Extracting my legal copy of XP from a distribution set of CDs?

[oniq]

Anyone know how to extract Windows XP from a set of CDs that come with a computer? I don't want to lose all my data just so I can reinstall the whole CD full of Compaq logos and crap. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Workin']

It's impossible. Sorry. Vent your frustration back to Compaq for being such cheap sons of bitches.

 

[KF]

Sorry I don't. I don't even know if MS requires the OEMs to provide a straight version of XP to the end user. I believe those setup CDs generally contain an image of what the HD is supposed to be for a brand new factory install.

However if there is an undoctored version of XP somewhere, the setup directory is named I386. What some people do is copy the directory to the HD. The file to run when not installing from Windows is WINNT.EXE, and from Windows is WINNT32.EXE. If you have these two files somewhere on the CDs, you should be able to install XP from the directory they are in.

If you need boot disks to do the XP reinstall, they are available on the MS site. I think it takes six floppies.

I have not fooled with many factory computers, but one I did already had a Win98 directory on the HD from which you could install or reinstall Win98. You could search your HD for the WINNT.EXE file to see if Compaq does this.

 

[NogginBoink]

See if you can copy the \i386 folder to another location and install using winnt or winnt32 from that location.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: KF
I don't even know if MS requires the OEMs to provide a straight version of XP to the end user.

they don't

its impossible. you have to back up all your data/stuff and reimage the box with the restore cd's

another good reason not to buy commercial boxes/boxes with OS

 

[oniq]

Ahh.. figured as much. I'll take a look at my CDs though, see whats on them. Thanks for your responses.