Restore CD + WinXP cd = New installation disk?

[Guest aliumalik]

Hi,

I currently have a compaq restore cd (with windows OS) but I need a proper installtion disk cause the restore disk is just an image and removes my partitions when I use it to reinstall windows. I also have a proper Windows XP cd from a friend but it doesnt accept my key. I heard somewhere that I can use my key on the installation if I extract some files from my restore cd and replace then in the WinXP Pro cd. Can someone tell me how I can accomplish this because I really need partitions.

Thanks

[cyberthug]

you could just restore, then partition your drives with some tool. partition magic 8 get's my vote.

but if u wanna save tthings on ur eextra drive.. that would be a problem,.

[onefivezhang]

in my opinion,you can use "BEYONDCOMPARE2",there is 8 files different in the "i386"

dp cdll.dl_

oembiso.bi_

oembios.ca_

oembiso.da_

oembios.si_

pidgen.dll

setupp.ini

setupreg.hiv

[cyberthug]

beyondcompare2... wot's that? lol..

about PQmagic... you could probably hide a partition u wanna save, then boot up with XP.. actually.. i wonder if that works! care to find out and let us know?

why don't u just change ur unattended to ask you that.

i mean.. all ya gotta do is sit there for like 2 or 3 minutes till it boots up, let it ask you what partition u wanna use. That way, u can create, delete or use an old one...

for mine, i've only left it to ask two questions, the partition and what type of formatting i wanna do. fat32, ntfs, or leave it as it is(just replace windows files and it won't deleted anything else on the partition)

[cyberthug]

beyondcompare2... wot's that? lol..

about PQmagic... you could probably hide a partition u wanna save, then boot up with XP.. actually.. i wonder if that works! care to find out and let us know?

why don't u just change ur unattended to ask you that.

i mean.. all ya gotta do is sit there for like 2 or 3 minutes till it boots up, let it ask you what partition u wanna use. That way, u can create, delete or use an old one...

for mine, i've only left it to ask two questions, the partition and what type of formatting i wanna do. fat32, ntfs, or leave it as it is(just replace windows files and it won't deleted anything else on the partition)