Installation CD

Is there a (legal) way to either download the ISO of or obtain from Microsoft (without buying a new license) a Windows XP MCE installation CD/DVD? I think it's retarded that installation CDs aren't included with retail computers.

Either that, or could someone tell me if there's a way to create one from the recovery media (2 DVDs' worth of crap) for my computer? The computer is a Sony Vaio laptop (model VGN-FE670G).

I simply want to slipstream SP2, even SP3 possibly (whenever I end up installing it) into it, so in the case that I reinstall everything, I don't have to do as many restarts/downloads/etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

Apparently I can't edit the above post anymore... but geez, M$ wants $30 for a "replacement" installation CD... crazy!

So yeah... any free legal methods of doing what I want to do? I'm guessing not.

 

I created the recovery media (it's two DVDs)... that's not the issue. However, there's no way to slipstream Windows service packs (or edit the recovery media any other way) to my knowledge. Right now, I have slow internet, so reinstalling would be a nightmare, because I'd have to take forever to re-download all of the updates and etc. See where I'm coming from?

Regardless, thank you for your attempt to help.

Oh, another thing: I'm not sure if this is just Sony or what, but I used high quality blank DVD-Rs to create the recovery media, and ended up with half a dozen coasters before it completed. The recovery media takes two DVDs (or llike 8 CDs), and it's really extra super picky apparently (I've burned plenty of other things using Nero and other burning programs, never had a coaster or issue otherwise). If it burns the first DVD successfully, but doesn't like the second one (95% of the way through, mind you), it restarts the process with burning the 1st DVD again. So the whole "option" to burn your own recovery media (at least Sony's method) is crappy, at best. Once I got them burned though, they worked fine... however I'm still left with the issue of not being able to slipstream service packs or other updates into it.

 

I'd also like to add that I can't do an sfc /scannow without having an actual Windows installation CD... recovery media doesn't work.