Scratched Windows XP CD

[ravinder]

i just got a windows xp cd from a friend. i was going to burn a copy for my self, but about 30 seconds into the burning process Nero says cannot read data. i think it may be becuase the cd has alot of scratches on it.
if i tried installing xp from this cd on a brand new pc and it froze during installation. can anything go severly wrong?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: ravinder
i just got a windows xp cd from a friend. i was going to burn a copy for my self, but about 30 seconds into the burning process Nero says cannot read data. i think it may be becuase the cd has alot of scratches on it.
if i tried installing xp from this cd on a brand new pc and it froze during installation. can anything go severly wrong?

If you need a WinXP CD-ROM, Microsoft will sell you one for a reasonable price, just call them. If you need a WinXP CD-ROM and also a license to use what it contains, those cost quite a bit more, try Newegg.com perhaps.

If you need help pirating WinXP, then you're in way the wrong place here. :evil:

 

[ravinder]

i hate microsoft but im not asking hep at pirateing im perfectly fine on my own.
the thing is my windows cd is pretty badly scratched (lets just pretend its a retail copy for now)
i dont want to start the install if it might stop hafway through and some needed files are unreadable. if something goes wrong and installation is not abel to complete, is my computer messed up beyond repair or can i get another cd adn start over?

---

Let's just pretend you do not post here anymore. Amazing, but it works for me.

We have no tolerance for software pirates.

Good bye.

AnandTech Moderator

 

[mechBgon]

If we're pretending it's a retail CD, then you would call Microsoft and say "Bill, dude, my CD's goofed up, send me a new one. Oh, they're $12? Well ok, I can handle that. You take PayPal, right? "

Obviously pretending only goes so far here. Motion to lock.

 

[ravinder]

no, ur getting me all wrong, im not asking where to get a new cd, im asking wether i can still salvage my install if this one gets wrecked because of a scratched cd

 

[ravinder]

ok i followed insomniaks guide and set the bios and made it boot from cd-rom.
i put the cd in both my dvd durner and dvd-rom and it kept saying insert system disk.
is ther a way to make a boot floppy and make that boot to the cd?

 

[tyanni]

no one is going to help you with pirating Xp

 

[Navid]

If you attempt to install XP on an empty partition and for any reason the installation fails in the middle of the process, the only thing you are going to lose is the time you spent to install XP. You can always install again and start by formatting the partition.

If you attempt to install XP on a partition that contains an XP OS in order to repair XP and you also have data on that XP partition and for some reason the installation fails, you may lose data! In this case, you need to backup your data before you attempt to install.

If you have a valid retail XP CD key, I don't think there is anything wrong with copying someone else's CD (but not their key). An OEM CD is a different story!

If you install XP and use the CD key that belongs to someone else, will run into trouble with Microsoft when they want to re-install their XP!

 

[w00t]

buy windows xp pro sp2.

link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837102153

even thought I dont like Bill Gates doesnt mean I swoop down to his level of evilness and pirate windows.

 

[ravinder]

can we just leave out the talk abomut pirating? i dont want to get this thread locked. i am going to ue my own key from an old computer but just gonna use his cd to install.
so i did some more research and found out i need to format a drive to install win xp
i made a boot disk and tried the fdisk command but it didnt work
and i also cant find any useful xp installation guide. they all jsut say put in cd. press any key when it asks to boot from cd.
so how can i format my drive now?

 

[mechBgon]

i am going to use my own key from an old computer but just gonna use his cd to install.

FYI, that's another flavor of piracy. Don't transfer OEM software to new computers

Another common misconception is that you can transfer a preinstalled or OEM copy of Windows from an "old" machine to a new machine. An OEM software license may not be transferred from an old machine to a new machine?even if that machine is no longer in use. The OEM license is tied to the machine on which it was originally installed and can't be transferred to other machines.

Try and see if you can afford $90 for a new WinXP Home Edition CD and license. It's only money. If you're a student, you may be able to get WinXP cheaper through your school, too.

 

[ravinder]

can we please not talk about piracy? i dont want this thread to be locked.
can someone help me format my drive now? i think i ahve to do that before i can install win xp

 

[mechBgon]

A genuine WinXP CD will install Windows without you needing to format first. Just insert it, set the motherboard to boot from optical drive, and press a key when you see the Press any key to boot from CD... prompt. It will handle the formatting of the hard drive as it goes along.

addendum: if you're using Serial ATA or SCSI, then you may need to supply drivers on a floppy and press the F6 key at the first blue screen of WinXP Setup. But it sounds like you're not getting that far.

 

[networkman]

Originally posted by: ravinder
i just got a windows xp cd from a friend. i was going to burn a copy for my self,

You introduced the thread message - how are we not talking about piracy? Maybe some of us want suspicious PIRACY threads locked.

 

[ravinder]

since sata is native to my motherbord i thought i ddint need sata drivers.
maybe is because the cd is scratched alot, i'll try to get another one tomorow

 

[ravinder]

back then i didnt know using my OEM key was piracy. -_- stupid microsoft