Problem with Making a set of Emergency Start-Up CDs for Windows XP

[javajan]

Hi there,
When i got my new pc with windows XP, I followed the instructions to make a
set of 3 CDs to use as an emergency start-up.
Later, I realized that I did something wrong, and the 3 CDs are blank.
Then, the manual says that I can only do this once, and so it won't let me
do it again.
Now I am unprotected if I ever have to reboot my pc in an emergency.
How can I make another set?
Thanks,
Not a new user, just a dumb one.
Jan

 

[Malke]

Hi there,
When i got my new pc with windows XP, I followed the instructions to make
a set of 3 CDs to use as an emergency start-up.
Later, I realized that I did something wrong, and the 3 CDs are blank.
Then, the manual says that I can only do this once, and so it won't let me
do it again.
Now I am unprotected if I ever have to reboot my pc in an emergency.
How can I make another set?
Thanks,
Not a new user, just a dumb one.

Unfortunately, you forgot to tell us what brand computer you have. For
instance, I know how to reset the information that allows you to make only
one Recovery Disc Set on HPs. Contact the computer mftr.'s tech support for
help or just order a set from them.

Malke

 

[Leonard Grey]

These so-called emergency CDs were created by the computer manufacturer,
so only the manufacturer can help you re-create them.

 

[javajan]

It is a HP Compaq Presario Laptop. Intel Core Duo CPU, 2.00GHz, running
Microsoft Windows XP Pro, version 2002, service pack 3

 

[Malke]

It is a HP Compaq Presario Laptop. Intel Core Duo CPU, 2.00GHz, running
Microsoft Windows XP Pro, version 2002, service pack 3

Delete C:\Windows\sminst\hpcd.sys and D:\hpcd.sys (where D:\ is the recovery
partition).

Note: YMMV and I take no responsibility for whether this hack works for you
and/or for what else it might do. You might just want to contact HP tech
support instead.

Malke

 

[Jose]

It is a HP Compaq Presario Laptop. Intel Core Duo CPU, 2.00GHz, running
Microsoft Windows XP Pro, version 2002, service pack 3

If you have an XP problem later, the first thing I would be reaching
for is a bootable XP installation CD instead of the Emergency Start-Up
CDs. Those are good for their emergency but may be useless for any
future emergency you have with your new computer.

However, HP probably decided not to provide you one with your
perfectly legitimate installation of Windows XP. Too much overhead
and expense for them.

How rude. You can make them send you one though, but you have to be
more rude than they are.

It is good that you are planning a strategy to help fix potential
problems in the future. Keep all those specs handy someplace in case
you need them later!

You can't make a bootable XP installation CD without a bootable XP
installation CD, but you can make a bootable XP Recovery Console CD
yourself if you have Internet access, a CD burner and a blank CD.

This could be very valuable when your machine is broken and you find
yourself needing one and not having it.

..

 

[Malke]

If you have an XP problem later, the first thing I would be reaching
for is a bootable XP installation CD instead of the Emergency Start-Up
CDs. Those are good for their emergency but may be useless for any
future emergency you have with your new computer.

This is the way it is with most OEM machines. Most end users are not going
to buy a generic OEM version of XP [whatever version] just to have "in
case". I believe you are confusing a real "emergency startup CD" with what
the OP actually asked about - the fact that when trying to make her Recovery
Disc Set it failed.

However, HP probably decided not to provide you one with your
perfectly legitimate installation of Windows XP. Too much overhead
and expense for them.

How rude. You can make them send you one though, but you have to be
more rude than they are.

It has been this way for years and rudeness has nothing to do with it. And
certainly the OP can get a Recovery Disc Set from HP. She doesn't have to be
rude at all (in fact rudeness will be self-defeating) - just pay the $20 or
so fee. HP will not send them a full operating system disk, rude or not.

It is good that you are planning a strategy to help fix potential
problems in the future. Keep all those specs handy someplace in case
you need them later!

