How to download language packs without original Windows CD?

Hi... I've got a Thinkpad that came with Windows XP pre-loaded, and I never got the original CD.

Now I'm trying to go to websites with Chinese or Japanese characters, as well as read emails with such characters, but I get prompted tp insert the "Windows XP Professional CD-Rom."

1. Any suggestions on how I can install the language packs I need? Any place to download from?
2. Can I borrow someone else's Windows CD to do this?
3. Will I run into other future problems in not having the original Windows CD?

Advanced thanks for your help!

 

Not sure if this will work or not. But, within the bios of your thinkpad, there should be an option that relates to security or something to that effect, set the IBM PreDesktop Area to Disabled

On all IBM thinkpads there is a hidden partition that holds a recovery partition that is hidden from windows. Disabling this will show this within XP.

Now, if my memory serves me, you should point the installation program to \i386.

This is just a thought, on the top of my head right now, I have never attempted this myself. If this works great!

 

You CAN use someone elses XP CD, or just burn an XP CD that you DL. Doesn't matter if it's original or not.

 

making copies of an XP cd is illegal