed to boot from it, if it's not, then it's most likley that he needs to change his BIOS settings.
 
ryan_975 said:
Umm.. the OP said he has the system recovery cd. That's what I was talkinga bout and what he needs to restore his OS. The computer is supposed to boot from it, if it's not, then it's most likley that he needs to change his BIOS settings.
Click to expand...

OK, he's got one recovery CD, pretty much tells me it's not a full XP install disc but what do I know?

Good luck!
 
Old Hippie said:
OK, he's got one recovery CD, pretty much tells me it's not a full XP install disc but what do I know?

Good luck!
Click to expand...

The guy's trying to get XP back onto his new hard drive. I don't think he cares if it's a full XP cd, or if we help him figured out why the System Recovery CD won't boot for him.

Since it's not quire allowed to tell here where to look to download a CD, and I'm sure buying a whole new copy of XP doesn't quite sit well with him, then I'm going with the only other option I can think of.

Now, why is it you think a full XP install won't fit on a single recovery CD? It's only about 400-500MB compressed and CD's can hold 640MB.


EDIT: Now that I think of it, it's a 2001 era Sony (same as my FX-210), it probably came with Windows ME. So he's possibly going to have to buy a new copy of XP to be "legit") I ran XP on mine for so long that I forgot it ever came with ME.
 
It seems one of the recovery CD's ise missing. Sony does not sell them anymore. The nearest Sony store said that they would charge 100 dollars just to look at the computer. (Yep, I know, but the truth is stranger than fiction). What is a good way to buy a new XP?

They must be cheap and, in the long run, cheaper than getting a torrent copy.

I DO have a product key. It is on a sticker on the back of the computer. But it is an OEM key and that, I have been told, is no good to use if I get a copy of XP.
 
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