Windows XP rescue cd/dvd

[PCH]

Hey guys,

I'm sure this is a challenge many have faced or will face.

Can anyone suggest the best way to create/build/buy a rescue disk/dvd/cd for Windows XP home edition which is 32 bit.

I don't have a problem just yet and I do regular backups. But since a disk was never supplied with the pc, it's about time I took the necessary precautions and made a bootable cd/dvd.

Any thoughts most welcome as always thanks :)

[BeanerSA]

There is a good WinXP SP3 ISO floating around on the torrent sites. I've used it a couple of times.

[PCH]

Good one Paul, - do you have the file on your pc to pass me?

Or maybe the name of the site you got it from?

[BeanerSA]

https://kat.cr/wxppsp3-created-by-mimranvg-t5176881.html appears to be the same one I have, but exercise some caution, virus check, maybe install it in a VM first.

If all else fails, the one I have will fit on 1GB memory stick.

[FlashDrive]

I may be able to help you with this ..... :eyepop:

Windows Home Edition 32 Bit .... Genuine Disk .... Still Sealed.... Never Used.

I've got 2 of these .... been in the cupboard since Noah was a boy......:P

Pm me if you are interested .

Col.....:D

[iborg]

Hi

I am using something called Redo http://redobackup.org/ for a variety of computers.

I have managed to rescue a couple of computers this way.

You make an image of your hard disk using a bootable CD with Redo software on it.

If your hard disk dies, then you put the image back onto a new hard disk, or onto your original hard disk if you have just stuffed up the software on it.

Obviously, you don't keep the image on your hard disk.

From memory, I have found it difficult to make a bootable CD with XP.
If you wish to go this and don't know how to make a bootable disk, I could make one for you.

Oh, a really big plus with this method, is that the system is already (mostly) up to date and it is much faster to put the image on than reinstall XP.

Philip

[KISSMAD]

You are displaying the serial number in the image.

[PCH]

He guys,

thanks so much for the help.

Col - re the oem disc, I have pm'd you.

Philip (iborg) - thank you for that information. I'm not fantastic with techy stuff, but I'm definitely capable of giving that a go before possibly contacting you for a bit more information if necessary.

Thanks again for helping out guys, so much appreciated :)

[FlashDrive]

Fixed ....!! :thanx:

[FlashDrive]

By the way .... one disk shows it comes with Service Pack 1 ... the other does not.

I've got a feeling I have a XP Service Pack 2 Disk ( service pack only ) amongst my Computer Software ... distributed by Microsoft also.

Col.....

[Renato1]

I don't know how many times Acronis True Image has saved my computers from stuff ups. You might be able to find old versions of Acronis on-line which will make an image of your computer onto an external hard drive. Then you make an Acronis boot disk.

And you get and make a Live Linux distribution or Live Windows distribution that fits on a CD or DVD.

So, when your computer stuffs up badly - either Windows doesn't boot, or works very poorly because something stuffed up and System Restore doesn't fix it, if Windows still works transfer all your personal files (including Outlook PST file, or your email client's storage file) to an external hard drive. If Windows doesn't work, boot from the Live Linux or Live Windows CD/DVD and copy those files to an external hard drive.

Then Boot from Acronis CD and restore the earlier working version of Windows from the back-up image, and then transfer back the earlier files that you rescued.

But one day, your mother board may go. To get the data off your hard drives you can get quite cheaply off Ebay gadgets that you plug your IDE or SATA hard drives into and copy their contents via USB to another computer.

Then you either replace your motherboard, and use Acronis to install the old working Windows, or buy a new computer and copy the rescued files across to your new hard drive.
Regards,
Renato

[cfranks]

+1 for Acronis.

[PCH]

Renato and cfranks,

thanks for your suggestions guys :)

I've just been reading reviews of acronis true image 2015 and the reviews are scathing. Users are saying they took a perfectly good piece of software and stuffed it up big time!

And as the 2015 version is the only version you can get atm, I'm tempted to leave it alone.

It seems it was a great product before the latest version though.

Thanks for the info :)

[RB]

Stay away from Acronis 2015!
They certainly did stuff up a great program.
It's now next to usless in my opinion.
I use other alternatives now that do a better job.
RB

[PCH]

Thanks for confirming what I read Andrew. It makes you wonder why they would do that?!?

[PCH]

For the benefit of all who are interested, this is how I resolved this situation.

Let me just say that I haven't had a system crash or anything bad happen - yet. It's just that I have valuable data on the pc and it's high time I did something about a disaster recovery plan.

Anyway, thank you all for your suggestions.

In the end I downloaded the Redo utility that Philip suggested from http://redobackup.org/

This is an iso file download that you then burn to a cd or dvd to create a bootable disc with the recovery utility on it.

After you've burned the iso file to a disc, make your cd/dvd drive the first boot device and then reboot from the disc you just wrote the iso file to.

It took just a few seconds to boot into a fairly low res screen with four options. I can't remember what the options were, but there was no mouse and so I tried to highlight the options using the arrow keys on the keyboard.

Not much, - actually nothing, - happened. But in moments the disc whirred into action again and took half a minute or so to load a more hires screen which invited me to either backup and create a disc image, or restore an existing disc image.

Clearly 'backup' was my choice at this time, and the backup image can either go to a NAS or a USB hard drive or similar. It's probably not a great idea to send it to your on-board hard drive, even if you have room, for hopefully obvious reasons.

It's worth noting that this iso file can be used to boot any PC regardless of your OS or Windows version - which is handy.

So now, in the event of failure, I have the means to boot my machine from cd/dvd and I have a disk image to restore the PC to it's former glory - complete with all service packs and windows updates, drivers and so on.

I have to say I'm feeling a bit chuffed that I feel confident enough to recover should disaster occur.

Hope this helps other XP owners :)

.

[iborg]

Hi

A note about the Redo bootable disk. I have tried it on perhaps 8 different computers so far, mostly fairly old. Only one had an issue and booting in Redo's safe mode did the trick for that.

[Exfso]

Macrium Reflect is and excellent program for this as well. The link below is for the free version, which works very well.

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

[Garbz]

Who would steal a 14 year old computer program from a serial number on a photograph :lol:

[KISSMAD]

Maybe someone wants an XP system to play their favourite old games or use an old program.

Support for XP finished on the 8th April, 2014 but it still can be activated.

[Renato1]

I'm using Acronis 10 - which I suspect is all you'd need for XP. If one knows where to look on the internet, it can be found. Alternatively, older boxed versions are available cheap on Ebay.

The only problem I ever had with Acronis was when it wouldn't boot on an Acer Laptop. So, since I'd bought it, I emailed their help desk who sent me a one line Linux instruction to get it to work on that laptop. Funny how what one thinks of as a Windows program turned out to be a Linux one.

Also, I always have a Knoppix (Linux) Live DVD handy for getting into the computer to retrieve data after a Blue Screen disaster or when the motherboard has been replaced (but before reinstalling the operating system fresh or an Acronis image - which would destroy the old data). Just Google it, download it and burn it to DVD. It is amazing how many programs are in it.

Isn't XP a joy to use, compared to the later Windows monstrosities?
Regards,
Renato

[Exfso]

I have added a link to the free version of Macrium reflect in my previous post. It works very well.