Windows XP Home ISO

B

Bruce Wilkinson

Is there a way to download the ISO file for XP Home. I know that's not a
normal operating system for Technet Subscribers. I get calls from clients
where XP Home needs to be reinstalled, i.e. drive replacement, virus cleanup,
etc. Half the time, they don't have their original CDs.

Is there anything I can get my hands on?

Bruce
 
S

Shenan Stanley

Bruce said:
Is there a way to download the ISO file for XP Home. I know that's
not a normal operating system for Technet Subscribers. I get calls
from clients where XP Home needs to be reinstalled, i.e. drive
replacement, virus cleanup, etc. Half the time, they don't have
their original CDs.

Is there anything I can get my hands on?
Click to expand...

I am unsure (although I don't think they do) if Technet subscribers get
access to ISOs like MSDN subscribers do.. However - if you have a valid
Windows XP Home CD from any customer/source - copy it, change SETUPP.INI so
it accepts either the OEM or the RETAIL or UPGRADE key that your customer
has the CoA sticker for, burn the new CD and use it, give it to them when
you are through. For safety - without telling them - put an extra burn of
the CD in a paper sleeve and tape it securely inside the case (where it
won't get too hot and/or block airflow, etc - of course.) It might be wise
to write the CD Key on the paper case as well.

Keep a copy on hand. Integrate SP3 into it. Make one of each type (OEM,
Retail, Upgrade at least) so you can just copy it when needed.
 
B

Bruce Wilkinson

DL:

The original disk usually is specific to the vendor and model, but a non-OEM
Windows install CD works just fine. I've done it on many systems. You might
have to hunt drivers. And there are a couple of gotchas. The install has to
be for the same type of XP and the same SP level. You can't install Media
Center with a Home CD, and you can't install XP (no SP) with an XP SP2
install CD. The product keys don't work.

My problem is I don't have a copy of XP Home SP2, the one I run into the
most.

Bruce
 
S

Shenan Stanley

Bruce said:
The original disk usually is specific to the vendor and model, but
a non-OEM Windows install CD works just fine. I've done it on many
systems. You might have to hunt drivers. And there are a couple of
gotchas. The install has to be for the same type of XP and the same
SP level. You can't install Media Center with a Home CD, and you
can't install XP (no SP) with an XP SP2 install CD. The product
keys don't work.

My problem is I don't have a copy of XP Home SP2, the one I run
into the most.
Click to expand...

See my earlier response - you just need to get a copy of one Windows XP Home
CD (SP level doesn't really matter - since that can be integrated.)
 
B

Bruce Wilkinson

Shenan:

Can you point me at references for making the changes you referenced in
SETUPP.INI, including incorporating service packs? I ran into one recently
who's CoA was XP prior to the change to SP2. He had purchased the PC 2nd hand
w/o any mfg. CDs.

Bruce
 
S

Shenan Stanley

Bruce said:
Can you point me at references for making the changes you
referenced in SETUPP.INI, including incorporating service packs? I
ran into one recently who's CoA was XP prior to the change to SP2.
He had purchased the PC 2nd hand w/o any mfg. CDs.
Click to expand...

Now is a great time to point you to one of the easiest ways to find
information on problems you may be having and solutions others have found:

Search using Google!
http://www.google.com/
(How-to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html )

Example:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=setupp.ini

The first link would allow you to change a CD's ability to accept OEM/Retail
keys.
http://www.thetechguide.com/howto/setuppini.html

Now - I am guessing you are speaking of some machines that have what is
known as "SP2c"?
(When you say, "who's CoA was XP prior to the change to SP2"...)
http://oem.microsoft.com/downloads/public/seo/winxp_sp2c.htm

As far as I can tell - this does not affect your original question. You
asked about Windows XP Home Edition - Windows XP Home Edition never was
released in SP2c versions - so there wasn't a unique CD for Home Edition
that only accepted these "SP2c only" keys.

If you are not referring to that - I have no idea what you are speaking of.

AFAIK - Windows XP Home Edition product keys are universal down the line -
meaning that a Windows XP Home Edition RTM OEM product key will work with a
Windows XP Home Edition SP3 OEM CD or a Windows XP Home Edition SP1 retail
product key will work with a Windows XP Home Edition SP2 retail CD or a
Windows XP Home Edition SP3 OEM product key will work with a Windows XP Home
Edition RTM OEM CD... I have installed machines that came to me with 2002
and 2008 product keys and CoAs (OEM and retail, Windows XP Home Edition)
using the method I described earlier for the product key acceptance
(SETUPP.INI changes.) In all cases - I had already integrated the latest
service pack into my copy of the CD before I did it - to save time in the
long run.

Now - maybe people have ran into exception - but I have not. I have seen
OEM CDs that were *not* generic - so those could not be used for the process
I am pointing out. They had been modified by the OEM to only work on
*their* product line or even a specific model, etc. (Although that could be
removed.)

As for integrating/slipstreaming service packs (and other patches) into a
Windows XP CD, there are many references to that.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=slipstream+sp+into+Windows+XP+CD

You could use nLite, Autostreamer or some other tools. You could follow one
of the many web pages out there (like unattended.msfn.org) to not only
slipstream SPs, but other patches and even applications.

It'd take a little effort - but at this point in the Windows XP game - you
could likely make quite a few different CDs from one original that accept
Retail and OEM product keys for Windows XP Home Edition and have SP3 and all
critical patches through now integrated and you wouldn't fall too much
further behind (considering the life cycle of Windows XP Home is closer than
most to an end.)
 
S

Shenan Stanley

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