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Full Windows XP CD

The following guide shows how to create a full Windows XP from a recovery CD (as they often exist in notebooks).

This folder - in my example D:\XP_Home - can be burned after the upgrade on a CD, so that you have a "reasonable" Windows XP CD.

Prerequisite Preparation Create files Additional Sample CD

• Windows XP recovery files on the computer
• CDImage.exe to create a bootable CD image

Create a folder on your drive:
D:\XP_Pro => contains Windows XP Professional installation files
or
D:\XP_Home => contains Windows XP Home installation files
Then show hidden files and system files!
(Workplace -> Tools -> Folder Options -> View -> hooks in "Hide protected system files (Recommended)" away -> "Hidden Files and Folders" -> activate radio button "Show hidden files and folders")

Next, look for the I386 folder on your computer (often under C:\ or C:\Windows). This contains all necessary installation files and will be created by installing the Recovery CD.
The path may, however, vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Therefore, do not give up, if this is not like I have stated above! Simply using the Windows Search (Start -> Search -> Files and Folders -> I386).

Onece you have the I386 folder, this it completely into the directory (D:\XP_Home\I386).

In the main directory (D:\XP_Home) some files has to be created. (Just open Notepad and create a new file)
- WIN51
and depending on the version of XP
- WIN51IP -> Professional
- WIN51IC -> Home
- WIN51I -> Corporate
both contain only the word "Windows" nothing else! And so they have no file extension!

Is in the recovery CD one or even all latest service packs integrated, more files must also be created.
- WIN51IC.SP1 -> Home with SP1
- WIN51IC.SP2 -> Home with SP2
- WIN51IC.SP3 -> Home with SP3
these files have no content, so they are completely empty!

On my Acer Aspire, I still needed additional files that did not exist in the I386 folder, but have to be placed in the I386 folder (D:\XP_Home\I386). These were:
- OEMBIOS.BIN
- OEMBIOS.CAT
- OEMBIOS.DAT
- OEMBIOS.SIG

We now need CDImage.zip file.
In addition, we unpack once the file with WinRar or another zip program into a directory of your choice. I suppose this D:\CDImage.
After this is done, we go into the directory. There are now 2 interesting files (WinXPHome.cmd and WinXPPro.cmd). If you used the above lists for your XP version, you can even use it without further changes to the depending .cmd file and creaze an image under D:\.

However, if you have used an other directory, you must select the depending .cmd to adjust your paths. Only then you can create the image.

While the image is created, you have the following or a similar message:



After that window has closed itself, the image is vreated under D:\. This can be burned with any program as an Image.

After successfully burning, you have a bootable Windows XP CD.

Congratulations!