Is there also a Windows XP Recovery Disc made available by Microso

[floringeorge2001]

Two years ago I bought a Dell laptop 6400 with Windows XP Professional
already installed .
My problem is that I did not get also a real Windows XP Professional
installation CD with my purchase. Instead, i received a so called "recovery
disc" . At that time I did not thought that I should have asked for a
installation CD especially considering the fact that the price for it was
implicitly paid by me when purchasing the laptop.

The problem is the installation media serves more than one purpose. It's not
just a way to get Windows XP installed, it's also the only way to do things
such as:
- the recovering a borked installation;
- the installation of the Recovery Console on my laptop to make it available
if the operating system does not start correctly;
- the in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP which is in fact a
repair installation (see article from Microsoft
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315341 ) that allows you to repair the
Windows XP without loosing the data (Word, Excel, etc files ) and other
programs installed as it is the case with the complete reinstallation
approach);
- the running of a scan with the System File Checker command "SFC Scannow".
Today during such a System File Checker scan I received the following error
message:
"Windows File Protection
Files that are required for Windows to run properly must be copied to the
DLL cache.
Insert your Windows XP Professional CD-ROM now. "

I know that Microsoft has developed Windows Vista Recovery Disc
(http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/#comment-105183)
and I am wondering is there also a Windows XP Professional Recovery Disc ?
And if there isn’t what should I do?
Thanks

 

[Malke]

Two years ago I bought a Dell laptop 6400 with Windows XP Professional
already installed .
My problem is that I did not get also a real Windows XP Professional
installation CD with my purchase. Instead, i received a so called
"recovery disc" . At that time I did not thought that I should have asked
for a installation CD especially considering the fact that the price for
it was implicitly paid by me when purchasing the laptop.
(snippage)

I know that Microsoft has developed Windows Vista Recovery Disc
(http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/#comment-105183)
and I am wondering is there also a Windows XP Professional Recovery Disc ?
And if there isn?t what should I do?

No, Microsoft doesn't have a recovery disk that you as an end user can get.
You may be able to create a Bart's PE disk but I can't remember if you need
to have the actual installation media or can use what's on your hard drive.
Here's the link:

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

Contact Dell to purchase a physical OS installation disk. If you're lucky,
they'll only charge you a nominal amount. Or if you have a friend who does
have Dell installation media - for the same version of XP (Home, Pro, Media
Center) - you can make a copy of it to use with your machine.

Malke

 

[Gordon]

Two years ago I bought a Dell laptop 6400 with Windows XP Professional
already installed .
My problem is that I did not get also a real Windows XP Professional
installation CD with my purchase. Instead, i received a so called "recovery
disc" . At that time I did not thought that I should have asked for a
installation CD especially considering the fact that the price for it was
implicitly paid by me when purchasing the laptop.

The problem is the installation media serves more than one purpose. It's not
just a way to get Windows XP installed, it's also the only way to do things
such as:
- the recovering a borked installation;
- the installation of the Recovery Console on my laptop to make it available
if the operating system does not start correctly;
- the in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP which is in fact a
repair installation (see article from Microsoft
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315341 ) that allows you to repair the
Windows XP without loosing the data (Word, Excel, etc files ) and other
programs installed as it is the case with the complete reinstallation
approach);
- the running of a scan with the System File Checker command "SFC Scannow".
Today during such a System File Checker scan I received the following error
message:
"Windows File Protection
Files that are required for Windows to run properly must be copied to the
DLL cache.
Insert your Windows XP Professional CD-ROM now. "

I know that Microsoft has developed Windows Vista Recovery Disc
(http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/#comment-105183)
and I am wondering is there also a Windows XP Professional Recovery Disc ?
And if there isn’t what should I do?
Thanks

If it was a desktop, I'd say just borrow a friend's CD of the same TYPE
(i.e. OEM) and make a copy, (which you can legitimately do). However, as
this is a laptop, it can be a bit more tricky as you may well need
specialist drivers which do not occur in the XP install CD.
I suggest you download all the drivers you need from the Dell website,
borrow an XP CD and see if you can work it.

 

[Gordon]

Two years ago I bought a Dell laptop 6400 with Windows XP Professional
already installed .
My problem is that I did not get also a real Windows XP Professional
installation CD with my purchase. Instead, i received a so called "recovery
disc" . At that time I did not thought that I should have asked for a
installation CD especially considering the fact that the price for it was
implicitly paid by me when purchasing the laptop.

