Lost Recovery CD - Any hope?

[cashewschu]

Short version: Lost my Windows XP recovery disk, replacing hard drive after crash. What to do?

Long version: So my Gateway notebook finally died - the harddrive's shot. I'm getting a new harddrive so my father can use it for his "home computer" (as I got a new one), but I was surprised to discover I've completely lost the Windows XP Home Edition Recovery Disk. I've still got the other two - applications & drivers and whatnot - but the main recovery disk is gone, it seems. Now, here's the problem.

I called Gateway to ask if there was any way I could get or buy a replacement disk, and the rather brusque tech support guy (who was asking me everything in terms of colours - "Well, do you still have the YELLOW disk?") said I have to buy a new copy of Windows XP Home, which runs around $200. I asked "So I don't need the recovery disk specific to this machine?" and he said no, just a new copy of Windows XP.

Now, I have the recovery disk that came with my new computer (there's three years difference between them), but the ever-knowing computer expert at my dad's office insists you need the very CD that came with the computer and no other. Who's right here? Am I screwed? Can I use the recovery CD that came with my new computer, or another copy of Windows XP, or is there any way I can download the necessary stuff from somewhere and burn a new recovery disk?

Thanks very much in advance. I'm heading back to school this weekend and my dad's frantic, as he wants me to set up the computer for him before I go (he's a bit of a technophobe, and is taking everything Office Computer Lady says as gospel).

[ripken204]

xp home is under 100$!!!

you will have to get a new copy if they wont provide a recovery for you

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16837102151

Edited September 2, 2005 by ripken204

[InTheWayBoy]

First off that $100 is for OEM...which should mean that you need to buy hardware with it to be legit. While newegg may still sell it to you, it's still kinda shady...a retail version of home will cost you around $200 from certain places.

Secondly, that new CD might work. As far as I know, it would have to be an OEM version (Which it probably is if it came with a new PC), would have to be newer than the older version (Probably SP2, so you should be okay), and would not have to contain much enhancements to it. Meaning...Dell's XP CD's are almost a vanilla source, but they put a few extras in it. A logo here, a few extra drivers there...not much to worry about. But if they have done a major over-haul of the source then you may not be happy with the results. You might be able to use the disk, but you'll be forced to suffer through any enhancements they have added to it.

Thirdly, if you can find almost any WinXP PC, there is probably an I386 folder on it that contains the WinXP Home source. You could copy that to a CD and use that, as long as it fits the above mentioned guidelines. You will probably have to add the boot file, so maybe grab nlite and let that do all the work.

And Finally, you could just find someone else who has an OEM computer and copy their disc...same rules apply again. I know the CD's you are talking about (Color Coded), and the OS disc you lost (Blue right?) is nothing more than a standard WinXP Home with a few tweaks, so you don't NEED it for the system to function, as the tech mentioned.