Copy Of windows XP home Edition

funkyCable · 21-10-2006, 20:26

Hi,

I got a valid Win XP home edition Cd key which is stuck on the side of my pc. I want to format the pc and start a fresh unfortunatelty I dont have a copy of XP as it was not supplied with my PC. My pc is about 2-3 years old.

Any chance of getting a copy somewhere. PM if you wish as I know pirating is wrong but I do have a valid CD key.

Many Thanks

DocDutch · 21-10-2006, 20:30

just download 1 from the web or if 1 of your mates got a copy of XP then just borrow his, just use your own key.

I got a legit copy of XP here that I installed about 4x on the missus' computer as it had some issues (time computer) and used her key no issues at all even tho my cd is labelled by Siemens.

marky · 21-10-2006, 20:31

A friend got a pc without discs, he had to burn them himself, i think it was a packard from pc world ??
It took about 7 discs but the option was there someware.

DocDutch · 21-10-2006, 20:34

what ya also could try is phone MickeySoft and say that your disc has died and see if they could send you a disc. afaik they do send them for a payment of something like $15 so in quids that would be ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£7.50 and then you got an original disc just no license key.

AndrewJ · 21-10-2006, 20:43

I've an old OEM copy of Xp home sp1, its offical but since I bought Xp Pro I never use it, dunno what it will be like with your key but..

DocDutch · 21-10-2006, 20:48

Felinix, doesnt matter if any SP's are on the disc...my cd got sp1 on it whilst when I got my missus' pc it didnt have any and I can use my cd on hers

Paul K · 21-10-2006, 20:51

"Source" a copy that matches your Key, is it OEM, standard, SP2 etc as you need to match the version to the key for it to work. How did it come? Just a standard Windows XP install?

21-10-2006, 20:55

chances are if you never actually got a cd then its OEM you will need. It does not matter which version of home you source as long as its OEM as you can slipstream service packs and create a unnattended install using nlite.This info of course in incorrect if the pc has media centre edition installed but as theres only one version (OEM) of this then you cant go wrong in your sourcing.Please note media centre is on 2 cds when promted for service pack cd then you add disc 2 this is a wonderful mistake by M$

funkyCable · 22-10-2006, 10:41

I had a look on the case and it says

Windows XP Home Edition
OEM Product

Any chances I could download it from somewhere or get a copy somewhere?

22-10-2006, 10:46

well you could copy someone elses.You could have a look see if you have a complete I386 folder somewhere if you do and it appears complete ie over 500 meg then you can burn this to disc and run windows setup using a boot floppy or inside windows by running WINNT32.exe,
Failing that I can download it for you and post it snail mail

funkyCable · 22-10-2006, 10:53

I dont have a I386 folder on the C: Drive. I dont know anyone who has got a copy. I have yahoo messenger if you think we would be able to download it from one pc to another

22-10-2006, 11:03

its 600 meg at 600 k it will take a while upto you.I will need 10 minutes to download it lol

dont spose you use a news group ?

---------- Post added at 11:03 ---------- Previous post was at 10:55 ----------

can you download and install msn live messenger and create an account? also do you know about how to recompile a rar archive? this would make life a lot easier than sending a full iso image over the net as if it breaks it will waste a lot of time.Even if I create a parity set would you know how to use them?

funkyCable · 22-10-2006, 13:02

zinglebarb

by recomile the rar are you meaning just extracting the files like you would if they were zipped? I think it would alos be better to break the file up and download in smaller segments.

---------- Post added at 13:02 ---------- Previous post was at 12:12 ----------

anybody out there able to help me?

nffc · 22-10-2006, 13:08

Where did you get the PC from? Chances are, it will have some sort of recovery out of the box, and by law they are meant to provide you with a way to do this (it doesn't matter which way). If that method is hard drive based, then wow, you won't have any CDs!

If you bought it high street rather than from a local small retailer it's likely to have a method of recovery.

funkyCable · 22-10-2006, 13:15

no recovery option unfortunately. it was a small retailer that has since moved on.