The problem is the installation media serves more than one purpose. It's not
just a way to get Windows XP installed, it's also the only way to do things
such as:
- the recovering a borked installation;
- the installation of the Recovery Console on my laptop to make it available
if the operating system does not start correctly;
- the in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP which is in fact a
repair installation (see article from Microsoft
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315341 ) that allows you to repair the
Windows XP without loosing the data (Word, Excel, etc files ) and other
programs installed as it is the case with the complete reinstallation
approach);
- the running of a scan with the System File Checker command "SFC Scannow".
Today during such a System File Checker scan I received the following error
message:
"Windows File Protection
Files that are required for Windows to run properly must be copied to the
DLL cache.
Insert your Windows XP Professional CD-ROM now. "

I know that Microsoft has developed Windows Vista Recovery Disc
(http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/#comment-105183)
and I am wondering is there also a Windows XP Professional Recovery Disc ?
And if there isn’t what should I do?
Thanks

If it was a desktop, I'd say just borrow a friend's CD of the same TYPE
(i.e. OEM) and make a copy, (which you can legitimately do). However, as
this is a laptop, it can be a bit more tricky as you may well need
specialist drivers which do not occur in the XP install CD.
I suggest you download all the drivers you need from the Dell website,
borrow an XP CD and see if you can work it.

 

[Daave]

Two years ago I bought a Dell laptop 6400 with Windows XP Professional
already installed .
My problem is that I did not get also a real Windows XP Professional
installation CD with my purchase. Instead, i received a so called
"recovery
disc" . At that time I did not thought that I should have asked for a
installation CD especially considering the fact that the price for it
was
implicitly paid by me when purchasing the laptop.

The problem is the installation media serves more than one purpose.
It's not
just a way to get Windows XP installed, it's also the only way to do
things
such as:
- the recovering a borked installation;
- the installation of the Recovery Console on my laptop to make it
available
if the operating system does not start correctly;
- the in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP which is in fact
a
repair installation (see article from Microsoft
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315341 ) that allows you to repair
the
Windows XP without loosing the data (Word, Excel, etc files ) and
other
programs installed as it is the case with the complete reinstallation
approach);
- the running of a scan with the System File Checker command "SFC
Scannow".
Today during such a System File Checker scan I received the following
error
message:
"Windows File Protection
Files that are required for Windows to run properly must be copied to
the
DLL cache.
Insert your Windows XP Professional CD-ROM now. "

I know that Microsoft has developed Windows Vista Recovery Disc
(http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/#comment-105183)
and I am wondering is there also a Windows XP Professional Recovery
Disc ?

No, there is isn't.

And if there isn't what should I do?

You can try burning your own installation disk:

http://www.howtohaven.com/system/createwindowssetupdisk.shtml

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Two years ago I bought a Dell laptop 6400 with Windows XP Professional
already installed .
My problem is that I did not get also a real Windows XP Professional
installation CD with my purchase. Instead, i received a so called
"recovery
disc" . At that time I did not thought that I should have asked for a
installation CD especially considering the fact that the price for it was
implicitly paid by me when purchasing the laptop.

The problem is the installation media serves more than one purpose. It's
not
just a way to get Windows XP installed, it's also the only way to do
things
such as:
- the recovering a borked installation;
- the installation of the Recovery Console on my laptop to make it
available
if the operating system does not start correctly;
- the in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP which is in fact a
repair installation (see article from Microsoft
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315341 ) that allows you to repair the
Windows XP without loosing the data (Word, Excel, etc files ) and other
programs installed as it is the case with the complete reinstallation
approach);
- the running of a scan with the System File Checker command "SFC
Scannow".
Today during such a System File Checker scan I received the following
error
message:
"Windows File Protection
Files that are required for Windows to run properly must be copied to the
DLL cache.
Insert your Windows XP Professional CD-ROM now. "

I know that Microsoft has developed Windows Vista Recovery Disc
(http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/#comment-105183)
and I am wondering is there also a Windows XP Professional Recovery Disc ?

No, there is only the original install media.

And if there isn’t what should I do?

Contact Dell for replacement media. Expect to pay something.

Note that some systems come with system restore disks, and those sometimes
do not allow for the kind of repair install you are thinking of. They
start with a wipe of the disk, clearing it of all data.

So, be sure you do have backups.

HTH
-pk