Copied windows xp cd wont boot

[Jay1200]

Hello, I lost the original Windows XP cd and I have a copied one. I have the product key and I want to install it on my other computer which has Windows 2000 Pro.

 

[tigsounds]

It won't boot because when you made the CD, you copied all the files from the original to make a new CD instead of Cloning the original CD. A data disk with all the files is not the same as a bootable disk.

You can insert the disk while running Win2k and perform an upgrade if that CD supports upgrading, or,
You can insert the disk while running Win2k and perform a new install. (Best option)
You can make a boot CD with himem.sys and smartdrive and boot with that, then put in your XP disk and go to the i386 folder and run Winnt.exe,or,
you can make a bootable floppy that has CD ROM support, himem.sys and smartdrive on it and go to the i386 folder of the CD and run Winnt.exe.

You can get a floppy bootdisk with CD ROM support, the himem.sys & smartdrive included, ready to go here:

http://www.msu-hb.de/download/boot98se.exe

or go here and pick one out for yourself:

http://bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

or, ask aford10 (our fearless moderator) where to get a great bootable CD image. I still have a floppy drive, so I use it.

 

[Saga Lout]

or, ask aford10 (our fearless moderator) where to get a great bootable CD image. I still have a floppy drive, so I use it.

May I slightly less fearlessly suggest ISOBuster from http://www.isobuster.com/isobusterdownload.php which I am certain doesn't breach Forum Rules? Using that utility, you can find the Microsoft ISO which then has to be burned - not copied - to a CD in addition to all the files you want, such as XP, slipstreamed with SP3, SATA drivers, etc.

Don't simply try adding it to the CD you already made - that one's just a coffee coaster.[/#000ff]

 

[Jay1200]

Thanks for the advice but it didn't work.
I used the ISOBuster and copied the I386 folder and all files to a disc. I tryed to start up the computer with the boot disc and then execute winnt.exe and it didn't work. It said error is .exe file.

 

[Saga Lout]

Thanks for the advice but it didn't work.
I used the ISOBuster and copied the I386 folder and all files to a disc. I tryed to start up the computer with the boot disc and then execute winnt.exe and it didn't work. It said error is .exe file.

I'm confused! OK so nothing new there then. Copying doesn't do it - it needs to be burned for the ISO to work. ImgBurn does a good job as that as does Nero but with far more complicated settings, of course. Also, you need more than just the i386 folder - you have to copy the entire XP CD and then slip the Service Packs in along with any other necessities - SATA drivers, RAD etc.

Then you say you used it to boot and tried to run an exe file. How so? It either booted or it didn't and if it did, and you got to a Command Prompt, you must have bypassed the setup stage.
[/#000ff]