Resurrecting a "bad" XP Install Disc.

[Umma Gumma]

My XP Home CD (original) has died...sorta. It's stopped reading at about 35%
of the way through. I tried to create an ISO to restore using Nero but Nero
can't go beyond the 35% mark either. Any suggestions? I HATE being without
the CD! If anything happened and my restore points messed up (which HAS
happened) I'd be without an operating system! HELP!

 

[Shenan Stanley]

My XP Home CD (original) has died...sorta. It's stopped reading at
about 35% of the way through. I tried to create an ISO to restore
using Nero but Nero can't go beyond the 35% mark either. Any
suggestions? I HATE being without the CD! If anything happened and
my restore points messed up (which HAS happened) I'd be without an
operating system! HELP!

OEM?
Retail?

Have you tried cleaning it with a soft/non abrasive cloth?
Tried reading it and making an ISO in a different machine - newer CD/DVD
drive?

 

[Patrick Keenan]

My XP Home CD (original) has died...sorta. It's stopped reading at about
35% of the way through. I tried to create an ISO to restore using Nero but
Nero can't go beyond the 35% mark either. Any suggestions? I HATE being
without the CD! If anything happened and my restore points messed up
(which HAS happened) I'd be without an operating system! HELP!

Microsoft will sell you replacement media.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246
How to replace Microsoft software or hardware, order service packs and
product upgrades, or replace product manuals

HTH
-pk

 

[thecreator]

Hi Umma,

What exactly are you trying to do?

I had the exact thing happen, but I received error messages. So I
reformatted my partition and relaunched Windows XP Home Edition installation
and it worked fine.

Of course, I lost no information, because My Documents is stored on
another partition and hard drive, but my Emails had been backed up. My
Favorites and Address Book, plus Briefcase were all backed up.

Did you replace any hardware, that you are reinstalling?

 

[Umma Gumma]

OEM?
Retail?

Have you tried cleaning it with a soft/non abrasive cloth?
Tried reading it and making an ISO in a different machine - newer CD/DVD
drive?

OEM. I cleaned it with rubbing alcohol because I thought that would leave no
residue. I tried making an ISO of it in Nero, but Nero gets to 35% and then
hangs interminably. I was patient. I gave it an hour. I turned to ISOBuster
but it had the same problem, cept it didn't hang. It gave me an error
message over and over again and wouldn't proceed.

 

[Umma Gumma]

Hi Umma,

What exactly are you trying to do?

Just read the CD!

I had the exact thing happen, but I received error messages. So I
reformatted my partition and relaunched Windows XP Home Edition
installation and it worked fine.

Of course, I lost no information, because My Documents is stored on
another partition and hard drive, but my Emails had been backed up. My
Favorites and Address Book, plus Briefcase were all backed up.

Did you replace any hardware, that you are reinstalling?

No new hardware. Nothing's changed. And I have one big C. I haven't lost
anything on the hard drive. I just can't read the CD any more. It hangs at
35%.

 

[Tony Luxton]

Can you get a friend with the same disk (OEM Home edition) to make you a
copy? It wouldn't contravene the EULA - you're allowed to make a backup
copy. Then you'd know for sure whether it's the disk or not.

HTH Tony.

 

[Umma Gumma]

Can you get a friend with the same disk (OEM Home edition) to make you a
copy? It wouldn't contravene the EULA - you're allowed to make a backup
copy. Then you'd know for sure whether it's the disk or not.

HTH Tony.

That's an idea. This CD has definitely had it. I can't get it to read at
all, tried all day.

 

[thecreator]

Hi Umma,

Question: Have you cleaned the CD, with a CD Cleaning Kit? Have you
cleaned the CD or DVD Burner with a CD Cleaning Kit for it?

Kensington® Media GuardianT CD Disc Cleaner

http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do...cd cleaner&y=11&uniqueSearchFlag=true&An=text

Kensington® Drive GuardianT CD Lens Drive Cleaner

http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do...Flag=true&y=11&x=28&Nr=100000&Ntk=all&An=text