Creating a bootable Windows XP CD

[Rubio]

I've gotten myself into a fine mess. I want to format an old W2k
machine's disk (single partition) and install WinXP on it. We have
plenty of WinXP licenses through MSDN but not a single bootable
Windows XP CD. All I have is the WinXP CD that came with MSDN
subscription. And that is certainly not bootable. Yes, I can create
boot setup disks, start the setup from those and then insert the MSDN
WinXP CD, but the setup does not accept it, because it does not have a
EULA file.

No problem. I created a Win98 boot disk which has CD-ROM support, but,
believe it or not, the WinXP Pro setup files are in a folder named
'PROFESSIONAL' and I can't get to that folder. DIR shows the folder
name to be 'PROFESSI'. Tried CD PROFESSI, CD PROFESSIONAL and CD
PROFESS~1. Nothing works. So, I copied the PROFESSIONAL folder to
another CD. Now the problem is that since I booted with a Win98 disk,
it can't start the SETUP.exe. It's not an MS-DOS executable!!!

I need to format the harddisk first, then install a clean copy of
WinXP. I do have plenty of WinXP boxes that have all the installation
files on the harddisk (I386 folder). So here, finally, is my question.
Is there any way I can make a bootable Windows XP CD, just like the
ones they sell in stores, using the stuff in the I386 folder, or do I
have to go to the *EFFING* store an buy one? ('xcuse the French)

-- Rubio

PS. Why, why, why don't they give you a bootable OS CD with a new
machine????

 

[GwD]

If you received a CD with your MSDN subscription then it is bootable. It
brings up a menu asking if you want Windows XP Pro or Home. Or you could
download Windows XP ISO from the MSDN site using your subscription
information then burn the CD.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

All of my MSDN Windows XP versions are bootable. It sounds like you have the
version that gives you a choice of installing Home or Professional when you
boot off it. Are you certain that you are pressing a key to boot the CD when
the boot message is displayed? If you aren't seeing the message you might
want to look in the BIOS settings and in addition to ensuring the Boot
sequence is set to boot the CD-Rom before another device you might also
check to see if you have anything like "Rapid Boot" or "Show Logo" enabled.
If so disable those as they can cause you to miss the prompt to "press any
key to boot CD."

If you want to try and create a bootable CD see this
http://www.nu2.nu/bootcd/
You can check to see if your CD-Rom is supposed to be bootable by creating
an ISO image of the CD using a freebie like Alex Fieman's ISOPowertoy
http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm and then loading the
resulting image into an app like WinISO
http://www.globalshareware.com/Utilities/File-Disk-Management/WinISO.htm
which will tell you if it is bootable. You might have a damaged CD in which
case you could order another through your MSDN subscription.

As for trying to install using a DOS disk that can be done. However you will
need to navigate to the i386 directory and run WINNT.EXE which is a 16 bit
installer rather than trying to run the Setup.exe file which is a 32 bit
installer and can't be run from DOS. If installing from DOS you need to be
aware that the installation will be painfully slow. To speed it up a bit
copy SMARTDRV.EXE to your floppy and run it before you run WINNT.EXE. You
can download a copy from http://www.broomeman.com/support/smartdrv.html

 

[Plato]

another CD. Now the problem is that since I booted with a Win98 disk,
it can't start the SETUP.exe. It's not an MS-DOS executable!!!

Correct. The dos command, assuming you have the real files, is go the
folder you copied the cabs to and type:

winnt.exe

 

[Rubio]

If you received a CD with your MSDN subscription then it is bootable. It
brings up a menu asking if you want Windows XP Pro or Home. Or you could
download Windows XP ISO from the MSDN site using your subscription
information then burn the CD.

You're right. The boot sequence was wrong (harddisk before CD-ROM).
And it took me only one day to figure that out.

Thanks!

-- Rubio

 

[Alex Nichol]

We have
plenty of WinXP licenses through MSDN but not a single bootable
Windows XP CD. All I have is the WinXP CD that came with MSDN
subscription. And that is certainly not bootable.

Are you *sure* Mine (disk 1012 of Oct 2001) is bootable

OTOH are you aware that the MSDN license is for *evaluation*, not for
installation on production machines?