If you have a computer with Windows XP operating system, but do not have the installation CD-ROM, you may be concerned that you do not know how to reinstall it in case of problems. Fortunately, it is possible to create a Windows XP installation disc using the files located on your computer's hard drive directly. Read on to find out how.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Create a Folder
Step 1. Create a new folder
For simplicity and convenience rename it to "WINXP" and create it directly in the root directory of your hard drive. In other words, you will need to create the "C: / WINXP \" folder. Inside you will copy all the Windows XP installation files.
Step 2. Copy the installation files
In order to create a bootable CD-ROM using the folder you just created you will need to use the "i386" directory on your computer. It is located inside the hard drive where the Windows installation is located. Normally the full path of this folder is "C: / i386 \".
- Copy the directory under consideration into the "WINXP" folder you created in the previous step. Make sure you make a copy of the files and don't move the original ones. To avoid making a mistake, click on the "i386" folder with the right mouse button and choose the "Copy" option. Access the "WINXP" folder, select an empty point in the corresponding folder and choose "Paste". Wait for the file copying to complete. Depending on the performance of your computer, this may take several minutes.
- After copying the files inside the "WINXP" folder, the "i386" directory should be present. The full path to the latter should be "C: / WINXP / i386 \".
Step 3. Create the installation file
Access the "WINXP" folder, then select an empty spot in the window with the right mouse button. Choose the "New" option from the menu that appeared, then click the "Text Document" item. A new blank text document will be created inside the "WINXP" directory. Inside the text document, type the word "Windows" (without quotes) and add a single blank space at the end of the line. Now press the "Enter" key.
Now save the file giving it the name "WIN51". In this case, also include the quotation marks, so that no extension is added to the name
Step 4. Make copies of the installation file
Depending on the version of Windows XP installed on your computer, you will need to create a specific number of copies of the text file you created in the previous step. All the copies you are going to create must be stored in the "WINXP" folder.
- Windows XP Home: Make a copy of the installation file named "WIN51IC".
- Windows XP Home SP1: Creates the "WIN51IC" file plus an additional copy named "WIN51IC. SP1".
- Windows XP Home SP2: Creates the "WIN51IC" file plus an additional copy named "WIN51IC. SP2".
- Windows XP Home SP3: Creates the "WIN51IC" file plus an additional copy named "WIN51IC. SP3".
- Windows XP Pro: Make a copy of the installation file named "WIN51IP".
- Windows XP Pro SP1: Creates the "WIN51IP" file plus an additional copy named "WIN51IP. SP1".
- Windows XP Pro SP2: Creates the "WIN51IP" file plus an additional copy named "WIN51IP. SP2".
- Windows XP Pro SP3: Creates the "WIN51IP" file plus an additional copy named "WIN51IP. SP3".
Step 5. Integrate the Service Pack update into the installation CD
If you have updated your Windows XP installation with a Service Pack you will need to include it on the installation CD you are creating. This step is required since the update modifies only the system files and not the folder that contains the original installation files.
- Download the Service Pack installation file from the Microsoft website. Make sure you download the Service Pack you updated your computer with. This article shows how to integrate Service Pack 3 into the installation CD. Rename the file you just downloaded to "XPSP3. EXE" and store it in the root directory of the "C:" drive for easier access.
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Open a "Command Prompt" window. Click on the "Start" button, select the "Run …" item, type the command "cmd" in the "Open" field and press the "Enter" key. A "Command Prompt" window will appear. Type the following command into the "Command Prompt" window and press the "Enter" key:
C: / XPSP3. EXE / integrate: C: / XPSETUP
Part 2 of 2: Burn the CD
Step 1. Download the Windows XP startup file
It is a tool that can be legally and freely downloaded from numerous websites. Make sure you do this using a safe and reliable source, and most importantly, download the correct language version.
Stores the boot sector image file in the root folder of the "C:" drive. Normally the name of this file is "w2ksect.bin". This is an essential element to be able to create a working installation CD
Step 2. Download and install ImgBurn
There are several free programs that allow you to create a bootable installation CD-ROM. This guide shows how to use ImgBurn. Before being able to burn the data, however, some configuration settings of the program must be changed.
Step 3. Change the ImgBurn settings
Start the program and switch to the "Create" operating mode. Access the "Output" menu and choose whether to burn the data to a blank CD or to create an ISO image to be stored on your computer's hard drive.
- Drag and drop the "WINXP" folder into the "ImgBurn" program window.
- Go to the "Options" tab. Now change the file system to use to create the CD or ISO image. Open the "File System" drop-down menu and choose the "ISO9660" entry. Also make sure the "Include subfolders" checkbox is checked.
- Go to the "Advanced" and "Bootable Disk" tabs in succession. Select the "Make image bootable" checkbox. Open the "Emulation Type" drop-down menu and choose the "None" option. Click the folder button and select the file that contains the boot sector named "w2ksect.bin" that you downloaded in the previous steps. Change the value displayed in the "Sectors to load" field from 1 to 4.
Step 4. Click on the "Create" or "Write" button
Confirm the changes you made to the program configuration settings in the previous steps and name the disk; the process of writing the data to the CD will begin. The time required to complete this step depends on the write speed of the burner. When the disc burning is complete you will be able to use it as if it were a normal Windows XP installation CD.