You can't make a bootable XP installation CD without a bootable XP
installation CD, but you can make a bootable XP Recovery Console CD
yourself if you have Internet access, a CD burner and a blank CD.

This could be very valuable when your machine is broken and you find
yourself needing one and not having it.

Not really. The Recovery Console is only useful in a few specific instances.
Most of the time what is really useful are tools that allow you to work
outside of the operating system such as a Bart's PE, Linux Live CDs, and
some specialized recovery software not generally available to the public.

Malke

 

[Jose]

If you have an XP problem later, the first thing I would be reaching
for is a bootable XP installation CD instead of the Emergency Start-Up
CDs.  Those are good for their emergency but may be useless for any
future emergency you have with your new computer.

This is the way it is with most OEM machines. Most end users are not going
to buy a generic OEM version of XP [whatever version] just to have "in
case". I believe you are confusing a real "emergency startup CD" with what
the OP actually asked about - the fact that when trying to make her Recovery
Disc Set it failed.

However, HP probably decided not to provide you one with your
perfectly legitimate installation of Windows XP.  Too much overhead
and expense for them.
How rude.  You can make them send you one though, but you have to be
more rude than they are.

It has been this way for years and rudeness has nothing to do with it. And
certainly the OP can get a Recovery Disc Set from HP. She doesn't have tobe
rude at all (in fact rudeness will be self-defeating) - just pay the $20 or
so fee. HP will not send them a full operating system disk, rude or not.

It is good that you are planning a strategy to help fix potential
problems in the future.  Keep all those specs handy someplace in case
you need them later!

You can't make a bootable XP installation CD without a bootable XP
installation CD, but you can make a bootable XP Recovery Console CD
yourself if you have Internet access, a CD burner and a blank CD.

This could be very valuable when your machine is broken and you find
yourself needing one and not having it.

Not really. The Recovery Console is only useful in a few specific instances.
Most of the time what is really useful are tools that allow you to work
outside of the operating system such as a Bart's PE, Linux Live CDs, and
some specialized recovery software not generally available to the public.

Malke

Bart PE (or any PE), UBCD4WIN and the like are fine options for tough
situations if you have the means to create them, but both require an
XP CD which the OP does not seem to possess. You are familiar with
that story.

Knoppix lists their own bootable software as "experimental".

I would say the OP falls into the "general public" realm and would be
best served by resources of the same category.

Have you ever successfully repaired a corrupted NTFS file system on an
XP hard drive (say from a power failure) using a Linux CD?

So many "won't boot anymore" situations can be resolved with chkdsk /r
which is in the RC.

Have them all if you have the means!

 

[Malke]

Bart PE (or any PE), UBCD4WIN and the like are fine options for tough
situations if you have the means to create them, but both require an
XP CD which the OP does not seem to possess. You are familiar with
that story.

I mentioned these items for you, not for the OP. The context was your
thinking the Recovery Console would be useful. Sometimes it is, but not
nearly as often as you seem to think.

Knoppix lists their own bootable software as "experimental".

Knoppix has been around for many years. I don't see what your comment has to
do with anything anyway.

I would say the OP falls into the "general public" realm and would be
best served by resources of the same category.

The OP most certainly is "general public". And the OP was only asking about
what to do since her Recovery Disc Set was faulty. Hence my answer to her to
call HP.

Have you ever successfully repaired a corrupted NTFS file system on an
XP hard drive (say from a power failure) using a Linux CD?

Although NTFS drivers are available in modern Linux distros, I prefer not to
write to an NTFS system from Linux. If the system is salvagable (not often
in the case you describe), I have other tools to use for this purpose.

So many "won't boot anymore" situations can be resolved with chkdsk /r
which is in the RC.

Not so many, no. Besides, this has nothing to do with the OP's question.

Hope that clarifies things for you. I really don't have anything further to
add to this thread since it doesn't seem like the OP is coming back.

Malke