installing windows with windows CD

wijcc · 12 Mar 2010 at 13:59

I have NEC laptop which has Windows XP home edition on it. I have lost the windows CD that came with the laptop. It already has windows XP on it. Is there anyway of doing a fresh installation of the Windows XP with the CD.. from the files stored on the HDD?
Thanks in advance guys

Daegan · 12 Mar 2010 at 14:10

wijcc said:
Is there anyway of doing a fresh installation of the Windows XP with the CD.. from the files stored on the HDD?

Assuming you mean without the CD. You need some sort of installation media or image of a clean install.

marmalade · 12 Mar 2010 at 14:10

First download magic jelly bean and run this to give you the Serial/Key. Always write down safely the serial/key stuck to the bottom of the puter
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
I have no experience of otherwise using the hd copy of XP. but others will be along.
I always have a nice virgin copy of XP/Windows 7 with none of the crap the HP/Dell chuck in too

wijcc · 12 Mar 2010 at 14:15

can i not copy the I386 folder then boot from any bootable CD then install windows from the contents of the I386 folder?

mast3r · 12 Mar 2010 at 14:18

Unless you have 1) A Recovery Partition or, 2) an ISO of the OS Files (which is unlikely) the answer is NO, but, you may use ANY XP installation.

PatZ1989 · 12 Mar 2010 at 14:32

by ANY XP installation, he means another xp home edition as thats what your key will be for.

mast3r · 12 Mar 2010 at 15:28

Sorry, yes, thanks for clearing that up, IE, XP Pro, XP Home, XP MCE or Tablet.

You should be able to get yourself an ISO of the interwebz, be sure to use your own Serial key found on the base of the laptop.