Copying an Operating System...

[cosmicB]

Mono

My relative just purchased a new HP notebook.. and I'm the one who has to maintain her computers, every time she wrecks the things... And she is real hard on a computer's OS... I visit her at her house, and all her computers cry out "helpme"... She doesn't have a clue about malwares.. is why I convinced her to buy a wireless nat-router this time...

This notebook came loaded with W-XP... but not with an OS installation CD.. just repair disks... I bet in a few months she will have the OS so messed-up, that it will need a format to get it back... How do I copy the OS onto a CD, so to use as the OS installation CD?.. I'm supposing I should make that copy Before she starts using and wrecking the thing... Right now it's still in the box, while she freshens up her office... Tomorrow I go over there to set it up, and teach her how to run it...

[boingo]

Is the computer new? If so, it should have come with the Windows disc because it's registered to that computer. Nowdays Windows comes with a sticker which is supposed to be attached to the PC chassis somewhere to show it's got an original copy of Windows.
If the PC hasn't got the disc, it most likely means it's either been lost, it was accidentally not given with the PC, or it's a stolen version of Windows.
All versions of Windows, up to and including XP definitely come with the CD or DVD installation disc(s).

A friend of mine got a new lap top with Windows Media Edition. He's just told me it doesn't appear to have come with the Windows disc either.
This could mean Microsoft has taken out a new licensing deal of allowing stores to install multiple copies of Windows Media Edition onto different PCs.
I seriously doubt they would do that though because that would mean the onus is on the company providing the PC to register each installation with Microsoft. I've advised my friend to contact Microsoft (there's a number in the phone book) to see what they say.


As for doing an operating system back-up. I used to use Norton Ghost, but there are known to be huge problems with the "Ghost" image having problems when it's copied back onto a formatted hard drive.
I've since switched to Acronis True Image 9.0 which had much better reviews. I haven't had to install the image of Windows again yet though, so time will tell how well it works for me.

[Salsito]

Hi,

It is very common for PC's with OEM Software to not include a CD of the original software when purchased. If you need one I suggest speaking to the supplier of the PC (HP if its an HP PC/Laptop for example) and they may be able to sell you a recovery CD, I purchased one for my PC and use it to reset, you simply pop it into the drive reboot and it rebuilds back to factory settings (with loss of personal data so do a backup before).

Hope this helps

[cosmicB]

Thanks...

I checked this out... Seems those help CD's aren't the full operating system...

Upon closer examinayshoon into this new notebook, I find that it has the program to create a set of rescue CD's of the whole XP system... but a popup says that you can only make one duplicate.. so it's wise to treat those delicate DVD's with care and respect.. for one tiny rub or scratch could wreck them in a flash... The Windows XP rescue system took three 4.7 gig DVD's.. then the new HP notebook popped a couple of manufacturer defects glitches, so I returned it and got another new one.. which gave me a second set of rescue disks...

Does anybody know if these rescue CD's can be loaded into another computer.. or is the set of disks tagged to work only for that particular notebook, on which the rescue set was made?..

Now all I need is Windows 2000 for my old clunker PC... I've heard from many computer experts that W2K is Microsoft's best, and cleanest operating system... So has anybody out there got a good condition CD of W2k forsale cheap..?

[boingo]

Thanks...

I checked this out... Seems those help CD's aren't the full operating system...

Upon closer examinayshoon into this new notebook, I find that it has the program to create a set of rescue CD's of the whole XP system... but a popup says that you can only make one duplicate.. so it's wise to treat those delicate DVD's with care and respect.. for one tiny rub or scratch could wreck them in a flash... The Windows XP rescue system took three 4.7 gig DVD's.. then the new HP notebook popped a couple of manufacturer defects glitches, so I returned it and got another new one.. which gave me a second set of rescue disks...

Does anybody know if these rescue CD's can be loaded into another computer.. or is the set of disks tagged to work only for that particular notebook, on which the rescue set was made?..

Now all I need is Windows 2000 for my old clunker PC... I've heard from many computer experts that W2K is Microsoft's best, and cleanest operating system... So has anybody out there got a good condition CD of W2k forsale cheap..?

Windows XP only lets us re-register onto different PCs about three times. Contractually, we're only supposed to put it onto one PC. I'm not sure if registering XP onto a second PC will stop the updates from working on the original though.
Both XP and 2000 are, according to the copyright contract, only allowed to be used on the original computer they were installed on.
You may be able to get a second hand copy of 2000 somewhere though, but I don't know if it's worth trusting buying it off eBay.(Too dodgy)

As for backing up your other boot discs, you could use a copy program that doesn't care about copyright. I do that too because stuffed if I'm going to for out another couple of hundred if the disk gets scratched by the DVD drive. (I've had that happen to other discs when the disc wasn't flat on the tray as it closed.) I use my back-ups as working copies and keep the originals safe elsewhere.
One program that should be able to do it is called "DVD Shrink" Try to get it from somewhere reliable though as you don't want viruses too.
download.com is a usually a safe place, or afterdawn.com

[cosmicB]

I really really want to get a hold of a cheap Windows 2000 CD.. I've been told by several experts, that W2k is prime... How do I know I'm buying a good one on eBay and the like?.. Or does anybody have one they would like to sell?..

[LeRoc]

With XP pretty much standard and Vista on the horizon you would think you could pick up a legitimate copy of Windows 2000 really cheaply and easily! However as you have probably discovered this doesn't seem to be the case! Personally I would avoid ebay for software as there is really no way of knowing if it is good. A quick search on Kelkoo reveals a few well-known internet sellers, Amazon has standard version for £79.99 and TechnicalTraders has professional for £85. However with Windows XP in the shops from £65 is seems hardly worth it.