Backing up windows xp without disc

Discussion in 'Software' started by Canzealander, Feb 7, 2008.

  1. Canzealander

    Canzealander Private E-2

    Hi! I was just wondering if there was a way to back up windows xp without the disc. My computer came with it preinstalled, and I want to reformat it. I don't have the disc and I don't want to buy Vista. Am I boned?
     
  2. Dan Penny

    Dan Penny Specialist

  3. dlb

    dlb MajorGeek

    Great link Dan! I've been trying to explain this process to others for a long time, but I didn't have the CD boot sector step that's in the link.... that link is going into my personal library of righteous information ;)
    Nice Job!
    :major
     
  4. BILLMCC66

    BILLMCC66 Bionic Belgian

    nice link Dan i don't need it for the moment but it will go in my emergency book just in case:)
     
  5. Dan Penny

    Dan Penny Specialist

    Thanks both. You're welcome.

    I just hope it helps Canzealander.
     
  6. Canzealander

    Canzealander Private E-2

    Ok, I got the link, but I don't have enough time/am to lazy to try it now. And yes, I have a CD burner. Glad to know I'm not boned. Um, just to clarify since I own XP because it was preinstalled on my comp, this is entirely legal right?
     
  7. Canzealander

    Canzealander Private E-2

    Bah. I spoke to soon. Either my eMachines computer didn't come with the i386 folder or it was deleted by the previous user of the comp. I do not have it. Also, I do not have the cdkey for windows. I guess I am boned. Thanks for the link though. Really cool stuff.
     
  8. Canzealander

    Canzealander Private E-2

    Perhaps I spoke to soon when I said I spoke to soon. I have a file i386 in my D drive. Would that work? It's icon is a lock, and when I double click this comes up :

    Recovery Partition
    Warning!

    This area of your hard disk
    (or partition) contains files used
    for your system recovery.

    Do not delete or alter these files.

    Any change to this partition could
    prevent any recovery later.
    and a logo saying "protected by PC Angel"

    Is this useful?
     
  9. dlb

    dlb MajorGeek

    Yes, the i386 folder on D: will work. Actually, drive D: is a recovery partition and is put there at the factory so you can restore the PC to new out-of-the-box condition. Right when you turn on the PC you should see something that says "Press F11 to start recovery..." or maybe "For system restore press F10". That's what this D: partition is... You do have a product key. You cannot possibly be running Windows XP without it. EMachines usually have the product key sticker on the back of the PC. It's blue and white or kind of purple-ish depending on how old the PC is. It will say something like "Windows XP Home Edition" followed by five groups of five mixed numbers and letters that look like "12ABC-D34F5...etc" and it'll all be in black ink. If the sticker is gone, then you can run a tool like Produkey (link http://www.majorgeeks.com/ProduKey_d4953.html) that will tell you the product key.... write it down so you can install your Windows.
    Absolutely!! Here at MajorGeeks, we don't recommend illegal or questionable courses of action. We're straight up, law abiding folks ;)
     
  10. Canzealander

    Canzealander Private E-2

    Ok, awesome. That's what I meant - the sticker is missing. As for everything else, vunderbar. Hopefully you guys are truly legal... I work in a not-to-be-named electronics shop and refer people to your site if I or the people I work with can't help them.
     
  11. Canzealander

    Canzealander Private E-2

    So, just to be sure now, I follow the procedure detailed on the link that Dan gave me only I sub in D:\i386 instead of C:\i386... other than that, the procedure is the same?
     
  12. Canzealander

    Canzealander Private E-2

    And would I be able to used a DVD instead of CD? I noticed in the FAQs that someone did not have enough space on their CD to do this. I doubt that I will be in the same position, but it never hurts to be careful.
     
  13. Canzealander

    Canzealander Private E-2

    Sorry... I keep forgetting that the site I'm looking at isn't actually in this forum. Basically, I'm asking if I can create a boot disc out of a DVD instead of a CD.
     
  14. Canzealander

    Canzealander Private E-2

    Wow! I just was doing some digging for a game and came across this: "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition System Recovery CD/DVD" Is this the boot disc? If so, fantabulous! And sorry for wasting your time. If not, boo.
     

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