Can I download an XP install disc that contains all SP's and Hotfi

[davwar]

I've lost everything - HDD has crashed and my XP install disc is not readable. Luckily I have backups of my user data.

I've got a new HDD but I need a new install disc.

Is it possible to download an XP Home Edition disc that contains the up to date Service Packs and Hot Fixes on a single download/disc??

If so - could you point me to it??

Thank you in advance

[Kelsenellenelvian]

Technically? Yes

Legally? NO!

Doing such a thing is rather illegal and frowned on in this forum. I hope you get a chance to read this before (if) you are banned.

Edited November 24, 2010 by Kelsenellenelvian

[Guest]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Microsoft-Windows-XP-Professional-SP3-Pro-COA-NEW-FULL-/110613791603?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c1188373

Make your own with nLite and my update list.

[davwar]

Thankyou -X-

I was planning on creating an nLite disc (as backup) once I got it all installed again.

Kelsenellenelvian,

I don't understand:

I own a legal license and would be re-registering the installation with my own legal and paid-for license.

All I wanted to do is replace the content of my damaged media with the generic installation files that are the same as on everyone's disc that would then be registered with my own license.

I am of the understanding that I can download any of the individual files from microsoft without a problem and that my license allows me to run the OS as a whole on a PC and that the same license gives me legal and free access to all SP and hotfix updates now and in the future. Is this not true??

Anyone:

Is there a real legal issue here??

Is my existing license now not legal because of a scratch on a disc??

Wouldn't using the nLite disc creation procedure then be not legal as you would be doing an install from something other than the microsoft disc that you originally bought??

Thanks for any info.

Regards

[Kelsenellenelvian]

You are only partially correct.

Yes you can get all of the sp's and hotfixes for free from MS.

No you cannot download Windows from any but a valid MS distributer... The ONLY one I know of that would still have XP home is a msdnna account and that is FAR more than a new disk.

When you Download those pre-updated disk they usually include several illegal features:

#1 Serial

#2 Crack for WGA

#3 Malware or other precraked, regged software.

I am very sorry but in a nut shell it does boil down to this:

YES You are s.o.l. now that your disk is scratched. On the upside IF you manage to buy the same version of XP home and get a valid serial for it you will have 2 licenses.

However there are 2 basic versions of Home you need to concern yourself with OEM and retail. (They use different key algorithms) if you bought it in a store in a pretty green box then it is retail XP Home. If it came with your PC then it is OEM XP home.

When you try to download a OS illegally you run the risk of alot of things:

Getting caught, Trojans, viruses, PC getting hijacked. All sorts of nefarious problems.

I am only being a hard a** because I have been caught for it. (I am a reformed pirate (arrrgghh))

Edited for spelling

Edited November 24, 2010 by Kelsenellenelvian

[Kelsenellenelvian]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3B[ln]%3B326246&product=winxp There may still be some hope if you have a receipt of purchase for your OS!

If not you will have to contact your PC vendor and if it is still under warranty then you can get a new disk from them for usually 10-15 usd equivalent.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3B[ln]%3B326246&product=winxp the link is not displaying right please copy n paste it...

Edited for spelling

Edited November 24, 2010 by Kelsenellenelvian

[jaclaz]

@kel

The smart board software SHORTENS what it thinks is a link (in this case first part of the actual link that the same smart board software breaks in two ).

There is NO chance it will ever work with copy and paste.

Copy and paste the following:

hxxp://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3B[ln]%3B326246&product=winxp

replace hxxp with http

jaclaz

Edited November 24, 2010 by jaclaz

[Tripredacus]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Microsoft-Windows-XP-Professional-SP3-Pro-COA-NEW-FULL-/110613791603?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c1188373

Make your own with nLite and my update list.

Ha this isn't even legal... OK technically it is a "gray area" for "Dell" to sell an XP Recovery CD with a peice of hardware, but never with a COA, even grayer area for someone who is NOT "Dell" to sell it, and even moreso for someone to buy it from ANYONE selling it.

Oh and since the link you guys posted (the MS one this time) is a KB article, this URL works fine on copypasta:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246

[Luxman]

I was always under the assumption a DELL OS cd/dvd would only install on a DELL motherboard.

[Tripredacus]

I was always under the assumption a DELL OS cd/dvd would only install on a DELL motherboard.

Yes and No. Worst case scenario is that it would install (but not ask for a product key) and not be able to be activated. It depends on the disc, some are made with the same software that is on the recovery partition (cares about hardware) some are generic installs that don't care much about the hardware but couldn't be activated.